jgxenite wrote on Dec 26^th, 2007 at 6:57pm:

I have updated the database entries and added National Express to the hall of shame.

Apart from the revenue aspect (obviously!) it seems logistically much more work to have 0871 numbers only listed in the phone book for Kwik Fit centres, and then have the geographics on the website. Why not just use the geographics for all?

TV licence has changed from 0870 to 0844 .

When I logged in to Alliance & Leicester today they proudly announced a change from 0845 to 0844 for telephone banking.  That still makes it impossibly expensive from a mobile phone.  Add to hall of shame please.

I went on to the A&L web site. Not only are all the numbers 08xx but there isn't an email address for contact.

I called A&L Head office on 0116 201 1000 and pointed out that i wanted to open an account and substantial deposit but I won't do so unless I can contact them easily. The person I spoke to went away and came back and said write in. I pointed out that instead of writing in I, like everyone else, in such a position won't write in but simply go elsewhere. People can't be bothered with this. It was suggested I visit a branch. I gave the same reply which was if I can't sort it out now I simply will go elsewhere to deposit my money. I want to do this online or on the phone.

I was then put through to Global Customer Services. I told them the story and pointed out that if I was using my mobile this call would now have cost me £6 and therefore I'm not going to transfer my money to an account that will lose me this amount of money.

I was told that the issue would be escalated and that if I wished to be put through to the appropariate department to call the HO number 0116 201 1000.

This final instruction seems contary to that reported on here before so it would be interesting to hear if any existing customers have success with this.

Two more for the list, both computer related

Dell - 0844-4444699 Was 0870

Mesh - 0844-360440 was 0870

Funny, I seem to remember companies complaining about changing numbers, cost, inconvenience etc but when there was a chance that they would loose their revenue share, no problem

"Airmiles" travel company have changed from 0870 to 0844 numbers. The Geographic numbers listed against 0870 still work.
I telephoned them last night at 18:10 on BT 'free evening call to Geographic numbers' tariff.  The call lasted 27 minutes: the ticket agent offered to call me back after I mentioned the cost of the call using the 0844 number. Thanks for saving me pounds!

A big Boo and a bigger Hiss to E.ON, who are currently changing all of their customer telephone numbers (apart from sales, funnily enough) from 0800s to 0845s due to 'customer demand' (quite where they got this from I do not know). 01268652100 is still the number I would recommend you use to call them, any changes and I will let you know.

All freephone numbers are still in use, until one day when a recorded message will play offering the 0845 numbers. No specific date for this though. Information on this to follow:

"Customer Service telephone numbers move to 0845
From Monday 4 February 2008 we started to change our 0800 (free phone) numbers to 0845 () numbers for handling customer enquiries.

We’ll continue to operate our 0800 (free phone) numbers for acquiring new customers.

Research has shown that a freephone number is not a service valued by our customers. Many of our customers don’t call us at all, so the majority are subsidising the high cost which is several £million of providing this service. The practice of 0800 sales and 0845 servicing numbers is widespread across the energy sector and more broadly across customer service organisations.

We’re also changing our opening hours to Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and closed on Sundays. Currently we receive around 7% of our inbound customer service calls outside of these hours. By changing our opening hours we’ll be able to provide a better level of service at the times when the majority of our customers want to talk to us.

Many colleagues within Customer Service will also benefit from the change and see an improvement in their work life balance as they will have more time available at weekends to spend with their family and friends."


'LO-CALL'... Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo