Customers urged to 'say no' to 0870 telephone numbers

A new website lists more than 5,000 standard-rate numbers next to their 08 equivalents
13 April 2012

Customers could make huge savings by ringing standard-rate alternatives for expensive 0870 calls, a website has revealed.

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Customers wishing to phone banks, airlines, energy companies and government departments are often advised to ring a number starting with 0870 or 0845.

But what many don't know is that they can often call an alternative number with a local code for a fraction of the cost.

They are now being urged to access a website - Saynoto0870.com - which lists more than 5,000 standard-rate numbers next to their 08 equivalents.

In many instances, the calls to 08 numbers can cost up to 9p a minute while a standard landline call costs just 3p.

A spokesman for the telecoms watchdog Ofcom said that many customers did not realise the full cost of the 08 numbers.

Simon Bates said: "There is still a perception that 0845 and 0870 numbers are relatively cheap but it is not really true.

"The cost of making calls to a local number is actually much cheaper and we recommend that customers do this where possible."

The problem is exacerbated by the fact many people have all-inclusive telephone packages for a fixed monthly fee.

But most of these exclude calls to 0844, 0845, 0870 and 0871 helplines.

A customer with a typical all-in package would pay about £1.50 extra for a 20-minute daytime call to a 0870 number - but nothing to a landline.

Stephen Tall, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Headington, Oxford, used his own website to recommend Saynoto0870.com after many local residents complained about Royal Mail's poor service on an 0845 number.

"A student in my ward spent £27 calling the 0845 number," he said. "But on the standard line he can call for a fraction of that price."

The website - set up by a Lancashire computer expert - also campaigns against companies who take a share of the 08 call costs.

Many companies take a slice of the call charge - often 2.5p a minute - meaning they cash in on customers who are kept on hold for a long time.

Last year, Ofcom announced that companies are to be banned from taking a share of the call charge - but this will not come into force until 2008.

The watchdog also plans to reclassify 0871 numbers as "premium rate" numbers.

But it said it did not plan to make changes to 0845 numbers - often used by Internet companies for customers with dial-up Internet services.

It is thought the DVLA, which uses 0870 numbers, makes a profit in excess of £1 million a year on their calls.

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