I'm not sure how we do it technically, but should we not start a Hall of Shame for those companies that just switched from 0870 to 0871?

The objective is to gain exposure from sympathetic news outlets along the 'Rip-off Britain' idea. Those here in the know will understand how to publicise this.

My first company that changed:

Expedia.co.uk

Other companies have been mentioned. I know Going Places has. I think that the best way will be to have a locked thread that I modify when others get suggested. That way, it's all kept clearly in a list.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I will have a think about it and look at implementing this.

We know that some 0871 numbers cost less than 10p per minute to call - but it's no surprise that Going Places' number is not one of those.

The question to all companies changing to 0871 numbers must be, "Why did you change to a 10p per minute 0871 number and not to a 10p per minute 0901 98 number?"

Apart from the fact that call queueing is not banned on 0871 numbers but is on 09 numbers, the reason, of course, is that everyone knows 09 numbers are premium rate but few people know that 0871 numbers are too - so they're hoping they won't be rumbled.  

bill wrote on Apr 4^th, 2007 at 10:32am:

... the reason, of course, is that everyone knows 09 numbers are premium rate but few people know that 0871 numbers are too - so they're hoping they won't be rumbled.

Exactly the point - most companies hope that Mr Average Punter doesn't understand the difference. Let's face it, that's true; apart from us Nerds nobody does....

Unless we make it easy - screaming headlines " Expedia denies ripping off customers..." nobody will care. Despite the sometime arcane discussions here, there IS a real point to this - informed consumer choice