There are lots of companies offering exactly the same service, and some will even pay some of the 0870 rebate back to the called party.

My advice, is if you want a fax number, to operate a business, then get a proper fax machine, and use a geographic number.

I have been in a situation twice in the last year, where I contacted 2 companies for information, and they offered to send it in the post, or fax it.  If I had one of those numbers, then I would have accepted a fax, and retrieved it via e-mail.  Instead I phoned up my Dad, and got him to receive it from work.

Therefore ClaraNet and other companies are providing a useful service, albeit on an 0870 number.  However, if I did use such a service, it would only be a few times a year, and it would almost certainly be businesses (most of whom use 0870 anyway!!) who would fax me.

Since it's those kinds of businesses that fuel the 0870 scam, and make big profits from it, then surely they won't mind faxing their customers on an 0870 number as well.