But what numbers do you have for them? Presumably you have a non-geographical number you don't want to call. It would help if you gave us that number. Also, any details of who actually provides the service (is it a third party contractor?) would be useful.

Their website gives the number 0800 051 1470 for faults and repairs.

Please could you clarify what you are looking for? 0800 numbers are free from landlines. Are you using a mobile, so want a geographical number? Have you tried dial-through services for freephone numbers? Try 0200 222 0700 or 0200 222 0900 - they should be included in your monthly minutes.

pookie1981 wrote on Oct 16^th, 2008 at 2:23pm:

I am not sure what you mean when you say you are "dubious as other numbers like that have charged to my mobile". These numbers are London numbers as they begin 020 and will be charged as such. You won't find an alternative which is free from your mobile.

The 020 numbers will be charged exactly the same as any other geographical alternative we might find.


There is an existing thread on E.ON here where I have compiled a list of lots of alternatives. When I tried them, they fell into a number of different groups which answered the same.

All entries in the database for E.ON are listed as such. Note the name "E" dot "ON" and not "E" hyphen "ON". Sorry to be pedantic, but if you searched for "e-on" then you won't find anything.

pookie1981 wrote on Oct 16^th, 2008 at 2:40pm:

London numbers are infact 020 followed by an eight digit local number. Most of these local numbers start 7 and 8 and some newer ones start 3.

Numbers starting 0 and 1 have been allocated within all area codes and are known as "national dialling only" which means you must dial the code, even when calling from a phone within the same STD area. But the cost will still be the same.

The code for London is therefore 020 and not 0208 or 0207. If you are in London and you dial seven digits, you won't get through. I assure you that as these numbers start 020, that they are London numbers and you will therefore be charged as such.


As for an alternative, perhaps this insurance cover is provided by a third party such as an insurance company rather than E.ON direct. Knowing the name of this company might lead us to an alternative.

pookie1981 wrote on Oct 16^th, 2008 at 2:40pm:


It does seem odd that you would call an 0800 number that you know will be charged at a premium rate, yet you won't call an 020 0 number that we are assuring you will cost the same as a geographical number!

I had assumed you were at home if you were waiting for a service engineer to turn up.

It might be worth asking at work whether you can use the phone to make freephone calls. It probably doesn't cost them anything, and it makes no difference in terms of lost work time whether you use your mobile or a work phone. What it could mean is that you spend the whole day off work while waiting for tradesmen if you are unable to make calls to make the arrangements.

The numbers 020 0222 0700 or 020 0222 0900 are examples of dial-through numbers. After you call the numbers, they will prompt you to dial the freephone number you wish to call. As far as your mobile provider is concerned, you are calling a London number, so the cost of the calls is taken from your inclusive minutes (assuming you are on a contract mobile).

I don't think it's likely that you would be charged extra for calling an 020 0 number on your mobile. The worst that can happen is that it might say the number isn't recognised. Unfortunately there's no compulsion for any phone operator except BT to provide access to every number. People on the Moneysavingexpert forums do report success with those numbers, however:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=187258
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=833241