natalie wrote on Nov 4^th, 2009 at 11:53am:

Which numbers have you tried on here????????? We don't posess psychic powers.

Why do you ask for help but don't bother to help those helping you? How am I supposed to know which you have tried?

Let's suppose I was to suggest a number from our list and you respond by saying you have already tried that. Had you said in the first place then I wouldn't have wasted my effort to help you and could have spent that time looking elsewhere.


Finally, the Geographical Requests section is where this should go.



This website is all about everyone pooling their resources and people helping others. Yet some think it's a one way street where "free" help is given by those at SAYNOTO0870.COM. No need to give consideration to helping them. 

Natalie,

I think what Dave is trying to say is: if you list the numbers you tried, and the responses you got (e.g. if it was answered by a person who said it was the wrong department and told you to ring the 0845, then what department was it that answered?  Or if it was a recording, menu system,  unavailable, etc.,)  then the database can be amended so that future people looking won't have the same problems, or can choose more relevant numbers.  It's only with feedback like that can we refine the database and make things work better for everybody.

It also helps when searching for new numbers to know what's already been tried, so when we find a number it can be discounted rather than being suggested to you, as that only wastes time, both yours and ours, as we wait to see if it's any good for you. 

[quote author=natalie link=1257335640/0#2 date=1257339541]
also i do volunteer work for the samaritans

In that case perhaps you could ask them why the Samirtans have an 0845 number  on their home page

mike_gordon wrote on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 12:53pm:

The majority of calls to the DWP are from landlines. It is assumed that these are all from BT, or others who follow its charging structure which makes 0845 numbers the same (if inclusive) or cheaper to call.

The problem with mobiles is recognised and receiving attention as second in priority to the issue with the 0800 numbers.

Slow progress is being made in getting the point across. Job Centre Plus now offers to return all calls from mobiles to 0845 and 0800 numbers. This is a standing instruction to all agents, all of whom get to see the caller's number -  when it is not withheld. The difference with Virgin Media (and other landlines providers) and 0845 is now recognised.

As with all 0845 issues, once more people start signing up to BT Unlimited Anytime then it will be easier to press for a change to 0300. For non-inclusive BT customers 0845 calls are considerably cheaper. Dual numbering is not considered good practice as it can cause confusion. I say that if someone wants to give an alternative to their 03xx number for those who may benefit from a perverse tariff, then they should feel free to do so. A reluctance to offer that facility is no justification for benefitting from revenue share at the expense of other callers.


Conversations continue at various levels. A strong point about the statistical evidence has been acknowledged. I have invited consideration of the "chicken and egg" question. How many service users who have a mobile cannot afford to call the 0845 numbers and so have to seek help from friends and neighbours with landlines? Insofar as this is what happens, it is disgrace to cause people to suffer this loss of dignity when contacting a public service. Given the considerable cost (or impossibility) of someone reliant on benefits acquiring a landline, it is quite likely that the actual figures of calls would not tally with the likely typical phone usage of service users. This could be a case where hard facts actually hide the truth!