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0870 numbers

  • Thread starter Thread starter lona
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lona

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I am on BT together anytine package where you pay £18.50 per month and receive all UK calls free after 6pm. I didn't read the small print and thought 0870 and 0845 numbers were free also. What a shock I got when my phone bill came in. So be warned folks. These 0870 numbers are a pain in the neck. Has anyone ever noticed you are kept hanging on nearly everytime you dial one of these numbers. That way the company you are phoning can make more money as well as BT. :( :( <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />
 
0870 and 0845 numbers have been a standard for some deal of time.

0870 are National Rate numbers (about 10p per min)
0845 are Local Rate numbers (about the same as ringing next door)

Of course thats only based on if you are a BT customers, other telco's and mobiles charge more so check first. Remeber only 0800 and 0808 are Free numbers from landlines.
 
You should have read the small print anyway.

Also, you'll find that they have a list of the numbers you can and cannot dial, in larger text than the standard T&C's are in.
 
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Sorry to here you got stung like that, the advisor you speak to is meant to tell you thet they're not included. The reason there not, of course, is that they are not local or national numbers, they are non-geographic numbers charged at local or national rate respectivly
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by lona:
<strong>That way the company you are phoning can make more money as well as BT. :( :( :(</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">which isnt always true. I was looking at 0870 numbers not long ago for the charity and with some telcos you have to pay them to receive a call - so the longer your on hold the more it costs them!
 
I don't pay for my 0870 numbers, or my 0871 numbers.
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Kyle:
<strong>I don't pay for my 0870 numbers, or my 0871 numbers.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">How?
 
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I think Kyle means for having your own 0870 number as they are available for free on the net. You have to pay to ring them though
 
Perhaps you are correct with some companies Mark but I can tell you I have a friend who works in a call centre and she tells me that they are told to keep the caller on for as long as possible as they make a profit from the 0870 number. This is the case with many businesses to-day.
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by lona:
<strong>Perhaps you are correct with some companies Mark but I can tell you I have a friend who works in a call centre and she tells me that they are told to keep the caller on for as long as possible as they make a profit from the 0870 number. This is the case with many businesses to-day.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thats actually illegal and should be reported to OFTel.

Cheers.
 
I would agree but how does one prove it??? Do you want me to get my friend her jotters lol
 
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djtolec - it is only illegal on 090 numbers.

and lona a lot of companies do make some money, just not all. I was really really suprised when i discovered some companies wanted me to pay them 6/7 p per min to receive 0870 calls - it was almost as expensive to receive an 0800 call!!
 
What I don't understand is why do we need these numbers. Why can't folks not use ordinary numbers
eg local and regional. Ofcourse BT would not make any money from the BT together package where all calls in the UK are free after 6PM
 
Quote lona – ‘These 0870 numbers are a pain in the neck. Has anyone ever noticed….’

I certainly have!
I did originally post this in Freeserve forum, to follow Mark Mc’s post there.
But feel, or hope it would be more appropriate here.

I don’t care for the wide spread & ever increasing use of 0807 (non geographic) numbers prevalent now.
Ferry, rail, bus travel, Visa, & catalogue enquiries etc. etc., you name it!

While I agree that it is not premium rate, I feel certain there is a ‘kick back’/ profit to the operators of these numbers.

Whilst the unfortunate user has to pay the Nat. rate of 8p min., even if living ‘next door’.

And worst of all -
Not only but also, by using alternative providers, I can make calls on my BT line at a cost of 2p per min. for peak rate Nat calls, to anywhere in the UK.

But I am denied use of these lower rates for ‘non geographic’ 0870 numbers, & have to pay full rate.

Also 0870 etc are also not included or eligible for the BT ‘Call Allowance’.
(£6.40 Qtr Std tariff, more on other packages).
Which is increased & forced on us as a ‘sop’ every time they (frequently) increase the line rental charges.

(Unfortunately there are no cable alternatives avail. in my area).
What happened to the announcement on the Nat. news some while back, that BT has to release its stranglehold on line rentals, & “Lines may be offered free of rental charges”, I wonder.

