I do something very similar Jim.    For example, whenever I speak to an organisation which uses 08 numbers, which I have bypassed by referring to this wonderful website or by my own resourcefulness, I always tell them at the end of my call that I have NOT been using any of their rip-off numbers and I suggest that they start publicising their geographic numbers which would improve their reputation with their client or customer base.  I sometimes write to organisations, such as charities, to say that I will not be contributing to their cause until they and their collecting agencies start using geographic or 03 numbers.

So I think your suggestion is a worthy one and perhaps advice on this matter should be provided somewhere on this site.    Meanwhile we should all play our small part in letting companies and public bodies know of our prference for normal geographic numbers and our objections to unjustified use of 08 numbers.

With comments that I wholly endorse, Dave is referring to a particular general campaigning strategy focused on the public sector, where the very principle of revenue sharing should be anathema. With its slogan of "free at the point of need", the NHS stands foremost as an area where success should be possible.

We most not however forget that there are members who believe that saving money for taxpayers, whilst requiring those who use certain public services to pay towards the cost of providing them, is a proper policy. Some believe that those who run, and / or set policy for, public services are in league with the telephone companies in seeking to perpetuate the "revenue sharing scam" and will therefore inevitably resist all normal campaigning methods for no other reason. There are also some who believe that those who cannot be bothered to look-up alternative numbers on this site are obviously content to pay extra and so the focus should only be on the discovery of geographic alternatives to be published here.

Some would say that only effective campaigning strategy is to "hit them in the pocket", by the threat of withholding custom. In the private sector this could put commercial pressure on companies to change, although I have never been told of an example where this has been effective. This would not however work in the public sector - the DWP, for example, would not be "hit in the pocket" if people refused to claim benefits because of the telephone number that they would have to call in the event of a query.

Some would be in favour of the general increase in customer prices or the reduced dividend to shareholders that would result from not taking revenue share on telephone calls. Equally, some would favour the increased public expenditure that would be required if revenue sharing were abolished in the public sector.

On the other hand, many members do not share broad campaign objectives, seeking only to obtain the cheapest deal on calls that they make themselves.

Others see use of revenue sharing numbers as a indicator of corruption, believing that the money involved is somehow different from other income at all points in its life. Any involvement in revenue sharing is seen as some sort of moral demerit for all those who have any part in it, from the newly appointed Secretary of State or Chief Executive down to the agent in a contracted call centre.

Until it formally states a position, SayNoTo0870 must represent all of these views (and others), not just one set of campaign objectives.

Having been one of those in the past who has suggested some kind of letter on the site which could be used, I do take the point about different emphases for different kinds of no/organisation.  However, what would be extremely helpful would be some kind of bullet point summary of the facts regarding the various numbers, updated as things change (I know this would create some time pressure but it is is shame if those who take the trouble to campaign end up with a weakened argument because they were unaware of changes, that would be very counterproductive).   I find it very difficult to keep up to date with all the changes and their implications, some of them are quite technical, I know I would really apprciate some kind of summary of facts to use before I write a letter/email/make an angry call to an alternative number.  I do believe it is very important that everyone is quoting the same accurate facts.

I have moved posts on news on call providers (eg BT making 0870 inclusive) from the Geographical Chat section to the Call Providers section. The original purpose of Call Providers was to discuss "Cheap Call Providers", as it was called.

If there are getting too many threads in there, then perhaps it could be split up into a "Call Providers News" section and one for advice on which call provider(s) to use.