Cost of 0844 numbers
At a time when Google Places Pages are dependent upon keeping a consistent phone number across the board and putting huge emphasis on local numbers, I found it rather strange that so many businesses had started using 0844 numbers.
I suspected it might have a lot to do with financial remuneration which meant that there was definitely a post for this blog waiting to be written!
Researching the subject, I found this post about how 0844 numbers are even infiltrating the NHS with a local doctor’s surgery making money out of patients ringing up for appointments and test results.
So it was rather fortuitous to receive an email offering to supply me with such a number and giving me the lowdown.
Cost of 0844 numbers
Have you noticed how a lot of organisations seem to be using 0844 numbers? We are certainly selling more and more of them.
0844 numbers are lo-call numbers, that means the caller pays a low rate of 4.5p a minute but you earn 2p a minute revenue.
That’s right. You earn 2p a minute every time someone rings your 0844 number.
And because they are not much more than the cost of a local call, people don’t mind calling them – unlike 0870 numbers.
Plus 0844 numbers have all the benefits of virtual numbers.
So you can relocate your business at any time without having to worry about the phone number. And you get all the benefits of a memorable number and higher response to advertising.
And you can instantly re-route all your calls anywhere at any time.
In these tough times it makes sense to get every bit of revenue you can. To find out more about the cost of 0844 numbers
Right, so you think it’s good business sense to try to make money out of potential customers, whilst also making them pay for a call that they could get for free on most telephone packages?
I DO MIND having to pay more just so some businesses can benefit from such a stealth charge!
I regularly use saynoto0870.com to avoid using such numbers, which seem to be de rigeur for Customer Services departments of financial institutions and other large conglomerates. They’re not better than 0870 in my eyes because they’re just a way of milking people who are coming to you for help and it makes me very cross.
And now they are spreading down into regular high street businesses under the guise of being ‘cheaper’. That’s what I was told by one bank when asked to explain why they used these numbers. Well they don’t cost less than regular numbers – as it quite clearly says above. I have a telephone package that means I can call national and local numbers as part of the monthly payments. By bringing in these 0844 numbers, these companies are stopping me from doing that and then trying to bamboozle me with the fact that it’s better for me!
So, next time you’re searching for a local business to trust with your project, you might want to bear in mind the ethos of someone who is intent on making money out of you right from the outset.
How likely is it that they are going to be looking out for you and trying to provide you with the most cost-effective option that will give you the best return on investment (ROI) for your business?
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February 4th, 2013 at 8:17 am
0844 numbers are premium rate revenue share numbers. They have never been “local rate” or “lo-call” numbers. Those terms may have applied to 0845 numbers at some point, but only before 2005.
The ASA would be interested in your experience. Similar complaints about misleading descriptions of 084 numbers have been upheld on multiple occasions.
The Consumer Rights Directive will shortly make it illegal to use 084, 087 and 09 numbers for customer service and similar functions. Businesses will have to move to 01, 02 or 03 numbers.
034 and 037 numbers are reserved for migration from the matching 084 and 087 numbers. This has been in place since 2007.
GPs are banned from using 084 and other such numbers. Their GMS contract was amended in April 2010. Complain to the PCT and to your MP if the 01 or 02 number or an 03 number is not offered.
When Ofcom’s unbundled tariffs come into force later in 2013, businesses using 084 and 087 numbers will have to declare the premium or “service charge” attached to their number. It will no longer be acceptable to quote “calls cost 5p/min from a BT line, other providers may charge more”.
Instead, the business will quote “calls have 5p/min revenue share service charge plus your phone providers access charge” and your phone company will say “calls to 0844 numbers have 4p/min access charge on top of the service charge”. If calls to 0844 numbers from mobiles continue to be charged at the current levels, they’ll be telling you their access charge is 20 to 30p/min.
Reaching businesses by calling an 03 number should quickly become the norm and calling 084 and 087 numbers the rare exception.
February 7th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Hi Steve
Thank you so much for your informative contribution! It is really good to hear. I am already receiving emails from businesses offering me 03 numbers for my business – although I will stick with my regular location based prefix.