SAYNOTO0870.COM - 0906 numbers at 50p per minute

irrelevant

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #30 - Aug 10^th, 2009 at 7:05pm

I don't usually bother with extended warranties either, but I took up the extra three years warranty on a Dell laptop we bought early last year, simply because it was an expensive model. Since then, they've been out three times already, and are coming again tomorrow to replace the motherboard for the second time, so I'm fairly glad we did. Otherwise it'd have been junk almost as soon as it's 12 months was over, and a very disapointing waste of money. So, I'm happy with that particular warranty... Not that I'll ever buy a laptop from them again, given how unreliable it's been. Especially compared to a fraction-of-the-price Medion laptop I bought from Woolworths about four years ago which is still going strong!

I just need to remember to sell it before the 3 years is up.. Smiley

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sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute Reply #31 - Aug 10^th, 2009 at 7:29pm irrelevant...see my reply #26
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Dave

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #32 - Aug 10^th, 2009 at 7:58pm

Jennie wrote on Aug 9^th, 2009 at 6:09pm:

The whole reason for becoming members of this website is surely to object to premium rate calls! …

The main reason for SAYNOTO0870.COM is to improve transparancy of the fact that 084x and 0871 are revenue sharing numbers. Any reference to "local rate" or "national rate" is meaningless and totally misrepresents the purpose of these numbers.

It is generally recognised that services operating on 09 numbers derive financial benefit from the caller through their telephone bill. This is the case on 084x and 0871, but this principle is not widely understood.

There is no code that we must swear allegance to and the forum allows exchange of opinions and information.

Jennie wrote on Aug 9^th, 2009 at 6:09pm:

… The people at the other end of the line we speak to are not the ones who impose these high charges, they only work for the company or surgery. I agree that companies should absorb the costs in their profits.

But the point at issue is that of cost and not the charging mechanism. With the same logic, perhaps we should ban motor vehicles because they cause injury and death.

If you don't like it, then take your laptop to a repairer or buy from a retailer/manufacturer where you can take your device to someone and get face to face help as opposed to telephone help.

Jennie wrote on Aug 9^th, 2009 at 6:09pm:

I used to live abroad & tried to ring my parents Dr's surgery on their 0844 number & it would not work. In the end I somehow managed to ring a normal landline number which was another department in the same building & they got the person I needed to speak to to come to the phone! I have tried numerous times to find another number but there does not appear to be one available to the public.

It is totally inappropriate for NHS Gps to charge patients in this way. Ideally, I believe that what are 0844 numbers (low premium rate) should be on the 09 range.

As for the alternative to this surgery, if you have a direct number for some phone in the building, then it may be a large pointer to the geographical number for reception. I repeat my request to help you find the alternative by posting a message in the requests section of the forum with the surgery's address and the geographical number you found.

Jennie wrote on Aug 9^th, 2009 at 6:09pm:

If I take anything to a shop to be repaired, of course I expect to pay. This is not the same as getting advice over the phone. By spending hundreds of pounds on a laptop & buying an extended warranty, I feel I should be entitled to free phone advice if there is a problem.

Hang on a moment. If there is a fault with the device, then you need customer services and not technical support. The former should be free (at no more cost than a call to a normal landline), i.e. not at a premium.

The 0906 number is for technical support. Acer customer service is 0870 853 1000 (look in the database for alternatives if your provider charges you more than a 01/02/03 call to 0870 numbers).

Obviously it's an 0870 number which, prior to 1 August was a premium number. The point I make is that the 0906 number is not for reporting goods that are malfunctioning as a result of faulty workmanship.

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« Last Edit: Aug 10^th, 2009 at 8:55pm by Dave »

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Jennie

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #33 - Aug 10^th, 2009 at 10:03pm

I too am pleased that the warranties proved worthwhile.

Re the premium rate number to ring Acer. There is no way I would spend that money. My technician is coming round to help sort out the problem as he also tried to talk me through the SKY configeration for POP3 windows mail/vista over the phone & it would not work. If he cannot do it then nobody will be able to! If he can't then I will want to know why my laptop is impossible to configure.
The mind boggles. Unfortunately my computer knowledge is very basic, even though I have been using one for at least 10 yrs!

