Sadly, the Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales) has joined the hall of shame by changing from 0870 to 0845. Disingenuously, they argue that they need to use 0845 so calls can be forwarded to the contact centre (which now offers an 0800 freephone number) if a hostel is closed. They do not mention why they are changing from 0870:

Source: http://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/yha-news/Calls_to_customer_servies_now_free.aspx

"21/08/2008 11:06:00
YHA customers now get an even better value-for-money booking and information service after telephone charges for calling their central customer service team have ceased.
 
From 1st  September, all calls to the UK-based contact centre can be made on a new 0800 Free phone number 0800 019 700.  

This new number can be used for booking accommodation, finding out more about our fantastic locations and buying or renewing membership plus any other queries about YHA.

The contact centre is open 8am – 8pm Mondays to Fridays, and 9am – 1pm on Saturdays.

Here, well-informed, friendly and approachable staff are waiting to deal with all your questions.

At the same time, YHA will also change all telephone numbers for calling Youth Hostels direct.

Out go the 0870 numbers to be replaced with a new 0845 code which should be charged at the standard local rate depending on your provider.

Using 0845 numbers allows calls to be redirected to our contact centre, for instance when no-one is available at the hostel or at peak times, ensuring that customer queries are answered promptly.

We strive to provide the best possible service and YHA would not be able to redirect calls if the local codes were used.

To ensure that there is a seamless transition to the new 0845 numbers existing 0870 numbers will continue to operate until the end of 2009 when all existing brochures carrying 0870 numbers become out of date. New hostel numbers are available on the website from 2nd September onwards and will be published in the Guide due to be circulated in late December."

Tanllan wrote on Sep 13^th, 2008 at 8:19am:


As I'm quite sure you know Tanllan BT do still offer "Divert on Busy" and "Divert on No Reply"  but of course the called party pays for the call forwarding at BT's most uncompetitive call rates.  But on 0845 this is all "free" for the called party but of course not for their poor unfortunate caller (especially from a BT Payphone or on many mobile phone deals).

But anyhow now 03 exists where you can have the same service in return for a one off number purchase fee and then call forwarding charges of under a penny per minute.  Also with 03 the number diverted to can be changed remotely without the absurd fees payable for the remote configurable version of BT Call Diversion once sold to doctors etc.

As to local rate well both the ASA and Trading Standards have already quite clearly indicated such claims cannot be made.  Perhaps a complaint to each of them might be in order.........

Dave wrote on Sep 13^th, 2008 at 11:22am:


AKA The Carphone Whorehouse.  The very same people who try to persuade you they are selling you a cheap bundled broadband and "all calls to landlines" package.  But then no 084/7 numbers are covered by those call packages.  Why am I not surprised.

One of the Carphone Warehouse Group's previous submissions to Ofcom (in respone to an Ofcom 084/7 NTS consultation) extolling the invaluable role to the UK economy fulfilled by 084/7 numbers makes for interesting reading......................

See www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/nts_forward/responses/af/cw.pdf