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
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!