Say NO to 0870!
Discussion
This may be old news to you but it saves me money occasionally, hope it helps. www.saynoto0870.com/search.php
With a bit of research you'll discover that "Premium" numbers are prefixed "090".
0870 are what used to be called "National Rate" numbers, with 0845 "Local Rate". So you are only paying standard rates if calling from a landline.
Confusion comes with mobile operators not recognising any "non-geographic" number as inclusive in call minute bundles, instead charging their "standard" rates which can be as high as 50p per minute. This money doesn't go to the line operator - it goes to the mobile companies.
New regs means companies using "non-geographic" numbers will have to show the maximum cost per minute for these numbers in the advertising - can only be a good thing to clear up the misconceptions.
0870 are what used to be called "National Rate" numbers, with 0845 "Local Rate". So you are only paying standard rates if calling from a landline.
Confusion comes with mobile operators not recognising any "non-geographic" number as inclusive in call minute bundles, instead charging their "standard" rates which can be as high as 50p per minute. This money doesn't go to the line operator - it goes to the mobile companies.
New regs means companies using "non-geographic" numbers will have to show the maximum cost per minute for these numbers in the advertising - can only be a good thing to clear up the misconceptions.
Precisely.
I have customers who receive hundreds of calls a week on the 0870 numbers they use. Like you say it gives major advantages in having a number that is portable and can also be diverted to different branches around the country depending on where the customer 'phones in from.
The uses of these numbers from a marketing perspective is indeed impressive.
I have customers who receive hundreds of calls a week on the 0870 numbers they use. Like you say it gives major advantages in having a number that is portable and can also be diverted to different branches around the country depending on where the customer 'phones in from.
The uses of these numbers from a marketing perspective is indeed impressive.
Well as a major seller of all things starting, 07, 08 and 09 I can tell you several of my clients have been saved quitea few times because they have their main office number behind a 0870 or 0845 number. One chap's office burnt down but at least we could divert his calls to his smaller office in the next town because he used an 0870 number.
I hate 0870 numbers and it irks me when suppliers use them. Why? Because they make a profit from me calling them. It's especially annoying when I'm calling them because they or their product has f
d-up and their support line is an 0870 number. If they want the benefits of call redirection, etc. mentioned above then use an 0845 number if they must.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you think of your 0870 number, it matters what your customers think and in my experience most don't like them.
d-up and their support line is an 0870 number. If they want the benefits of call redirection, etc. mentioned above then use an 0845 number if they must. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you think of your 0870 number, it matters what your customers think and in my experience most don't like them.
For anyone with a calling package - like mine from One-Tel (as much as you can eat for £9.99pcm) 0870s are a bloody nuisance because you have to pay extra, while calls to 01 and 02 numbers are free.
I wonder why companies are so tempted by the 0870 thing? Is it that they want to look like a big national company when they're not, or are they ashamed of being where they are, or are they just getting a BT kick-back?
I wonder why companies are so tempted by the 0870 thing? Is it that they want to look like a big national company when they're not, or are they ashamed of being where they are, or are they just getting a BT kick-back?
simpo two said:
For anyone with a calling package - like mine from One-Tel (as much as you can eat for £9.99pcm) 0870s are a bloody nuisance because you have to pay extra, while calls to 01 and 02 numbers are free.
I have the same problem with my vonage package. simpo two said:
I wonder why companies are so tempted by the 0870 thing? ...are they just getting a BT kick-back?
I believe so. A couple of pence a minute or something I think. >> Edited by roadsweeper on Friday 4th November 23:53
obiwonkeyblokey said:
we have never had a complaint.
Well I've never complained about them, but I avoid 0870 numbers unless there's no alternative (either another number to call, or I call a different company).
My company set up a sales division to deal with small traders and gave it an 0870 number - we had *loads* of complaints.
obiwonkeyblokey said:
like I said before and am tired of repeating, there is no kick back (for us)and the reason we used one was to give us flexibility in moving our offices around when we were a growing company. we have never had a complaint.
You might be tired of repeating it, but that doesn't change the fact that 0870 numbers are usually used to earn money from people calling them. As a business man I'm sure you're aware that most customers don't complain, they either chalk it up as another negative which contributes to them going elsewhere at a later date, or they simply start using someone else. I'm not claiming most people would not use a supplier simply because of an 0870 number, but generally it doesn't contribute positively to the customer perception of that company IMO.
Try this Google Search and you'll see what I mean about what 0870 numbers are often used for. There are numerous quotes like following:
"Instant 0870 Number Activation! Earn 4.0p/min on calls. Free rental"
"...0870 numbers are bad news for callers, because they can be expensive..."
"0870 numbers earn you 1.5p per minute"
"Government Departments should not be profiting from 0870/0845 numbers"
These are just from the first page. I challenge anyone to make these clearly ridiculous claims that I've seen on here more than once that people don't mind calling them. The fact is that many, not all, do mind. I love it when a sales number is 0800 and even more when the support number is 0800 - I feel straight away that I'm not being fleeced and the company is confident in its product. When I see an 0870 number it tinges my perception of a company from the off. When I'm calling them because of a problem with their product/service and they keep my in a queue paying 7p/min and I know they're making money from it, the principle makes me angry.
For you in particular, I have no idea why you don't make anything from your 0870 number. Why didn't you just go for an 0845 number which is cheaper for your customers (although profit can be made on those too I believe)?
deva link said:
we have never had a complaint.
Well I've never complained about them
Despite the fact that I really, really dislike them, I have only complained once when I rang a company's sales line and they kept me waiting for 10 minutes on an 0870 number just to talk to them. That was the first time I had dealt with that company. When I got through and found out they didn't have what I needed I felt I had to comment that paying 70p and wasting ten minutes to try and buy something that they didn't have wasn't exactly conducive to repeat visits. I never used that company again - why would I when there are so many alternatives these days who I can ring for free?
obiwonkeyblokey said:
I avoid 0870 numbers unless there's no alternative (either another number to call, or I call a different company).
If I really have to deal with that company and I can't find their geographic number through SayNoTo0870 I will, but I make an effort to avoid it. Given two companies I don't know selling the same thing and being the same in every other way, I'd go for the non-0870 number every time.
roadsweeper said:
I love it when a sales number is 0800 and even more when the support number is 0800 - I feel straight away that I'm not being fleeced and the company is confident in its product.
However...0800 isn't free, it's paid for by the company providing the phone service. Which, if they're a profitable company, means that it will be you (the customer) who is covering the cost of this, and it will be factored into the cost of the product/service.
0800/0845/0870, the customer will *always* end up paying for it one way or another. It's how business works!
Rob.
Skoda_Rob said:
I love it when a sales number is 0800 and even more when the support number is 0800 - I feel straight away that I'm not being fleeced and the company is confident in its product.
However...0800 isn't free, it's paid for by the company providing the phone service. Which, if they're a profitable company, means that it will be you (the customer) who is covering the cost of this, and it will be factored into the cost of the product/service.
0800/0845/0870, the customer will *always* end up paying for it one way or another. It's how business works!
Yes, that's all pretty obvious. If I find a company with an 0800 number who are significantly more expensive then they'll be less attractive. The point is that in many cases the prices are roughly the same but one charges you to call them. In that instance, I knw which one I would choose.
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