I previously wrote a blog about the curse of the 0870 numbers, the way that companies are ripping people off who phone them. Recently I had chance to put the web site www.saynoto0870.com to good use, although I didn't actually have a total victory in this case. I recently made a purchase at Currys and I had cause to ring the store up 2 or 3 times, but all the numbers listed for the stores are 0870 numbers, costing around 8p per minute, and the companies who use these numbers are probably taking a cut off this charge, although they would never say how much if you asked them. I looked on the website above and there were plenty of geographic numbers for Currys stores, but not the one I wanted. I used the geographic number for another store (which costs me 3p flat rate per call), and asked them if they had the number for the store I wanted, but could or would only tell me the 0870 number. I asked them to transfer me but they said that they would not be able to. I also tried to go through customer services but they could or would not give me the geographic number, and could not transfer me. So almost admitting defeat I rang on the 0870 number, and asked them to call me back which they did.

I think we should all avoid ringing these 0870 numbers and then they might die a death.

David