Welcome to the SayNo forums MalR.

UK 070 numbers are 'personal' numbers and the cost of calling them is, indeed, a premium rate. 

The scammers use them because, as you obviously did, most people think all 07 numbers are UK mobile numbers and just return missed calls assuming they're within their inclusive minutes.  The 'policing' of the market is so lax that the original purpose of the numbers has been usurped by the scammers and, hence, disguised premium rate numbers is a highly-accurate description.

Ofcom has said it may move all personal numbers to the currently vacant 06 number range - but on past form, don't hold your breath (they are the idiots whose 'crackdown' on the abuse of 0870 numbers is now resulting in all the rip-off firms changing to MORE EXPENSIVE 0871 numbers).

UK mobile numbers start with the digits 077, 078 and 079.

Thanks to Dave and Heinz for the explanation.  I will spread the word as much as possible. 

Is there any way of getting Ofcom or the main phone companies to make a public announcement about these numbers? I'm sure the public just don't know what is available for the scammers to exploit.  And for already over-rich, exploitative companies to use to fleece consumers further (like having to pay for phone calls to companies because their products don't work properly .......)

I suspected that Farmer Jones' pigs might feature in this somewhere!  Has this site ever tried mobilising the membership power to focus on a small number of key fundamental issues to lobby MPs and the media.  How many MPs there must be who would love to do battle with such a contentious issue - especially after the European ruling on maximum call charges.  Would make a lovely follow-up story.  I'm not thinking here of petition territory but rather writing to particular MPs who have an interest in this area of work and to the media.

Key issues to my mind are:

the way in which the government has allowed the (effectively secret) development of premium rate numbers which are now used unscrupulously by a wide range of companies;

the lack of prior notice for anyone using a premium rate number that it is such a number (ie it should be mandatory for ALL calls made to premium rate numbers to be prefaced by a recorded message before charging starts saying that it is a premium rate number being called and what the charges will be if the call is continued);

restrictions on the use of premium rate numbers so that they can only be used by companies that are providing a justifiably chargeable service - for example, mandatory that they cannot be used for fault reporting, emergency services etc;

mandatory that all companies providing a service via premium rate numbers should give a non-premium rate number through which general enquiries can be made before being transferred to a service providing chargeable number if that is what is required.  For example if someone wants to find out if a company provides a certain type of service that should be free, but if the service is required and can be provided the call becomes chargeable.  This avoids paying huge fees hanging on for someone who does not actually provide the service you want.


Here's hoping that we might see a few porcine F16s soon!