I just wanted to clear up the fact that we`re not making money out of this, even if the Telephone companies are.

Just an update, we have published our 01 number on our website contact page. as an alternative to 0845.

[url]http://www.precisionprint.co.uk/index.php?page=contact[/url]

Add AOL to the list.  This is a quote from an email received by a customer as posted at HotUKDeals:

Quote:

http://www.hardens.com/articles/article_details.php?type=blog&id=566

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FIFTEEN JOINS THE 0871 RIP-OFF

An emissary of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen N1 calls the Harden’s office. You’ve published the wrong website, she says, and the phone number’s wrong too.

Well, it all depends what you mean by wrong. It does seem that the website and phone details have been changed in recent times. Quite why the website has changed – from fifteenrestaurant.com to fifteen.net is a bit of a mystery – but there it is.

Why might it be, though, that the official telephone number has changed from the relatively catchy 7251 1515 – now disconnected – to 0871 330 1515? Perhaps it has something to do with the new number being one of those premium numbers, which those of us not au fait with the nuances of the telecom business refer to as a ‘rip-off’?

Reference to the excellent saynoto0870.com confirms that there is an alternative number, which is 020 7702 5511, which does indeed seem to work. Those of you who think it’s outrageous to be charged for the privilege of booking a restaurant table might like to use that instead.
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It would appear that we aren't the only country to use premium rate numbers for contact...

From http://www.fifteen.net/contact/Pages/default.aspx:

Fifteen Amsterdam: 0900 343 8336 (premium rate - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_the_Netherlands#Overview_and_h...)
Fifteen Melbourne: 1300 799 415 ("local rate" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Australia#Other_non-geographic...)

However, in those countries, the real geographic number is given as the alternative. Someone will be rolling in the cash somewhere...

Probably the first of many Sky number changes, Sky Travel has changed from an 0870 number to a 0871 number.

Just for your common interest.

I have a claim with Liverpool Victoria (Frizzell) Insurance who have referred it to Independent Inspections as assessors.  They keep calling and leaving their stinking 0871 number on my answering machine to call them back. I don't call them back.

Today, after 3 messages, I called LV to complain (gave them real hell actually) about this company's practices. Short version - I said if LV didn't stop using such companies they would lose my business at next annual review and mentioned that there is a petition of 21000+ others who think the same way as me (and that represents only the "few" who are so motivated to find it and do so). Told them to pass my feelings up to senior executive level.

So 5 mins later, Ind Inspections calls me (as instructed to LV).  So off I go on another rant now, calling them cheating, conniving, dishonest, shameful and a whole host of other words of that ilk.
Strangely enough, the lady I was speaking to seemed genuinely concerned and interested in my viewpoint, but she was just the "phone girl" but she did say she'd relay it to the top.

Now then, please tell me that I am not alone in making an idiot of myself in this way.
I do believe if EVERY TIME we spoke to these companies (using the alternative number of course) we ranted at them and threatened to withdraw our business, it would wear them down.

I am no longer satisfied with just passively using the alternative number strategy against an ever increasing heap of 0870/0871 shïte being forced upon us while the smug bar-stewards laugh their way to the bank, or Bermuda, or the Seychelles or their yacht in Monte-Carlo.

Oh, it should also be pointed out that they are lying about the cost too! It doesn't cost 7.91ppm, it costs 10ppm (probably 8ppm if you don't pay the VAT).