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0800 revisited... (Read 10,900 times)
floella2
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0800 revisited...
Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:34pm
 
I know I keep harping on about this one!!!

James Bond told me about the AA now posting both the 0800 and 0121 number on their website. This is excellent customer service and makes good commercial sense too.

There are also a very very small number of organisations who do this.

How can we start campaigning for other companies to do the same? It is of mutual benefit.

If I am missing something, and this is a bad idea, please let me know Wink
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sherbert
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #1 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:48pm
 
floella2 wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:34pm:
How can we start campaigning for other companies to do the same? It is of mutual benefit.



I thought we were already doing this here. Roll Eyes
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floella2
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #2 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:54pm
 
Ahhhh I have been away for a few weeks, what have I been missing?
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sherbert
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #3 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:55pm
 
I meant, I thought that was the whole point of this site.
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floella2
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #4 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 4:31pm
 
Got you!

Yes, this site is fantastic and I recommend it to everbody I know! I love it when somebody tells me that they already use it because I am so pleased that there are others benefiting from it Smiley

Although there is clear difficulty stopping some companies from being greedy with the revenue sharing numbers, I still cannot see one reason why 0800 users should not wish to publish their Geographic number too.

The fact that AA have begun to do this is very encouraging, I just want to raise awareness so thatt other companies follow suit.

Reasons:

0800 is typically only free from a landline. Not everybody has one, or can even get one if they wish to (students, hostels, private renters etc)
An 0800 number is pointless if you are on the move (AA, Radio 5 Live phone ins, adverts on public transport, British Transpot Police)
0800 numbers cost the recipient as they bear some of the cost. This is then passed on to consumers.
0800 numbers are great for landline users and for this reason I personally encourage them.
0800 numbers are useless to mobile users, therefore I encourage BOTH 0800 and geographicals to be offered.
Over 15% of the population do not have a landline
Simply stating that calls are free from a BT landline probably amounts to unfair competition between phone providers

If we cannot make it compulsory for ALL phone providers to make 0800/0500 free, then I see no reason why companies should not wish to publish both 0800 and geographical numbers. The net result would surely be increased call traffic and potentially more sales.

My only feeling is that they are simply not aware of this, and go with the one dimensional notion that 0800 numbers make them appear more attractive to deal with.

So, unless I am missing something, the straightforward solution would seem to be simply raising awareness to companies of the above issues and encouraging them to offer both options to callers.

Only takes an extra line of text on a website... I have just written several, doesn't hurt, does it! Wink
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floella2
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #5 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 4:33pm
 
Regarding the above, if I was on a board of directors somewhere, I believe that raising the above points around the table would have them visualising increased sales and pound notes would fill their eyes
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #6 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 6:58pm
 
sherbert wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:55pm:
I thought that was the whole point of this site.

This forum is a valuable place for campaigners to share information and ideas and perhaps to inspire others to action.

Whilst it is open to public view, I doubt that many of us believe that comments made here have any direct effect on those whom we seek to influence. Most of those who read comments posted here are already of a similar opinion anyway.

Campaigning is mostly about changing the minds of those with whom one disagrees, or at least alerting those who are not aware of an issue to its importance.

There is nothing wrong in preaching to the converted, if one can encourage them to act on their beliefs and perhaps extend their knowledge and understanding of the relevant issues. It is however only when the message is taken out to others with some effect that one can say that one is engaged in campaigning. (Please forgive the religious analogy, it was nothing more than that.)

The database of alternative numbers is a valuable resource to help people avoid calling expensive numbers. I mean no criticism when I comment that this itself makes no direct contribution to campaigning for change, as those who are provided with alternatives have no great reason to press the matter with those whom they contact. I am sure that many do, but the fact that they already have an alternative to use must at least take some of the edge from their efforts.

I do not intend any criticism of the site or the forum. I simply urge fellow campaigners to understand that little or nothing is directly achieved by posting comments here.
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sherbert
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #7 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 7:45pm
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 6:58pm:
sherbert wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 2:55pm:
I thought that was the whole point of this site.

This forum is a valuable place for campaigners to share information and ideas and perhaps to inspire others to action.

Whilst it is open to public view, I doubt that many of us believe that comments made here have any direct effect on those whom we seek to influence. Most of those who read comments posted here are already of a similar opinion anyway.

Campaigning is mostly about changing the minds of those with whom one disagrees, or at least alerting those who are not aware of an issue to its importance.