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sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute Reply #34 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 6:59am For Windows Mail problems, this is a very good site. There are Microsoft guys there who are very helpful....and it wont cost you a penny!!!!! http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft....
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NGMsGhost

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #35 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 2:59pm

Jennie wrote on Aug 10^th, 2009 at 10:03pm:

My technician is coming round to help sort out the problem as he also tried to talk me through the SKY configeration for POP3 windows mail/vista over the phone & it would not work. If he cannot do it then nobody will be able to! If he can't then I will want to know why my laptop is impossible to configure.

Jennie,

Do Sky not have a technical support line where they are meant to help customers who have problems configuring their email on their computers?

Of course we know Sky themselves love covert premium rate numbers and this site does try to list 01/02 alternatives for them (although Sky constantly withdraws the 01/02 alternatives) but even if you had to call an 0844 number at 5p per minute that would be much less expensive than the 50p per minute for an 09 number.

I am sure the real reason that you object so strongly to the 09 charge is that you fear (as I would) that you may spend half an hour speaking to this person but that they will be completely clueless and not actually resolve the problem for you. If you were sure that the person would be a real technical genius and your problem solved after half an hour and £15 and there was a money back guarantee if they did not solve your problem then you would feel it was less of a ripoff.

What email software are you using out of interest? Is it Outlook Express? If so have you considered switching to the free Mozilla Thunderbird email program that is more sophisticated than Microsoft's free email offering.

If you described the precise nature of your problem here someone might well be able to help as there are a lot of people on this forum with strong computer IT skills. Also I note you can post in an internet forum so you are way ahead of quite a few computer users in that regard.

By the way I do not agree with those who say this forum is not there to help with 09 numbers as I see 09 numbers in their current form as inherently immoral as they are not automatically PIN control protected to individual phone users and they often result in misuse by people who have access to a phone number that is not the one they are the bill payer on. Also there is the problem that as the charge is related to the length of the call that it may be artificially strung out. Many 09 numbers involve abuse of PhonePayPlus's own rules and many are prizeline etc scams for prizes and free cruises etc that do not exist. However I wonder if you have tried posting in any IT or computer type forums on the web as if you described your problem in enough detail someone there may well be able to help you.

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sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute Reply #36 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 3:39pm Jennie wrote on Aug 10^th, 2009 at 10:03pm: I also tried to talk me through the SKY configeration for POP3 windows mail/vista Also if you are having problems with Windows Mail, I suggest you up grade (no charge ) to Windows Live Mail, which is a better product than Windows Mail
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NGMsGhost

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #37 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 5:01pm

sherbert wrote on Aug 11^th, 2009 at 3:39pm:

Also if you are having problems with Windows Mail, I suggest you up grade (no charge Wink

) to Windows Live Mail, which is a better product than Windows Mail

I am still happily using Windows XP Home that came included with my HP DV1139 EA Notebook four years ago. So I was unaware of Windows Mail and it basically being a replacement for Microsoft Outlook Express (always a chronically bad mail product) for Windows Vista users until I consulted http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Mail where it says:-

Quote:

Windows Mail is an e-mail and newsgroup client included in Windows Vista. It is the successor to Outlook Express. Microsoft previewed Windows Mail on Channel 9 on October 10, 2005.[1]

Unlike Outlook Express, Windows Mail is not considered to be a component of Internet Explorer. As such, it will not be made available for earlier Windows operating systems, while Windows Internet Explorer 7 was made available for Windows XP.

Windows Mail has been succeeded by Windows Live Mail, which was built by the same development team as Windows Mail and also serves as the replacement for Outlook Express for Windows XP.

I note that the Wikipedia Site for Windows Mail has a link to the Windows Vista Tips site and its discussion forum and wonder if making a post there might yield the appropriate answer to the problems being experienced with Windows Mail? See www.winvistatips.com/windows-vista-mail-f33.html

Alternatively why not give up Microsoft's unreliable mail products and install Mozilla Thunderbird instead and import your Windows Mail email in to that program. You can get this for free at www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/

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sherbert

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #38 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 5:56pm

I did not about www.winvistatips.com/windows-vista-mail-f33.html so thanks for that NGMsGhost. Interestingly, having had a quick look at it I notice the same Microsoft guys contribute to this site as the one I use mentioned in reply #34

They are very helpful and have always managed to answer my queries even directing me to where I can download a patch when needed. Having said all that I have been using Windows Mail for 18 months now, but if I need to change in the future I will certainly look at www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/ which you reccomended NGMsGhost, so thanks for the tip.

