Barbara wrote on Nov 28
th, 2010 at 10:54am:
… Just to clarify, when UW started to include 0870 & 0845 I did complain because they increased the inclusive package charges & I made the point that I avoided these numbers and objected to being charged for something I didn't want, they have not reduced package charges so I am now paying more for less. On principle, I still made every effort to avoid using 0845 even when included because I object to them so strongly & to show solidarity with & support for those who did not have them included in packages, it certainly did not diminish my determination to campaign against them. As I have said previously my objection to all these numbers is that, whether used by a private or public organisation, I see them, taking Dave's analogy of a supermarket, as akin to the supermarket charging customers an entrance fee. …
This is quite astounding! We have heard GPs and other users of 084x numbers blame originating providers for charging more than a geographic call and calling on them to include calls in packages, but now we have a stalwart of the campaign coming out in agreement with them!
The analogy of the supermarket can be used to describe various parts of the transaction during such a call. In my previous post, the supermarket represented BT as a call provider.
In Barbara's subsequent posting, a supermarket analogy is made, but in order for it to work, the previous one must be forgotten. This supermarket is equivalent to the party being called (such as one's water or electricity provider or one's bank or insurance company). It levies a fee to enter, via its telephone provider. I repeat, in the following paragraphs, forget the supermarket analogy I posted above.
Tickets to enter the supermarket are available from third party ticket outlets (call providers). Barbara's chosen ticket outlet provider charges her the fee which it passes on to the supermarket.
A few years ago, it took the decision to allow free tickets to the supermarket, despite the fact that it incurred a charge (imposed by the supermarket) for every ticket it sells. To counter this, it decided to increase the price of other tickets it had for sale.
As an avid theatre goer, Barbara was livid about this. She lodged a complaint with the ticket outlet about this increase.
Recently, the ticket outlet decided to revert back to charging for tickets into the said supermarket. This also got Barbara riled because she believes that there should be no cost to enter the supermarket, a supermarket she has no choice but to visit.
I quite agree with her that the supermarket should be free to access, but I most certainly do not agree that this is the fault of the ticket outlet.