There is nothing wrong in preaching to the converted, if one can encourage them to act on their beliefs and perhaps extend their knowledge and understanding of the relevant issues. It is however only when the message is taken out to others with some effect that one can say that one is engaged in campaigning. (Please forgive the religious analogy, it was nothing more than that.)

The database of alternative numbers is a valuable resource to help people avoid calling expensive numbers. I mean no criticism when I comment that this itself makes no direct contribution to campaigning for change, as those who are provided with alternatives have no great reason to press the matter with those whom they contact. I am sure that many do, but the fact that they already have an alternative to use must at least take some of the edge from their efforts.

I do not intend any criticism of the site or the forum. I simply urge fellow campaigners to understand that little or nothing is directly achieved by posting comments here.



I have noticed some companies have indeed seen the error of their ways by reading posts on this site and have indeed have posted alternative numbers for their companies here. I agree not many but some certainly have.
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floella2
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #8 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 7:51pm
 
SCV that is a very realistic point and as I do not use an awful lot of forums I did not see it like that. So thank you for educating me on that one.

I do always raise the issues of 08xx numbers when I call them, but as the recipient is generally of operational level, even if they agree the decision is often out of their hands.

I admire the work done campaining against revenue share and this is, of course, a challenge as the companies concerned stand to lose financially, initiallly of course. It is a shame that they don't take a long term view and realise that the basis of business success is customer retention and this is often achieved through building rapport. Another story entirely, and one which certainly contibutes to our current economic position.

The 0800 situation however should be a simple and straightforward one. I feel that the use of 0800 numbers to entice calls is very old fashioned method that companies use simply because the competition does. I don't believe they do this simply because they care, or they would have seen the flaws in it. It is basically a simple marketing strategy.

My question is how to actively present the reasons to ALL companies using them that publishing the geographic number as well will benefit both them and their customers economically. Is there any way we can get this in the press? As soon as some of the big players take note and do this, the rest will invariably follow suit.

I do not personally have the experience in raising such campaigns but I know the website has been profiled on a good few occasions.

If you can get this issue out into the mainstream, not only may it solve the issue, it will also draw the public's attention to the good work done here.

Thanks
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SilentCallsVictim
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #9 - Apr 21st, 2010 at 9:04pm
 
sherbert wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 7:45pm:
I have noticed some companies have indeed seen the error of their ways by reading posts on this site and have indeed have posted alternative numbers for their companies here. I agree not many but some certainly have.

If that is so, then this is great news. Better that they would have withdrawn the expensive numbers, rather than simply publishing alternatives here. The campaigning objective must be for the good of all, not just users of this site. I would however not wish to be so churlish as to deny a small success, which is rightly being celebrated proportionately.


floella2 wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 7:51pm:
If you we can get this issue out into the mainstream, not only may it solve the issue, it will also draw the public's attention to the good work done here.

Floella,

Please forgive my attempt at correcting your comment. I am not sure if that is what you meant. Despite the silly attribution of rank below our nicknames, we are all of equal status in this forum, regardless of the volume (and loudness) of our postings.

There is a limit as to how far one can discuss detailed campaigning tactics in a public forum. This is especially true if one is looking to gain credit for the site, as there are many others who would look to take credit for advancing the causes that this site stands for (e.g. note the way in which BT proclaims the inclusion of 0845 and 0870 calls in packages).

Dave now has a blog which opens up the saynoto0870 community beyond the site. He also issues media releases on behalf of the campaign. There are other experienced campaigners who would doubtless be happy to assist you (or indeed any member) if you wanted to address the media or engage in other direct campaigning activities yourself.

There is no committee to which you have to submit a proposal for a particular bit of campaigning effort! It is for you to press individuals to take action themselves or to assist you in doing so. Please remember that everyone is a volunteer, with no promised commitment of their time, so it may be best to approach people privately. I very strongly hold the view that nobody should be made answerable in this public forum for the extent of their engagement in campaigning activities.
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floella2
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #10 - Apr 22nd, 2010 at 2:52pm
 
Hahaha I meant 'you' as in the general you. Put simply, anybody who has the contacts in the right places etc.

The reason I put it like this is I am aware that this resource has been mentioned in various areas of the media. If anyboday has a particular point of contact it would be worth calling them to raise it.

Furthermore, if anybody has a particular point of contact and wishes to share the information, I will be more than happy to work on raising awareness in the general public.
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sherbert
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Re: 0800 revisited...
Reply #11 - Apr 23rd, 2010 at 9:48am
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Apr 21st, 2010 at 9:04pm:
If that is so, then this is great news. .


Indeed it is so.
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