The Co-operative movement will be launching an advertising campaign at 9.00 pm tomorrow evening inviting members and supporters to "Join the Revolution".

I am grateful for this posting and have to thank Varndeanian for pointing out that the Co-Operative seems to have retained a general policy for use of 0845 and 0870 numbers from days long gone.

If we are to show that Co-Operative principles have their place today, indeed they trump those of the so-called "Big Society", then the movement must catch on to the fact that 0870 numbers are now a total mistake and that 0845 numbers have no place in a movement that stands against commercial exploitation.

As a member, I will be joining the revolution and looking for the immediate adoption of 0345 and 0370 equivalent alternatives pending swift changes to suitable acceptable new numbers.

I recognise that others have been down this path before me and are already engaged. I acknowledge their efforts and invite them to add their comments below.

bazzerfewi wrote on Mar 6^th, 2011 at 8:04pm:

What numbers we end up with will be a matter for us to decide. If there is an advantage in having a non-geographic number then that is properly part of the cost of providing the respective service, not something to be charged on to those who use it, especially when they also incur an exceptional access charge from their telephone service provider. I am almost certain that these numbers will have remained from the time when most people used BT landlines and 0845 numbers offered a national call at local rate. It is simply a matter of getting up to date with current reality.

Members are invited to contribute to the revolution. I will start doing so tomorrow.

CJT-80 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2011 at 10:53pm:

I have collected the following list from a brief run through websites. Please PM or email me with any additions and I will update this post, (whilst I still can). (If a moderator would like to take over the task of maintaining a posting, or even this posting, with a complete list of unsuitable Co-op numbers, I would be delighted).

Membership - 0800 023 4708
Food - 0800 0686 727
Funeralcare - 0800 023 4710
Electrical - 0845 7000 100
Bank - 08457 464646, 08457 212212, 0845 600 6000, 0800 022 3510
Travel - 0844 915 9990, 0844 893 3301
Insurance - 0845 999 8888, 0845 300 3366, 0845 300 2246, 0845 075 4583
Legal - 0845 602 1416