A few weeks ago my bank sent me a form for faxing stationery orders - using an 0870 number.  I complained to my local Abbey contact and he passed it on up the line.  I also pointed out that I don't do business with any organisation using these numbers so perhaps I should move my account elsewhere?

Not expecting any positive response I was then contacted by a Regional Manager.  He explained that the stationery work had been put out to a bureau, and that Abbey were not making anything from the arrangement.  However, the number is now being changed to a conventional one.  Apart from supplying some dubious info about these numbers I think they should be congratulated for 'seeing the light' and doing something about it.  After all, they couldn't really sustain their 'free banking for life' slogan if they (or one of their subcontractors) raids your phone bill every time you order stationery!  Well done Abbey, and I wish other organisations were as receptive.

Yes congratulations Abbey for listening to what your customers say.

Over at NatWest they merely try to re-educate you by claiming that using 0845 and 0870 numbers are the done thng in the call centre industry and also try to claim they could not possibly handle the call volumes they now receive if they did not use these NTS numbers.

Personally though I would rather stay with Nationwide who are still a real building society and don't have to make a profit for shareholders and also of course to pay the directors annual bonuses.

MC beat me to it - find the 'ring me' page on Abbey (business banking) and the cost is all theirs.  Unfortunately these days they are not always quick to answer because they are having problems with 'call volumes' (or, put another way, people shortages) but being left on hold at their expense while I do something else is preferable to me paying for it!

Regarding Natwest - I was careful to retain the standard number of my local branch - still works a treat and they seem to have knowledgeable human beings there too.

Sadly, as with so many UK numbers, one needs the next few digits to determine whether it is charged at BT g6 (5p at all times) from a BT line or g21 - 5p to 2pish.

So much for such things matching 01 and 02. Why is it all so stupid?