I personally don't have a problem with NHS using 0870 numbers. I have a MAJOR gripe against profit makers using them. TIMES HAVE CHANGED. There was a time when they were doing us a favour because of long distance daytime call costs. In today's world, we are paying them!

I lodge an official complaint EVERY time I speak to a profit making company. My last phone bill was nearly doubled by these pesky numbers.

We need to start up a campaign where everyone complains EVERY time they call. We have to persuade them to give out 01/02 numbers - if we complain enough, the employees themselves will start complaining to their management. Let's be the squeaky wheel!

Good topic - Two further points.

It is a valid political position to believe that users should pay directly for public services, even up to the full cost. One must however surely agree that any charge should be clearly advised in advance.
This cannot yet happen with most NHS services (excluding those subject to clearly presented fees that only apply to some users), because these are proudly delivered "free at the point of need". Many of us wish it to remain that way, even after 60 years, although argue that a change back to the previous consumerist situation is overdue.

If required to call a revenue sharing number, I always make a polite comment and ask if it is possible to call me back. Some, but not all, will do so happily. It is always fair enough to register a calmly-presented complaint, even if this is unlikely to compel an immediate change of policy. If one simply attacks the call centre agent, accusing them personally of robbery or worse, they are more likely to hang up on you than call you back.

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Notwithstanding any assumptions that may be drawn from my nickname, I am not a great believer in the "silent protest" as a means of achieving change. It is very good for the soul (and perhaps the pocket) of the protester, and that is OK so far as it goes - indeed, that is the laudable main purpose of saynoto0870. If intended to exercise consumer power to actually affect a market, a company would only change its ways in order to increase its turnover and profit if the silent protesters are sufficiently numerous and "loud" to be noticed and understood.

David

I agree that these numbers are now revenue earners.  Could we ask, as an initial measure, that the phone providers DO NOT charge callers until they have come to the end of 'Our call is important to you....' and/or have been connected to the person they want to speak to.  It might speed up calls a bit!!!