0870 scam numbers - prices going up

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gibby

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Sep 11, 2007
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  • #1
    there were reports in the press today that some mobile phone firms are increasing the price of calling a rip off 0870 number to 20p a min

    other providers have also taken the price over 10p a min and many "customer service centers" are switching to 0844 & other numbers to charge more.

    Ofcom promised these numbers would be reduced in price to normal call rates but companies are doing everything they can to make more when you call them

    Personally we do avoid firms that use 0870 numbers as I think its poor customer service & that firms that need to make money this way may be in trouble or unethical.

    G
     
    cjd

    cjd

    Business Member
    • Nov 23, 2005
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  • #2
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    Jenni384

    Jenni384

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    • Oct 1, 2007
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  • #4
    Chippie said:
    Most of the larger companies also have standard geographic numbers. You can search to find out an alternative number from this site:

    www.saynoto0870.com

    Hope that helps. ;)
    Click to expand...

    I love that site! Am sure it's saved me a fortune over the years.

    I too avoid calling an 0870 number wherever possible, they offend me.

    The other thing that got me the other year was the local doctors surgery changing to an 0844 with queuing system. There was one occasion where I had to use my mobile to call them first thing in the morning - it cost me £4. I was shocked and wrote a letter of complaint, pointing out that while I grumbled and swallowed the cost, often, poorer families don't commit to the fixed cost of a landline but may have a PAYG mobile for when necessary, and that the move would hit them very hard. That was ignored, and I was quoted the usual twaddle about streamlining and blah. Not impressed!
     
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    cjd

    cjd

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    • Nov 23, 2005
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  • #5
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    C

    Chippie

  • #6
    Jenni@FarrantFrost said:
    I love that site! Am sure it's saved me a fortune over the years.

    I too avoid calling an 0870 number wherever possible, they offend me.

    The other thing that got me the other year was the local doctors surgery changing to an 0844 with queuing system. There was one occasion where I had to use my mobile to call them first thing in the morning - it cost me £4. I was shocked and wrote a letter of complaint, pointing out that while I grumbled and swallowed the cost, often, poorer families don't commit to the fixed cost of a landline but may have a PAYG mobile for when necessary, and that the move would hit them very hard. That was ignored, and I was quoted the usual twaddle about streamlining and blah. Not impressed!
    Click to expand...


    I'll tell you what really winds me up! We deal with a lot of insurance companies and car dealers. When they don't pay on time we have to call their accounts departments to chase payment and guess what numbers more and more of them are using!! So, not only do they pay late, but they make money out of paying late! :eek:
     
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    Paul Kelly ICHYB

    Paul Kelly ICHYB

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    • Jan 21, 2008
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  • #7
    interesting that 0870 is picked up! With O2, calls to most 0800 numbers are charged at a premium rate.
     
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    Tim R-T-C

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    Mar 19, 2008
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  • #10
    I think that you should be able to enable a warning message on your phone so whenever you dial a number that is more that Xp per minute, it asks you to press 1 (or enter a pin) to continue or if you don't, it stops the call.

    Same way that Google warns you if a site might be spyware loading.

    Of course the phone companies wouldn't like it, but it would stop people (especially children, or perhaps your office staff) from dialling expensive numbers without permision.
     
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    gibby

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    Sep 11, 2007
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    Edinburgh
  • #11
    Tim R-T-C said:
    I think that you should be able to enable a warning message on your phone so whenever you dial a number that is more that Xp per minute, it asks you to press 1 (or enter a pin) to continue or if you don't, it stops the call.

    Same way that Google warns you if a site might be spyware loading.

    Of course the phone companies wouldn't like it, but it would stop people (especially children, or perhaps your office staff) from dialling expensive numbers without permision.
    Click to expand...

    Thats a great idea.
    We do get alot of calls & emails from companies offering us their services but we always reply "we are an ethical company and do not deal with firsm using 0870 or 0845 numbers"

    it amazes me that many of them ask what we mean


    G
     
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    ignitesystems

    Free Member
    Jun 11, 2008
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  • #12
    A lot of people are tempted to use 0870/1 numbers because they actually generated a kickback, so you can generate about 3 pence per minute earnings when someone calls it.

    Needless to say that the numbers are not categorised as PREMIUM RATE so ICSTIS does not govern this.

    See google for revenue generating 0871.


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    cjd

    cjd

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    • Nov 23, 2005
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  • #13
    fyi 0871 will become premium calls and will require the owner to put a pricing message before the call starts. Also 0870 should have been brought down to the same price as a normal national rate call with the kickback removed in January this year but they (Ofcom) forgot all the emergency alarm numbers so they're a bit stuck at the moment.