I know we are going off topic a bit, but just wanted to say thanks for that info.

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« Last Edit: Aug 11^th, 2009 at 5:59pm by sherbert »

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NGMsGhost

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #39 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 6:27pm

sherbert wrote on Aug 11^th, 2009 at 5:56pm:

I know we are going off topic a bit, but just wanted to say thanks for that info.

Not much though in that this lady's problems all centred on getting help in fixing a problem involving Windows Mail.

Still If anything I have provided is genuinely useful then I'm glad to have been of assistance.

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Jennie

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #40 - Aug 11^th, 2009 at 6:59pm

I am finding all this exhausting. I am not ringing an 0906 number for software technical advice as my technician is going to come to my house to configure my SKY to windows mail. I have alkready explained that I spent 50 mins on the phone to SKY with their technician (free call for SKY subscribers) & the configuration did not work!

I only home my technician can reolve the problem as he too has tried to talk me through it over the phone. I have the SKY configuration/windows mail/for vista printed out

This is all from me as I am worn out now!

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sherbert Supreme Member Offline Posts: 2,011 Gender:	Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute Reply #41 - Aug 12^th, 2009 at 7:00am Well, I see the OP does not mind paying for a 'technician' to come to her home to sort out her problem, but objects to paying someone on the other end of the phone. I fail to see the difference So all the advice that I, SilentCallsVictim, NGMsGhost, Dave & irrelevant have given has been a complete waste of time.
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Jennie

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #42 - Aug 12^th, 2009 at 8:21am

Sherbert I really think you have an attitude problem.

I have thanked everyone for their help & explained that I have been talked through the configuration process twice on the phone, by SKY & my technician. It did not work!

I do not want to phone Acer as I do not believe by talking to them it will resolve the issue. I have been referred to Acer by Microsoft, even thoiugh it is a Microsoft programme causing it. It would be pointless ringing Acer as it is not a problem created by the manufacturuer of this laptop. Microsoft are just trying to pass the problem on. I may have rung Acer on a normal number just to confirm that they cannot help. But I do know the answer really,that they can't. When I originally asked for help on here it was before I understood the problem fully. Having spoken to my technician & taking on board what has been said on here & another forum, someone needs to come to my house to see the screen & what occurs when I try to configure. So I will willingly pay my technician for his time as he is an expert, as previously explained. He actually tests programmes for Microsoft, I also explained this.

I must just add to the person who has a Dell computer. I am sorry to hear of your problems, but I would never buy a Dell as a friend had similar problems to you. I believe at one time you could only by Dell by phone or going to a shop & ordering, you could never actually buy for a shop & actually take it home with you. I am pleased you took out the warranty, inspite of it none of us need all the hassle of claiming. Fortunately for me as my laptops went wrong abroad I was able to keep them so we have a spare. I had a Sony & an HP previously & now have an Acer, which I prefer so far...........until that goes wrong too!

THANKS TO YOU ALL I will post on here when & if the problem is resolved.

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sherbert

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #43 - Aug 12^th, 2009 at 9:00am

No Jennie, not an attitude problem, perhaps being too helpful problem. Wink

Let me put it this way, I had a problem with my HP laptop. I telephoned HP and gave them remote access and they fixed it for me. Cost of phone call £5. which was considerably cheaper than calling someone to my home.

When it was all fixed I changed my security details so they could not 'get back in' to my computer. Wink

If Acer are charging 50 ppm (£30 an hour) how does that equate to what your 'technician' charges? Huh

The point of this site is to help people save money and that is what I was trying to do. If I had not expressed myself well, then I can only apologise. Embarrassed

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« Last Edit: Aug 12^th, 2009 at 9:00am by sherbert »

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Jennie

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Re: 0906 numbers at 50p per minute
Reply #44 - Aug 26^th, 2009 at 9:43pm

At long last I have everything working as it should be. I have had to have 2 different technicians call to my house as they needed to configure my SKY ISP so had to do it at my home.

It took 2 hrs to get my SKY e mail address configured. The second technician came to reconnect my 'wireless' connection as that had suddenly stopped working!

I have had to pay out a total of £55 & ringing ACER on their 50p per minute 0906 number would have been of no help whatesover as it was a configuration problem with my ISP & Vista.

So pleased it is all OK now & thank you all for your help.

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