Anyone remember the good old days before Anne Robinson had BOTOX injections and watchdog had a Freepost postal address and an 0500 freephone number?

I did indeed ask Watchdog to investigate to wholesale migration of companies to non geographic telephone numbers.  Before posting my request on their website I read the details about contacting them by phone on 0870---.  It stated the various prices that apply dialling to the 0870 number and the comment that they do not "receive any revenue from the proceeds generated by this number" (where do they go then).  It also stated that the price was 4ppm if dialled between the hours of 18.00hrs and 08.00hrs, which I believe is incorrect as I understand that BT about 6 months ago changed the lower rate times to from 18.00hrs to 06.00hrs.  I asked watch dog to investigate the use of 0870 numbers and pointed out that whilst they may not receive direct funds from the use of the 0870 number the BBC do, I am given to understand, receive benefit in the form of an offset against calls dialled out which shold be mentioned.  I also pointed out the anomaly in the times that the cheap rate applied and asked for their comments.  I also pointed out that the use of the 0870 number would adversly affect those who in all probability could least afford it-i.e. people without a computer who could not communicate by e-mail. I received the computer generated reply but unsurprisingly nothing more!  It appears that this is one topic that Watchdog would prefer not to investigate.

Quote:


Wow!  You must be sooooo old!

tee hee, only kidding.

Back to the topic, and I have just emailed Watchdog.  I've basically used davis' post as a template and worked around that, taking care not to make it look too much like a duplicate email. 

Hope you don't mind davis   I have a rather poor imagination I'm afraid

Although extremely symphatico with most views expressed here I  do not post very often preferring to make direct vigorous attacks on the 0870 pirates who come closer to my life day by day. Should just mention in passing that I wrote to our friendly Watchdog (among many others approx six months ago (It's mentioned in this forum somewhere) receiving the usual indignant nonsense in reply.
Of course at that time they gave the usual speel that it seems EVERY mouthpiece of these company's give these days.
Personally from time to time I need to back off because this lobbying becomes an obsession and I get the distinct impression that we are winning some wars but losing the real battle . I even wrote to BBC feedback recently to ask Roger Bolton to discuss his very own use of the 0870 word when advertising the program....

Sometimes I despair...   Surely the ONLY way is to get at OFCOM and Politician's so as to regulate it away. 'Shame' and exposure does not seem to work.

I must add that I do admire the solid , intelligent determined citizens who contribute regularly to this website... But will we ever 'Win' ?

And you Non Geo are one of those I mention . Those with dogged determination. One who actually does something about trying to redress the balance. One who posts hundreds of encouraging comments . One who chases the scam hounds.

But......... Are we getting anywhere at all  ?

Your comments about OFCOM (N) are well understood.
But Why ? and How ? can they get away with it.

At the risk of repeating the obvious.
Somebody (BT?) came up with an idea to make money.
A Sales team went out and sold the idea.
(REMEMBER THE WHOLE OBJECT WAS PROBABLY TO TAKE MORE MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC and offset (or hold back) the reducing income from telephone calls.

In the marketplace now the majority of companies advertise contact by 087.

Amazingly nobody has managed to 'persuade' OFCOM to legislate that the use of 'National Rate' is nothing but a LIE.

Why Oh blessed Why can they get away with PRINTING on literature 'National Rate' and not be committed to using the correct word PREMIUM. (Trading Standards take note)

I and others have written to M.P.'s . This usually elicits a flurry of paperwork and defence--- Nothing Changes

I have challenged a number of companies only to be given the usual crap (sorry can't think of a better word).

I hear respected broadcasters from the BBC (apparently) reading out the words they have been given to say. I am sure this in most cases is innocent ignorance. I suppose one doesn't expect them to endanger their jobs but godzilla they are citizens too !
They allow the scam to continue. They are not really interested in doing something about it . (It takes us obsessive lot).

In about twenty minutes or so I'll be going down to my 'local'. There I will bore everybody silly about this injustice. When I get back I'll probably respond to that 'customer service' person from Liverpool Victoria to tell her that her response to my considered queries re this are uphelpful and disingenuous. Then I'll sit and watch T.V. into the early hours and contemplate how much longer I can go on with my normal life and NEVER RING AN 0870 number !(sending letters is so much harder)

Fellow participants  H E L P . I really want us to change things.
I really want us to get the majority of Joe Public to become MORE AWARE.

I want this scam stopped.

One of the areas that really annoys me is the INSULT. The insult to our intelligence.

If this amazingly successful conspiracy succeeds  -and it looks as though it will. (I'm ignoring internet progress). I personally will feel like the loser I am.

Look out Pint Of Real Ale - Here I come !

Also believe me that there is a reason why the 087 and 084 scam goes on and on and on and is almost as sinister and unstoppable an evil force as the mysterious spectre of Bad Wolf in the recent series of Doctor Who.  The sinister force that has in fact allowed 0845 and 0870 to almost endlessly spawn and mushroom like a virus has been a cynical Labour government that had clearly hoped that these 084/7 abuse numbers could be used as a secret source of revenue both for its own governemental activities and also by many of its commercial cronies who now fill top positions across the broadcasting and telecoms worlds.

But there is some hope as only yesterday I received the below unexpected email from Home Office.  This seems to show that despair as we might that little by little our own relentless campaign is starting to get through and may even force perhaps the uk's weakest regulatory organisation (Ofcom) into proposing tough regulagtions that stop this scam.  Well we can but hope for without hope there is no point in our continuing to wage the war......

-----Original Message-----
From: Kerr Kate [mailto:Kate.Kerr@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk]
Sent: 22 September 2005 18:30
Subject: Home Office Public Enquiry Number

You have previously raised a concern with the Home Office about the continued use of non-geographic number for the central Home Office public enquiry number.  I am aware that the Permanent Secretary's office advised you that I would be in touch to report any developments in the matter but that was some time ago.  I apologise for the delay in replying which was because the review and subsequent implementation took considerably longer than anticipated.

I can confirm that the Permanent Secretary agreed that the Home Office should adopt a geographic number for its central public enquiry number.  The number is 020 7035 4848 and is now operational. 

The contact page on the website has been changed to reflect the new number and efforts are being made to replace references to the 0870 number with the new number in material such as letterheads and phone directories, however, I anticipate that due to external publishing deadlines some elements of this transition will take in excess of 12 months. During this transitional phase both numbers will be retained so callers are not inconvenienced by having to record the new number and redial.

If you would like further information please contact me.

Katie Kerr
Direct Communications Unit, Home Office
7th Fl. Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London SW1P 2AW
020 7035 4725