In light of a thread about business to business support where some negative comments about the cost of calling an 087* number were aired I wondered if anyone has gone to pick up the phone and looked at the number and thought against it?
Does having an 0871 number (which, in case anyone isn't aware is actually a number that generates revenue for the business when you call it, making it potentially profitable to have a customer on hold
) put people off? I know sites su as www.saynoto0870.com have rapidly risen in popularity but does it actually stop someone from calling?
The main thread was about business to business support and how other businesses won't let staff call these numbers on company lines and how there should either be a standard number which is likely to be free on mobile contracts and whatever landline package the company has or even a freephone number, especially for support.
It's worth remembering that on most landlines will charge as 0871 numbers are rarely included. Some call providers have moved to include 0870 calls in some call packages though.
Sky charge 7.6p/min (12.5p connection) daytime
BT charge BT 7.95p/min (13.1p connection) daytime
Virgin charge 10.22p/min (14.94p connection) daytime
if you were a business and were calling from a site, on your company mobile on Vodafone:
Non-geographic numbers starting 0844 or 0871 35p a minute (one minute minimum call charge)
Non-geographic numbers starting 0845, 0870 14p a minute (one minute minimum call charge)
O2:
0870 Pay monthly 20.4p/min, PAYG 25p/min
0871 Pay monthly 35.8p/min, PAYG 35p/min
As you can see, the two most common mobile companies for business (my opinion!) charge a pretty penny for calls to these numbers. It should also be said most mobile companies charge for calling FREEPHONE numbers, although i believe this may be changing.
Should a business support line have an alternative? Should a standard number be easily available? Should companies try to hide these numbers? Does it bother you that OCUK (and others it must be said, I don't want to single out OCUK!) still use these numbers? The temptation to reduce staffing levels to increase call queues (win win!) must be great!
Does having an 0871 number (which, in case anyone isn't aware is actually a number that generates revenue for the business when you call it, making it potentially profitable to have a customer on hold

The main thread was about business to business support and how other businesses won't let staff call these numbers on company lines and how there should either be a standard number which is likely to be free on mobile contracts and whatever landline package the company has or even a freephone number, especially for support.
It's worth remembering that on most landlines will charge as 0871 numbers are rarely included. Some call providers have moved to include 0870 calls in some call packages though.
Sky charge 7.6p/min (12.5p connection) daytime
BT charge BT 7.95p/min (13.1p connection) daytime
Virgin charge 10.22p/min (14.94p connection) daytime
if you were a business and were calling from a site, on your company mobile on Vodafone:
Non-geographic numbers starting 0844 or 0871 35p a minute (one minute minimum call charge)
Non-geographic numbers starting 0845, 0870 14p a minute (one minute minimum call charge)
O2:
0870 Pay monthly 20.4p/min, PAYG 25p/min
0871 Pay monthly 35.8p/min, PAYG 35p/min
As you can see, the two most common mobile companies for business (my opinion!) charge a pretty penny for calls to these numbers. It should also be said most mobile companies charge for calling FREEPHONE numbers, although i believe this may be changing.
Should a business support line have an alternative? Should a standard number be easily available? Should companies try to hide these numbers? Does it bother you that OCUK (and others it must be said, I don't want to single out OCUK!) still use these numbers? The temptation to reduce staffing levels to increase call queues (win win!) must be great!