Finally no more rip off 084x numbers!

krooton said:
I work closely with Telephony teams, and non-geographic numbers do play an important functional role beyond revenue share (saynoto0870 can make things very difficult sometimes!).

And even then, the revenue share is used to offset costs. Take that away, and prices will need to rise elsewhere to compensate. Nature of the beast sadly. You can always get around it by calling from your work phone instead. :p
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Can you give examples of what those important functional roles are?

I don't see why prices would rise, no-one uses the cost-plus method of pricing anymore
 
pitchfork said:
It's disgusting no one stops them, it's a ****** business plan if your profitability is contingent on ripping your customers off on the support line.
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I don't see why. If they reduced the price of support, the price of the product will go up.
Which is better for the consumer, lower product price (of which 100% will use), or lower support price (of which maybe 5% will use)?
 
scorza said:
Can you give examples of what those important functional roles are?

I don't see why prices would rise, no-one uses the cost-plus method of pricing anymore
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08xx numbers route to geographic numbers.
08xx number can have their routing changed on the fly.
Geographic numbers are what they are.

So a prime example would be exactly what I delivered 2 weeks ago.

A large redesign of the IVR/call flow took place, pretty much a total revamp.

It was set live, and the 08xx numbers that route to the old design were rerouted to the new one. People calling the 08xx number get the new design without us or them having to do anything else.

People using saynoto0870 to get the geo number will be calling the old call flow, which no longer references the correct call centre skills and it badly design (legacy crap from before I started working here).

That geo number will also go back in to the telephony pot to be recycled and used for something else in the future, but people using saynoto0870 will keep calling it, making it pretty much a write-off.

Think of 08xx number as domain names. You can make all the changes you want on the back-end of the website, and people will just keep going to the domain name and experience the changes.

Also, geo numbers are a right pain to report on compared to NGNs *glares at BT*.
 
krooton said:
08xx numbers route to geographic numbers.
08xx number can have their routing changed on the fly.
Geographic numbers are what they are.

So a prime example would be exactly what I delivered 2 weeks ago.

A large redesign of the IVR/call flow took place, pretty much a total revamp.

It was set live, and the 08xx numbers that route to the old design were rerouted to the new one. People calling the 08xx number get the new design without us or them having to do anything else.

People using saynoto0870 to get the geo number will be calling the old call flow, which no longer references the correct call centre skills and it badly design (legacy crap from before I started working here).

That geo number will also go back in to the telephony pot to be recycled and used for something else in the future, but people using saynoto0870 will keep calling it, making it pretty much a write-off.

Think of 08xx number as domain names. You can make all the changes you want on the back-end of the website, and people will just keep going to the domain name and experience the changes.

Also, geo numbers are a right pain to report on compared to NGNs *glares at BT*.
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Isn't that just what 03 number are without the rip off pricing of 08 numbers though?
 
krooton said:
08xx numbers route to geographic numbers.
08xx number can have their routing changed on the fly.
Geographic numbers are what they are.

So a prime example would be exactly what I delivered 2 weeks ago.

A large redesign of the IVR/call flow took place, pretty much a total revamp.

It was set live, and the 08xx numbers that route to the old design were rerouted to the new one. People calling the 08xx number get the new design without us or them having to do anything else.

People using saynoto0870 to get the geo number will be calling the old call flow, which no longer references the correct call centre skills and it badly design (legacy crap from before I started working here).

That geo number will also go back in to the telephony pot to be recycled and used for something else in the future, but people using saynoto0870 will keep calling it, making it pretty much a write-off.

Think of 08xx number as domain names. You can make all the changes you want on the back-end of the website, and people will just keep going to the domain name and experience the changes.

Also, geo numbers are a right pain to report on compared to NGNs *glares at BT*.
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That's a good and legitimate argument for using non-geo numbers (in fact that's why we use ours at work).

Do you have any legitimate reasons for using premium rate non-geo numbers? (Other than the obvious "ripping off customers"?)

The worst is when companies have their sales line as a freephone, but support/aftersales as an 087x...
 
Businesses will also be able to deduct money from refunds, where there is evidence that a returned item has been used.
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Hmm. I feel there will be a lot of businesses capitalizing on that one, since you can't really prove you havent used it (if you've broken the seals).
 
