Hello, I see that most people here like 03xx numbers.  Please can I perhaps make you think about this problem that I am now facing.   

Before 0330 number I could look at this webpage and find that a 0845 number could be changed to this or that 01/02 number.  Using 1899 as a service I would only have to pay around 6p connection charge; 0p per minute.  But they don't do 03 numbers.  I'm charged around 9p per minute!  Sure IF I had a package it would be included, but these packages are not cheap--BT charge around £9 (for a daytime all inclusive package, which would be what I would need... I've not looked up the exact amount, guys, but it's around that) per month.  But by using 1899 I was able to have a phone bill of only £2 or £3 per month; clearly better value.  Until now. 

0330 numbers have meant I had to pay a fortune to call the tax office!  Miele is another company that likes to keep you waiting 20 minutes too!  Not a problem in the 0p per minutes days; but now that would be around another £2+ (cf 6p)! 

All I ask is that we also list alternatives to 03 numbers too here--since they are a little like 0845 numbers; I mean those too are free if you have a BT package!

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 4^th, 2014 at 1:36pm:

Could be worth considering alongside non-BT Broadband for those without a contract mobile phone and the price promise until 2017 is interesting, given the rate that line rental is increasing.

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/49402/~/home-phone-saver

bigjohn wrote on Dec 4^th, 2014 at 8:07pm:

It doesn't say that anywhere, only BT broadband.

bigjohn wrote on Dec 4^th, 2014 at 8:34pm:

It specifically says "Broadband and TV Bundles" - and, not or, so that is clearly open to interpretation.

As as already been pointed out in this thread Tara   the termination rate(s) for 03 numbers are high enough, weirdly, for some owners of an 03 number to offer payments (in kind) to callers. So its easy to understand why Finarea the owners of 1899/18185.18866 won't let you call 03 for an unlimited time for 5p. You'd be printing money at Finarea's expense.

If you dont want to purchase a bundle  you can still  use www.telesave.co.uk to call at 1p/min weekends and evenings and 1.5p/min weekday daytimes (8am-6pm). You can call via 0800 0662266.

Only disadvantage is you need to top up £10 first. There is a 4p mininum charge. As your notice the site itself is a tad out of date.

Other then that if you have a spare  mobile you could get a payg sim from someone like www.delightmobile.co.uk and call 03 numbers at 3p a minute.

Hello guys.  Thanks for all your comments.  Unfortunately, as you might expect (since I'm writing here) I have BT Broadband (BT Infinity to be precise), otherwise BT Home Server would have been ideal (probably). 

Anyway, I'm sure there are good reasons for 03xx numbers, and for why operators like 1899 can't offer them.  But isn't this the point?  What I think we need to do is to start finding out (new) numbers (ie, 01/02) that can be used instead of 03 numbers...  The existing Saynoto0870.com website now has a heading 01/02/03.  Noooooooo!! It should remain 01/02 and then have a separate column (or something similar) for 03, since these are (really) like the old 0845 numbers.  And 0845 numbers were never included in the 01/02 column.  Just because some organisation says that 03 numbers are "like landlines" do we have to believe it?  They're not like landlines to me -- since I'm now being charged so much for them.

Separating the 03 numbers from 01/02 will be a start, but I do wonder if we don't need to complain, too, to these companies that are listing them -- that is, we need them to list alternative 01/02 numbers too.  Just as before with 0845/ 0870 numbers. Companies like Miele have now removed all their 01/02 numbers and I worry that now 03 numbers have been cleverly categorised as "the same as a landline number" we will be left we having to pay the extra charges for our telephone use.  That'll be a 200% increase in my monthly phone bill!   

Hello all. 
I'm confused by your analysis of what will happen, so let's be clear.  I'm sure you can't be saying that it's better to wait until everyone is only given an 03 number and then campaign against them... So what is best?  I think that the ideal solution would be to have both 03 and 01/02 numbers and people allowed to have a choice.  I can see the benefits to 03 numbers for some, but for me I only want 01/02 (or of course a freephone number)!

The history as I see it is this: At present we have lot of rather expensive 08xx numbers that 'saynoto0870' has been campaigning against. But nowadays these numbers are included in caller deals (BT for example)...  Of course you pay for these packages. 

Now, along come 03xx numbers that are, similarly, rather expensive to call.  But they too are fee if you have a package. Now doesn't that sounds exactly the same as why 'Saynoto0870.com' was created?  I only hope it hasn't become entrench to think its only goal is to remove 08[70] number(s)!   All I say is let's start listing alternatives to these 03 numbers too please. 

tara wrote on Dec 8^th, 2014 at 9:19pm:

No, only 0845 and 0870 are ever included in packages, and even that is unlikely to last long. These are only a small proportion of the 08 numbers in use, although thankfully the use of 0844, etc. has declined recently due to changes in the law. And, as bigjohn says, 03 numbers are in no way "similarly, rather expensive to call" - your specific issue arose from Finarea no longer handling calls to these numbers.