derrick wrote on May 29^th, 2008 at 4:47pm:

I think they were quoting Sky's new (outrageous) prices.

Also the red herring of 'irrespective of where they live again'. The implication being that it would not be 'irrespective of where you live' with an 01 or 02 number which of course is tosh.

Trading Standards have given clear guidance that this sort of phrase should not be used as it is misleading. Doesn't seem to stop anyone from doing so however.

Clearly the Which Report and all the publicity it got will have informed just so many more people, but how do we capitalise on this so that it doesn't just become a one day wonder?

PS I met a Doctor the other day who was just absolutely livid about GPs using  the 0844 numbers!

Source: Manchester Evening News

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1051904_weve_got_your_number

We've got your number
Paul Britton
30/ 5/2008

<<
THE MEN today publishes the low-cost alternative phone numbers for the companies who have been named and shamed for using premium-rate lines.

Which? found more than 30 companies and government bodies charging customers by using 0870, 0871, 0844 and 0845 prefixes for customer service, call centre, technical support or bill-paying lines.

It said they are using the higher-rate numbers and share revenue with the phone service suppliers, meaning the longer a consumer remains on a line, the more money the company makes.

Which? also surveyed how long consumers were kept on hold.

The consumer group highlighted Admiral Insurance, Bell Insurance, Diamond Insurance, Elephant Insurance and broadband providers Tiscali, who all use highest rate prefix 0871 numbers. Numbers with this prefix can charge up to 10p per minute.

Carphone Warehouse, which has offices in Warrington, Philips, Sony and Apple technical support services were named for using 0870 prefixes.

Big-name companies

Other big-name national companies included AOL, Sky, Barclays, Direct Line, which has offices in Quay Street, Manchester, Orange, TV Licensing and the DVLA.

The Which? study revealed the DVLA made £3.4m from its 0870 number in the last 12 months.

British Gas, which has a call centre in Stretford, and Virgin Media, with offices in Wythenshawe, were included in the list for using the less expensive 0844 and 0845 numbers.

But all the companies have freephone and local numbers which are not advertised.

The DVLA, British Gas and AOL Broadband were found to have kept consumers hanging on the line the longest.

One call, to AOL Broadband, was kept on hold for 15 minutes.

Many of the local companies called into question have now defended the use of the numbers, saying they use the cheapest 845 option.

"Self-service"

A British Gas spokesman said: "We're offering our customers more ways to self-service, via the internet for example. It's important to stress that our emergency numbers for the public who may need to report a gas leak, are free - 0800 number. We use 0845, which is one of the cheapest chargeable rates - allowing us to strike the right balance between accessibility and customer service, which has improved by 85 per cent."

A spokesman for Virgin Media said they do have 0800 numbers which are sales numbers.

But the spokesman added: "We do use 0845 for customer services but that is optional. We give customers the choice."

"Our customers can get through to us for free by dialling 150."

Jennifer Culley, spokesman for Direct Line, said they introduced 0845 numbers several years ago to ensure their customers paid only local rates for calls.

She said: "A decision was taken not to use 0800 (freephone) numbers as the provision of such a service must be reflected in the cost base and, in turn, the premiums charged.

"Determined to keep our premiums amongst the most competitive in the market, Direct Line chose instead to negotiate with suppliers in order to get the best possible deal for our customers, and in doing so continues to pass on the benefit of local rather than national rates directly to them."

Review

And Warrington-based United Utilities companies vowed to constantly review their rates. It currently uses a 0845 number for bill payment and enquiries but calls are charged at local rates, a spokesman said.

[…]
>>

Direct Line's reason for switching to 0845 is now not relevant, as has been in the case since 2004. I don't expect companies like this to switch back to geographicals because it will probably change its justification to one of providing a single number nationally, rather than providing different geographical numbers for different offices. I expect 03 will get the thumbs down because it will cost them for incoming calls.

derrick wrote on May 30^th, 2008 at 2:30pm:


They are quoting the official non BT Together discount non discounted rates for calling 0845 and 0870.  These are only still paid by people on the BT Light User Scheme.

Interesting how Which can get so much publicity once they choose to come out against these numbers while we individually have managed to get so comparatively little over the years.  Unfortunately the National Press will generally only print press releases from large established national bodies.  There is very little independent minded investigative journalism on the national newspapers it would seem.

Presumably if Which had repeatedly spoken out against these numbers 10 years ago and never taken up using them itself then the whole despicable con could not have got going.

I suspect the articles by Which and others now are the product of the culmination of years of lobbying by members of this group.  The BBC and ITV humiliation over its 09 phone call cons has also been very helpful in starting to change the balance.

Of course Ofcom still allows 0845 and 0870 to be called Local Rate and National Rate by numerous telcos.

jimjim wrote on Dec 18^th, 2008 at 2:34pm:


Clearly this is a well intentioned move on their part except what about the 40% of calls now from mobile phones so where is their new 03 number for calling them from those?