El_Watcher said:
I don't see why. If they reduced the price of support, the price of the product will go up.
Which is better for the consumer, lower product price (of which 100% will use), or lower support price (of which maybe 5% will use)?
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Or the board see's a lower profit that year, management actually have to get off their asses and do some thinking for their bonus or they don't get one.

If you haven't earned the profit, you don't get the profit, and if you take the profit (for example through forcing people to pay for product support) your comeuppance is fair.
 
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krooton said:
snip
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Thanks - that all makes sense but as others have suggested it doesn't explain the rip off premium rate local call numbers.

It really grinds my gears when you get say, my local doctor's surgery using a premium rate 0845 number for making appointments. The routing to geographic numbers argument doesn't apply to a surgery, because that surgery will always be in that geographic area. It tickles me that under pressure from us patients, my surgery has released their geographic number, but still encourages to use the premium rate 0845 number because if we use the geographic number we might get an engaged tone if the surgery is busy, rather than the hold music on the premium rate service.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of premium rate either, I've always pushed for national-rate NGNs (toll-free is VERY expensive for large call centres), but I don't make the decision at the end, and as soon as someone in finance sees "free" money, that's that, lol.
 
OldCoals said:
That sounds like trouble.
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(47) Some consumers exercise their right of withdrawal after having used the goods to an extent more than necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and the functioning of the goods. In this case the consumer should not lose the right to withdraw but should be liable for any diminished value of the goods. In order to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods, the consumer should only handle and inspect them in the same manner as he would be allowed to do in a shop. For example, the consumer should only try on a garment and should not be allowed to wear it. Consequently, the consumer should handle and inspect the goods with due care during the withdrawal period. The obligations of the consumer in the event of withdrawal should not discourage the consumer from exercising his right of withdrawal.
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Sounds fine to me.

Also...

Consumers have 14 calendar days to change their minds and return the goods for any reason
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That's increased from 7 working days.
 
scorza said:
Thanks - that all makes sense but as others have suggested it doesn't explain the rip off premium rate local call numbers.

It really grinds my gears when you get say, my local doctor's surgery using a premium rate 0845 number for making appointments. The routing to geographic numbers argument doesn't apply to a surgery, because that surgery will always be in that geographic area. It tickles me that under pressure from us patients, my surgery has released their geographic number, but still encourages to use the premium rate 0845 number because if we use the geographic number we might get an engaged tone if the surgery is busy, rather than the hold music on the premium rate service.
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My doctors surgery is exactly the same and have pulled the same stunt. You don't live down in Cornwall now do you? ;)
 
anticonscience said:
How so?
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Our NGN providers have a web portal which gives us full access to all we could need. I can design and run reports, set up scheduled reporting, and reroute the numbers myself. Lovely little way for us to be productive and not have to rely on contacting them and the associated turn around times.

BT don't offer us anything similar (without paying a hefty price), so at best I get an itemised bill each month and have to sift through everything in a very manual fashion.
 
Rofflay said:
Im impressed 0800 will now be free from a mobile too :D
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If you have an android phone just get the 0800 Wizard app and all you'll get the 01 numbers for those 0800 numbers. So using the wizard the 0800 numbers will count as part of your inclusive minutes so essentially free.
 
scorza said:
Thanks - that all makes sense but as others have suggested it doesn't explain the rip off premium rate local call numbers.

It really grinds my gears when you get say, my local doctor's surgery using a premium rate 0845 number for making appointments. The routing to geographic numbers argument doesn't apply to a surgery, because that surgery will always be in that geographic area. It tickles me that under pressure from us patients, my surgery has released their geographic number, but still encourages to use the premium rate 0845 number because if we use the geographic number we might get an engaged tone if the surgery is busy, rather than the hold music on the premium rate service.
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0845 isn't premium rate, it's charged the same as a local call.
 
Caged said:
0845 isn't premium rate, it's charged the same as a local call.
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Most people have local calls included in their call package. We have 0845 too, but my doctors surgery is 0844.... which costs to call. They since decided to publicise their local number with the same blurb as the other guy above "may be engaged"
 
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