Quote:Is there an equivalent site for Australian numbers (13xxxx / 1300 xxx xxx and 18xxxx / 1800 xxx xxx etc.)
I've been a regular (and grateful) user of
www.saynoto0870.com for a long time now - great site for UK numbers!
You should find that most Australian organisations are quite happy to provide you with their underlying geographic number. Unlike the UK system, they generally pay for you making the call and actually provide the 1300 number as a service. When first introduced, they were great - national calls were expensive, and a 1300 number enabled you to call interstate for a fixed price (and still does - 25c). However, the 'rip-off' cell phone companies have seen fit to charge 1300 calls at the same rate as timed ordinary calls when made from a mobile phone. Again, better than the UK, but still an expensive option if you are kept holding on. In addition, the introduction of VoIP and fixed price calling plans on landlines has made 1300 numbers increasingly expensive. Like 0870, they are NOT included in the plan, and so cost extra over and above the calling plan cost. I think the Australian telcos look longingly at their British counterparts, as they seem to be trying to emulate their obscene practices! Luckily, the Australian regulator has considerably more ba*ls than its UK counterpart.
I have often used the same process as in the UK - 'I can't call a 1300 number from overseas, so please tell me what your normal number is'. A couple of organisations have told me they don't know (and they probably don't) but most are only to ready to comply. After all, they save money - so why wouldn't they? You win; they win and only the telco loses - and hey, who is crying for them?
After all, Telstra is said to be the most profitable telco in the world........