Following several e-mails to Vue cinama's complaining about another issue (I do alot of complaining!) I requested a non geographical number for my local Vue cinema in Thurrock. I said this was because my phone was barred from all 08 numbers (by the way this does work with every company I have contacted so far, a very good tactic, try ringing on the head office or switchboard or whatever 0800 or geographical number you can find and explain this to them)

Ok, there is a 6 month refurbishment at the moment (meaning a closure for this period of time), so the adviser said he couldn't give me the number because of this. Fair eneough, but I then requested the number for future reference

He advised me that he could not give me the non georaphical number, as he couldn't guarantee that the phone would be answered! The cheak of it, like hes perfically happy for me to sit on the phone to an 0871 number indefinately!

So what I did was write him a disclaimer! I was very polite and informed him that I fully understand and appreciate his position. The disclaimer read ad follows;

Dear INSERT NAME;

I am sympatheic to the fact that you cannot guarentee the phone will be answered, therefore I would like to formaly state the following (on the INSERT DATE):

"I, INSERT FULL NAME, of INSERT FIRST LINE OF ADDRESS hereby wave any liablility of costs (monetry or otherwise) due to me, by you (being 'INSERT COMAPANY' the company and/or its subsiduries) if on one and /or more occasions (unlimited in number) the telephone facility is unanswered at any INSERT COMPANY."

Please now include full phone contact details for INSERT LOCATION (i.e Tesco in Birmingham)


This did work for me! and I hope it works for you also, I think e-mail is the best way to tacle this, as you have more control of the situation. (This is because you have everything in writing, and also by keeping the e-mails you have all the information you need. Also because- unless you have a telephone recorder, which even I havnt got! They can record you, but you cannot record them)

Please reply to this post, this is my first, despite being a long term user!

Maybee we should have a new section entitled 'tactics' for advice on obtaining non 08, 09 numbers? Administrators what do you think?

Thank you guys

Jai

Heinz wrote on Jan 17^th, 2007 at 2:33pm:


I'm sure Jai is about to add it.

And well done Jai on beating this company into submission.  Keep up the good work.