Saynoto0870.com
 Search page | |
| Web address | saynoto0870.com |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | Consumer directory |
| Registration | Not required |
| Launched | 1999 |
| Current status | Online |
saynoto0870.com is a UK website with a directory of non-geographic telephone numbers and their geographic alternatives.
The website, which primarily started as a directory of alternatives to 0870 numbers (hence the name), also lists geographic alternatives for 0843, 0844, 0845, 0871, 0872, and 0873 revenue-share numbers, as well as for some 0500, 0800 and 0808 freephone numbers.
The vast majority of telephone numbers are submitted by visitors to the website,[1] but the discussion board also offers a place for visitors to request alternative telephone numbers if they are not included in the database. Some companies that advertise a non-geographic number will also offer a number for calling from abroad - usually starting +44 1 or +44 2 - this number can be used within the UK (removing the +44 and replacing it with 0) to avoid the cost of calling non-geographic telephone numbers. Some companies will also offer a geographic alternative if asked.
Motivations behind the website
- Organisations using 084, 087 and 09 non-geographic telephone numbers (except for 0870 numbers since 2009 after successful campaigning) automatically impose a Service Charge on all callers. Calls to 01, 02, 03, 07 and 080 numbers do not include such an additional charge.
- The revenue derived from the Service Charge is used by the call recipient to cover the call routing costs incurred at their end of the call. Any excess is paid out under a "revenue share" agreement or may be used as a contribution towards meeting other expenses such as a lease for switchboard equipment.
- Non-geographic telephone numbers beginning 084 and 087 have increasingly been employed for inappropriate uses such as bookings, renewals, customer service, complaints and contacting essential health services.
- Most landline providers offer free 'inclusive' calls of up to one hour to standard telephone numbers (those beginning with 01, 02 or 03), while calls to 0843, 0844, 0845, (0870 not so much after 2009), 0871, 0872 and 0873 telephone numbers are usually chargeable.
- Mobile telephones on a contract offer hundreds of minutes per month of free 'inclusive' calls to standard telephone numbers, while calls to 084 and 087 telephone numbers are always chargeable.
- Calls to most 084 and 087 non-geographic telephone numbers are not usually included in bundled minutes from landlines and never included from mobile telephones, however a small number of landline providers may include 0870 and a smaller number may include 0845 telephone numbers on some tariffs.
- Calls to 084 and 087 non-geographic telephone numbers have a much larger Access Charge if called from a mobile telephone, than if called from a landline, making the call price from mobile telephones excessive.
- Calls to freephone numbers (0500, 0800 and 0808) are not included in most mobile telephone contract inclusive minutes and are also chargeable when called from most pay-as-you-go mobile telephones.
Publicity
The site has gained popularity by being awarded Website Of The Day by BBC Radio 2. It has also been featured on the BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show, BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Website of the Week[2] and in The Guardian newspaper[3] and is mentioned by 'Which?'.[4] Several of its forum members, including the owner Daniel, have also been interviewed for newspaper articles and on radio and television regarding the issues surrounding the use of non-geographic numbers.[5]
The website is also supported by Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert.com website.[6]
References
- ↑ Monk, Ed (18 December 2012). "£2 to talk to the taxman: HMRC phone delays leave customers with £33 MILLION a year in call charges". This is Money. Archived from the original on 2013-07-19.
- ↑ "Website of the Week". BBC Radio Gloucestershire. 6 September 2005. Archived from the original on 2006-02-12.
- ↑ Levene, Tony (26 March 2005). "Calls that are a big earner". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07.
- ↑ "Cheap alternatives to 0870 and 0845 calls". Which?. Consumers' Association. Archived from the original on 2010-11-14.
- ↑ McDermott, Nick (5 October 2006). "Your number's up, webmaster tells the 0870 rip-off firms". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 2008-05-31.
- ↑ Lewis, Martin (26 September 2012). "Say no to 0870". MoneySavingExpert.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-29.