Naturally for any services that I require, I give first choice to those with a geographic (normal exchange number), in preference to 0870 every time.

Furthermore, IF I were to ring anyone on 0870 No., it will cost me 8p per min at ‘peak time’/daytime rate, or £1.60 every 20mins.

Whereas ringing any standard UK exchange No. (0191; 01695 etc) will only cost me 2p per min ‘peak’ Nat rate, or only 0.40p every 20 mins!

I find this 0807 ‘non geographic’ syndrome certainly is a pain in the neck, & elsewhere besides!

Although of course this is only my view to the way it affects me.
But 0870, (& 0845 for that matter) are bad news as far as I’m concerned!!

PS. To other post added since written –
Quote lona – “What I don't understand is why do we need these numbers.”

We, the customers don’t!
Obviously a lot of these operators are intent on making a profit.
Aside from any claimed possible convenience of a central call centre in a few cases.

:mad: :( :( :cool:
 
there handy in the respect the company can change the nunber the 0870 number is mapped to and you wouldnt notice. it also has the advantage of being able to send you directly to a local office instead of the 01xx or 02xx number you called. if the numbers are busy you also can be sent to a different call centre so to avoid the ques (i know this is what HSBC does).

but i do agree it is annoying - im on telewest talk unlimited so know what you mean about paying. although I do have 1 trick <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> if your calling a bank/credit card company or similar, look for the "If you are calling from outside the uk" telephone number. This will be a geographic number (non 0870) and use that to call them with. It goes to the same place just avoids the 0870 fees!
 
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Hi Mark.
While, what you say is quite valid.
The advantage is mostly more to the operators benefit than the customer’s.
And I think there’s a heck of a lot of companies or operators that could just as easily use a standard exchange number.
If they wished to.

Thanks for that tip with look for dialling number from abroad.
I did cotton on to that a while back & been using for my bank for sometime.
But my Visa knocked that on the head, although they did at least change to a 0845 No.

I also often try to find out if there is an alternative std exchange No. available, if for regular use.

Most times unsuccessfully.
So at the end of the day 0870 proves (edit) 300% <img border="0" alt="[Crap]" title="" src="graemlins/crap.gif" /> more expensive for me.
(8p per min against 2p)& is a pain in the ar..!

:) :cool:

<small>[ 13.09.2002, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: Quark ]</small>
 
If you've got the stamina <a href="http://www.magsys.co.uk/telecom/" target="_blank">magenta systems</a> list all(?) phone rates available including 0870 rates, some discounts I think!
 
Yes, that's a good site, used that a year or more ago.

There was also a site run by a Joel Feinstein which was very good, (which also gave other sites such as 'Silly Fish') & have been using recommendations from him.

But nether the less, there were very few sites that can offer 0870 for less than BT.
And most cost more, with the exception of ‘Go Talk’, (5p for peak).
Who also come out best for international calls, but not for Nat geographic Uk peak rates.

This can mean using 3 or even 4 different providers on occasion.
However I am overdue to take a fresh look at the phone provider listing sites.
Will have to have another look.
:)
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Cre@tive:
<strong>0870 are National Rate numbers (about 10p per min)</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">0871 is often 10p/min but 0870 is usually 8p/4p/2p for day, evening and weekend calls.

Not everyone gets income from such numbers, and my clients seem happy enough to call my 0870 number when I'm unable to answer my 'normal' number. They know that if I can I will ring them back. Free 0870s (and similar numbers) are available on the net. I've even had one which accepted messages and sent them on by e-mail to me (neat!)

The benefit to me is that I can divert an 0870 to my sister's number if I am visiting her for a week and don't need to pay for </font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">call diversion service</font></li>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">divert call charge</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">and I know the caller will normally reach me quite easily and at a modest fee, compared with 07xxx numbers for mobiles or personal numbers. As I've indicated, if I can, I phone them back using one of the 2p/min calling card services.
I can also recommend the spreadsheets at Magenta (need annual subscription for that). I've just paid for my second year. Must have saved several times what membership fee cost me.
 
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