mgybran wrote on Mar 10^th, 2007 at 8:46am:
Welcome.

Numbers are added by forum members, visitors, etc.

I'm afraid there is no special Google (magic) search that is used although it would make our job a lot easier if there was.  The 'real' alternative numbers are found by checking old directory enquries websites, old/cached copies of webpages and using google to see if another company/organisation provides the 'real' underlying numbers instead of any new(er) 084x/087x number.

This is really only successful because in some cases companies just get new 08x/087x numbers whilst still keeping their old 'real' number and just basically divert calls to their new 08x/087x number to their old 'real' number.

However, there are some companies out there that go through all the trouble (and expense) of disconnecting their old 'real' numbers and getting brand new 'real' numbers and then divert calls from their 084x/087x number to their new 'real' number.  Companies that do this have most likely purposely from the outset wanted customers to only ring them on their 084x/087x number so (if applicable) they can earn money from the call without their customers knowing they are making money from the call.  This, method as mentioned, involves more work and expense for the companies concerned but these companies then know that no-one would still ring them on their 'real' number because it's brand new that only them and the telephone company would know so therefore customers have no alternative to ring the 084x/087x number(s).

It maybe possible to do similar a similar thing to find 'real' numbers where you're from

See Guide to finding geographical numbers for search tips.

You can Google post code followed by dialling code or company name followed by dialling code as examples. You may also find the numbers on the Internet Archive which goes back as far as 1996 with some websites. This may show the geographical number before they introduced the non-geographical one, and it will work assuming that they haven't replaced it as bbb_uk mentions.

lompos wrote on Mar 10^th, 2007 at 3:23pm:



The frustrating thing about Holland is that the mobile phone operators actually offer quite good deals (especially Telfort) and very often a contract will offer X amount of free call minutes.  The problem is that you can't really use these minutes when phoning companies and authorities.  You get charged a nominal 10 cent fee (in normal cases) PLUS any charges that the mobile phone company 'may' charge.  Bit of a double whammy.  Customer help desk typically charge between ca. 50-100 cents per minute

Ref the distinction of the different types of premium rate numbers; there are three (prices on all three vary):
0900 paid information numbers
0906 Paid adult numbers
0909 Entertainment