Say "No" to expensive 0870 numbers in the UK

Enrico


Joined: 07/12/2008
Posts: 209

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 16:36

http://www.saynoto0870.com.

These 0870 numbers are advertised by insurance companies among others to rake in more revenue.

Find cheaper alternatives on the above link.





I hope.

kaiserphil


Joined: 14/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 16:58

And, of course, they do their utmost to keep you talking for ages.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 17:42

Msg 1 - Sometimes there are other reasons that people used 087 numbers.

We have them so that if clients are in trouble and at the same time a company catastrophe happens and we can’t in emergency access our offices we can divert the phones externally at the drop of a hat - we also give our clients the normal direct dial UK number and Skype.

Msg 2 - Some companies due offer to call back and do not hold you on with transfers etc. (like us at IH).

Please do remember that a lot of people will call companies for information and or advise and then buy elsewhere so the small amount earned from the 087 number can to some extent offset the loss of an employees time.

However I do agree that premium rate numbers are not fair if misused

Quarmby


Joined: 15/09/2008
Posts: 975

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 17:52

Another con with these codes are the add on connection fees. I recently was using the 0870 nos on Rightmove and Property Finder sites, they proudly claim its only 4p per min from a BT line they fail to tell you there is a 11p set up connection on top. Works out quite expensive in the long run. It took me ages to trawl through the BT website to find the info. on these charges.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 17:59

Ben they should tell you the rate, if they don't conatct Ofcom (we do tell people just below the phone number and below that give the landline option (often people can't use an 08 number from outside the UK anyway).

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 18:05

I'm pleased that flightholiday/IAH has it's normal direct dial number listed on http://www.saynoto0870. I avoid companies that use 0870 type numbers as a matter of principle.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 18:15

re msg 6



I avoid companies that use 0870 type numbers as a matter of principle.



+1



and 0844/5 nos, too ...

Quarmby


Joined: 15/09/2008
Posts: 975

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 18:18

flightholiday



should have said 0843 nos on the link when they quote 4p per min they only mention 4p per min, so I will contact Ofcom. I e mailed Rightmove and as usual did not reply.

kaiserphil


Joined: 14/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 18:25

Mark - mess 7 - good for you, if only we could always do that, maybe these rip-off lines would disappear.

Tom - "the small amount earned from the 087 number can to some extent offset the loss of an employees time". I find that a very strange logic. What is the employee employed for?

Sounds a very American business logic to me.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 18:30

I wonder if companies that have 0870 type numbers realise just how much business they lose by having them.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 18:59

Phil Msg 9 - Not to give out free advice?

The employees of any comapny from the directors down are there to help to keep the company afloat which does not include giving a free advice line; a very British idea? At IAH we work very long hours; often this is the result of spending time giving information and advice to people who have not booked through us and probably have no intention of doing so.

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
16/05/2011 23:56

Message1 Enrico, I have used this site for sometime now, it's brilliant.

TinLondon


Joined: 20/07/2009
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
17/05/2011 00:09

For numbers 0870 / 0845 number you have to dial regularly.



Behind every non-geographic number (i.e 0870, 0845 etc) there is a regular phone number like, 0208, 01707 etc... Barclays telephone banking too has one of these non-geographic numbers, however, I had difficulties using the service from abroad so when i got back to the UK, they told me that some 0870 numbers don't work from abroad so they gave me the number it routes to which happens to be an 01247 number. Now I use this number from the UK (mobile and landline) and it's all part of my inclusive minutes (free).



I've tried this with a few other companies now... contact them, tell them the 0870 / 0844 number isn't working from abroad and they'll give you the regular number behind it, then you can call it just like any other phone number.