Useful Information & Say no to 0870! Hot Topics » Hall of Shame: Companies changing numbers

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Hall of Shame: Companies changing numbers

Some companies have changed to more expensive telephone numbers. Many are switching from 0870 due to the changes which are due to take effect on 1 February 2008 whereby companies will not be able to profit and will probably have to pay for incoming calls. They tend to be moving to 0871 numbers charged at 10p/min at all times, with some going to 0844s charged at 5p/min at all times.

From 0870 to 0871

Going Places - Each branch had an 0870 number, now replaced with 0871 numbers.
First Choice Holidays - Sadly it is commonplace that many holiday companies choose to charge above geographical rate and First Choice is no exception. It will cost 10p/min to call the reservations and customer services numbers shown on the website.
1&1 Internet 6p/min at all times from a BT landline
Alpharooms
Bristol City Football Club
Kwik Fit Although a freephone number is provided for contacting the nearest branch, and the company's website lists geographical numbers for branches, Kwik Fit lets itself down by providing 0871 numbers on directory enquiries services.
National Express
Nildram
P&O Ferries
Picturehouse Cinemas
Rugby League Super League - Ticket line now 0871
TalkSport
Tiscali - Broadband customer services and technical support
Travelbag
Travelodge - All hotels have changed numbers.

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From 0844 to 0871

Home Delivery Network Limited has switched from 0870 to 0844, and then changed its mind again, settling on a premium rate 0871 number.

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From 0870 to 0845

Laithwaites Wine Club Also operates other clubs such as Sunday Times Wine Club

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From 0870 to 0843/0844

AirMiles
AMF Bowling - Numbers changed for all bowling centres.
BAA - Healthrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh Aberdeen and Southampton Airports have changed numbers.
British Airways
Budget Insurance Services Limited (BISL)
City Link
Comet
CPP - Provider of HSBC CardGuard, M&S Card Safe and others.
DHL
Europ Assistance
Eurostar
Firebox.com - Replaced 0870 with 0844 costing 4p/min at all times.
Fitness First branches now have 0844 numbers.
House of Fraser
Lex Vehicle Leasing
Match Recruitment
Mercury Direct - Travel agency
National Railway Museum
Parcelforce Worldwide
Pavilion Publishing
Simon Jersey

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From 0845 to 0844

Next Directory - Mail order enquiries numbers now changed.
Cahoot [Discussion here] - 0845 numbers replaced with 4 pence per minute at all times 0844 numbers.
Co-operative Bank
Smooth Radio (part of Guardian Media Group)

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From Geographical (01/02) to 0844

Bridgewater Hall - Box office was 0161, now 0844
Ink2U
ITV Plc - Switchboards and direct numbers for staff throughout the country are being changed to 0844 @ 5p/min.
Maplin Electronics stores now have 0843 numbers
The Football Association (The FA) - Now based at Wembley Stadium, its 0844 number is published and its "local" 020 numbers are apparently a closely guarded secret.
Wembley Stadium

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From Geographical (01/02) to 0845

Thomas Cook - All brances now have 0845 number. The 01/02 numbers now have messages redirecting callers to branch's new "lo-call cost number".
eXpansys
Vauxhall - Customer Care is now 0845

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From Geographical (01/02) to 0871

Shrewsbury Town Football Club - One 0871 number for all departments at the club.

Hall of Shame: Other 084/087 rip-off number users

Benjamin Scott helps businesses save money on their mobile phone costs. Even though it publishes its proper 01698 number online, it has chosen to use a maximum price (g6) 0844 number in local radio advert which it says is "local rate". Would you deal with a company that specialises in analysis of the cost of telephone calls, but doesn't know the cost of ringing it?

I also think a table would look better.  However as there is only a few listed on it, it's not really needed yet but would nice as a table. 

GrahamH wrote on Apr 14^th, 2007 at 2:45pm:

I have found that with car dealerships, the manufacturer may give them an 084/087 number which is shown on the manufacturer's page for that dealership. The dealership will show geographical or a different NGN on their website, but in many cases geographicals are shown on BT Phonebook. I think that this is more for statistical purposes, although we cannot rule out revenue being earned.

I have not looked at Autotrader, but from what you're saying, I suspect that it is Autotrader who have implemented these numbers. This is like the various restaurant review sites that give 0871s for the restaurants and Rightmove.co.uk that gives 0845 number for estate agents. This is discussed here.

One clue that this is the case is that the 084/087 numbers begin with the same few digits. If you find one garage has 0871 1234567 and you Google a nearby number, such as 0871 1234568, and you find it brings up a page on the same site to a garage that is not connected to the other (i.e. not part of the same group), you can be sure that these numbers have not been put into place by the outlets themselves.

idb wrote on Apr 27^th, 2007 at 12:34am:

0844 499 xxxx - 5p/minute at all times from a BT landline.

Hall of Shame - excellent idea! 

I know from previous posts there are misgivings about this idea but why not devise a template complaint letter that those of us interested could tweak (e.g add a paragraph stating how long we've been a customer) inorder to express our dissatisfaction with these shameful acts!

Maybe also, especially if this hall of shame grows, do a email to all SayNo members highlighting this trend and encouraging others to complain/boycott the companies concerned.  This could lead to more media attention, particularly timely with the premium rate compeition line rip-off being so prominent.

I'm pleased to see others have noticed the move from 0870 to 0871 numbers. I have been "stung" myself. My O2 package is inclusive of 0800,0845 and 0870 numbers, so I was off guard when I rang an 0871 number. Helpful email from O2 "You'll not be charged for making calls to the phone numbers starting with 0800, 0845 and 0870. Calls to all 0871 numbers are charged at 35p per minute, The phone numbers starting with 0871 are premium rate numbers". Allowing 0871 numbers to be premium rate is surely an open invitation for dubious businesses to make a "killing".

I noticed on another forum that there was supposed to be a move away from this confusion such that 0871 and even 0870 numbers would disapear or be charged at national rate only. Does that mean it costs the same as 01/02 numbers (i.e. inclusive with many providers) or like the old 0870 numbers, up to 10ppm. All very confusing.

Consumers do have power, and we can change this.  Whenever I'm forced to use an 0878 number, and when I eventually get through, I ask for an alternative number to dial.  If there is no alternative offered, I make sure that the person I speak to notes the fact that 1) I will never call that number again, 2) I shall seek a competitor that does not force customers to use 0870 numbers.  This strategy, however, is probably no good when contacting governemt departments, although I believe that those using this prefix have been instructed to change it.  We can but hope.