You perhaps already this, but just in case you don't, check out www.deltaphone.co.uk and see that far from companies obtaining an 087 number to help us poor sods out, they also earn money per minute. ( see rates they earn on site ).
No wonder they all keep us waiting so long, listening to Vivaldi etc. It obviously is in their interests so they can subsidise their call centres.
This is an extremely helpful site. I wouldn't have known about it unless I'd been listening to Steve Wright on radio 2. Thanks to web site of the day.

Thanks to the BBC we found this through the Jeremy Vine show.

I hate these numbers and have been complaining for years.

The Abbey National denied that they had a land line but I found it within mins.

I now ask firms before I buy anything what type of number they expect me to call them on if I have a problem, especially motor insurance etc.

thank god for this site

G