It is certainly a good idea, and has been suggested on quite a few threads, and I do it myself!!

As for swamping the system, I don't think it would ever happen.  Having just worked it out, if every single 0870 number was used that would be 10 million numbers, and a further 10 million for 0871 as well!!

If they did get used up, then they would just bring up new numbering systems, like they already have done on 0844.  They would just introduce something like 0872, or 0843.

Also, if every residential customer did sign up, it would make the telecoms companies re-think their conditions on minimum useage, and set up costs, or insistance that it's for business use only.  This might work well in putting off smaller companies from signing up, and of course residential customers only receiving about an hours worth of calls a month.

However it won't put off the likes of Barclaycard, DVLA, and other very large organisations handling loads of 0870 calls, as even a set up cost of about £1000 would be a small price to pay for the returns.

However on that note, companies, and individuals already with 0870 numbers would have agreed on the original contract, and if the set up cost and monthly cost was free, then a telecoms company probably won't be able to change those terms and conditions.

Thanks for those replies. Just shows that original ideas are very rare. I can't fault the arithmetic and hoping to swamp the system was just being wistful. However if enough people get on the band wagon then the action may get noticed by the media (especialy if they are pointed in the right direction) and that might lead to more public awareness and more objections. The medai love public action stories. Maybe we can turn a snowball into an avalanche!

Having browsed the links in Hot Topics I have now sent an application off for an 0871 number. I'll let you know how it goes. The web site asked for company registration number and VAT registration number but they weren't mandatory fields. After all not all businesses are Ltd. or PLC and neither are they all VAT registered.

Smasher,

I believe you are right.  I have an 0871 via Call08.com (cant recommend them now as they charge a monthly fee currently but didn't when I signed-up with them) and only if payment gets to an accumulated monthly total of £50.

I give my 0871 contact number out to companies that operate 087x numbers themselves, companies operating lower NGN's and geographical get my geographical number.

I know I'm not likely to get get any payment back but to be honest I'm not bothered at all as my point is to get back at these 087x companies themselves by making them pay at least 10ppm to call me instead of me paying over the odds to call them.

I signed up with twplc.

They won't pay up, unless the calls received are worth more than £5.  If you don't make this, then it's not rolled over.

Also, if you wish to change the landline number to which the 0871 calls are routed to (ie you move house, move from BT to cable etc), they charge I think £13.50 for this privilege!!

Hi All,

I run a UK website that offers amongst other things FREE 0870 and 0871 numbers for anybody that wants them....

There are no minimum call minutes required and we pay 2p/min peak for 0870 numbers and up to 3p/min for 0871 numbers...

You do have to accrue £25 cashback to get a payout but we have 100's of ways to earn free cashback apart from just these numbers!

We are currently giving you a FREE £5.00 bonus just for registering...

We also offer free fax2email numbers...

I have not included a link to my website or even named the website in this post because I do not want to break any rules of this forum....

NOTICE TO ADMIN:
If I am allowed to post a link to my website can you please let me know... I will never put my url's on a board without pemission... I know what it is like to be spammed! Many Thanks... David.