JKBBC wrote on Aug 26
th, 2009 at 11:38am:
Thank you for all your replies,
I'm particularly interested in hearing stories from people who have received big bills for having to call 0845 numbers, whether that's in the public or private sector. Any experiences that you think should be brought into the public eye.
Another story I'm looking into concerns advice lines or help lines which look official but are actually premium rate numbers and just a long answer phone message with advice you could've got for free online. Such as advice for passports or child benefits.
Please
email me if you have a story you'd like to tell about either of these topics.
Jodie is interested to know of anyone who has called one of these so called helplines:
http://www.britishpassportoffice.co.uk/http://www.benefitshelpline.com/Child-Benefit~2.htm?keyword=child%20benefit%20he...I personally feel that the rip-off on the original revenue sharing numbers makes enough of a story. The fact that PhonePay Plus apparently tolerates this deliberate attempt at deception (presumably due to the small print disclaimer) should put it firmly in the frame.
Something else being sought is a
simple way of explaining revenue sharing and premium rate service numbers and the cost of calling them. The obvious method of using BT pence per minute rates is
not acceptable - see
blog.
Any suggestions about how to put the proper message accross simply would be very welcome.