    Ofcom introduced 03 numbers to replace 0870 but take up is slow.

    The writing is definately on the wall though. 0844 we become the new 0870 but it will cost half as much to call.
     
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    cjd

    cjd

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    • Nov 23, 2005
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  • #15
    Tim R-T-C said:
    So are the 03 numbers non-geographic but priced the same as an 01/02 number then?
    Click to expand...

    In short, yes :)

    " 03 numbers are being introduced as an alternative to chargeable 08 numbers like 0870. Calls to 03 numbers will cost the same as calls to geographic numbers (starting 01 or 02), and be included as part of any inclusive call minutes or discount schemes in the same way as geographic calls.

    Revenue sharing – where the dialled party can receive a share of what the consumer pays to make a call – will not be permitted on calls to 03 numbers.

    Ofcom intends these requirements to apply to calls from all types of line, including mobiles and payphones, and is seeking to confirm this by a change to General Condition 17, on which there will now be a short consultation."

    http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2007/02/nr_20070213b
     
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    T

    ThePrintBarn

  • #20
    Hi Guys,

    Just a quick question, what’s the general consensus with 0845 numbers? The only reason I ask is that we made the move to an 0845 number about year ago to help give customers a single (and hopefully memorable) contact point.

    0845 numbers are charged at local rates, which we hope would be a positive point in the minds of our customers?

    Amidst current climates we’re now considering putting a link to a geographical number on our site, any thoughts or suggestions would as always be very much appreciated.

    Thanx! :)
     
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    I

    itaufait

  • #21
    ThePrintBarn said:
    Hi Guys,

    Just a quick question, what’s the general consensus with 0845 numbers? The only reason I ask is that we made the move to an 0845 number about year ago to help give customers a single (and hopefully memorable) contact point.

    0845 numbers are charged at local rates, which we hope would be a positive point in the minds of our customers?
    Click to expand...

    From my personal perspective - I strongly object to being charged to talk about doing business with anyone; I close my browser window if the site advertises 084 or 087 numbers and go to their competitor, even if the competitor might be a bit more expensive...
     
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    ThePrintBarn

  • #22
    Hi itaufait,

    Thanks for your input! looks like the case for alternative numbers is growing stronger, I’ll forward your thoughts to the powers that be first thing in the morning!

    Talking again from your personal preference if there was a link (most probably a roll over/pop up comment) that displayed a geographical number, would that sway your mind away from clicking off a site at all?
     
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    I

    itaufait

  • #23
    ThePrintBarn said:
    Hi itaufait,

    Thanks for your input! looks like the case for alternative numbers is growing stronger, I’ll forward your thoughts to the powers that be first thing in the morning!

    Talking again from your personal preference if there was a link (most probably a roll over/pop up comment) that displayed a geographical number, would that sway your mind away from clicking off a site at all?
    Click to expand...

    If you really don't want to reveal your geographical location, get an 033 number :)
     
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    T

    ThePrintBarn

  • #25
    We’ve no problem revealing our geographical number (0121 551 1458 for any one following this link! :D) we made the move as a vast number of our customers call from all over the UK, with recent expansion we’ve had to move to larger premises’ a few times and figured instead of having those annoying redirect numbers we’d keep one central number that we could take with us any time we grew larger then our space allowed us.

    With reference to a link for a geographical number it would most probably look something like this ::

    0845 643 9394
    Need a Geographical number? No Problem!
     
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    cjd

    cjd

    Business Member
    • Nov 23, 2005
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  • #27
    gibby said:
    this is good news
    anyone know where I can buy/get an 03 number from a good company
    Click to expand...

    We have them but haven't put them onto our site yet.

    If you want one from us, email support at voipfone co uk. They cost £1.99 per month.
     
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    cjd

    cjd

    Business Member
    • Nov 23, 2005
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  • #28
    ThePrintBarn said:
    Just a quick question, what’s the general consensus with 0845 numbers?
    Click to expand...

    0845 was introduced as a Lo-Call number as callers are charged at local rates (when called from landlines) no matter where they are. Unfortunately, there is no longer a different charge for local and national calls to ordinary geographic numbers so the marketing distinction has been lost.
    They are however cheaper to call than geographic numbers 2p rather than 3p pm (day). I doubt that anyone knows this – did you?
    Ofcom research tells us that they are generally thought to cost the same as dialling 0870.
    BT no longer really promote these numbers and they have been undermined by the growth of mobile as they are not included in mobiles inclusive calling minutes and charged for at various rates, always more than a national call.
    Being non-geographic they have the advantage of moving with you if you move. They are often not dial-able from abroad.

    Please see:

    http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=46850&highlight=telephone+numbers
     
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