No Foreigners Please, We're British!
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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No Foreigners Please, We're British!
EMA website advertises 0871 919 9000 as the only access to General Enquiries and these services are UK Only.
Attempting to call EMA enquiries last night from Switzerland I was told "This service cannot be reached", from France today the line just drops.
BT Inbound services confirm that these services are for UK callers only and that no-one should be prefixing then with +44 (0) as a worldwide contact number.
I used to get anoyed with the US for only offering 0800 numbers but this is now resolved, it looks like we Brits are equally oblivious to the rest of the world. PLEASE add a normal STD number to your websites guys!
Has this always been broken or is it just since BT decided to make them free (last month)?
Attempting to call EMA enquiries last night from Switzerland I was told "This service cannot be reached", from France today the line just drops.
BT Inbound services confirm that these services are for UK callers only and that no-one should be prefixing then with +44 (0) as a worldwide contact number.
I used to get anoyed with the US for only offering 0800 numbers but this is now resolved, it looks like we Brits are equally oblivious to the rest of the world. PLEASE add a normal STD number to your websites guys!
Has this always been broken or is it just since BT decided to make them free (last month)?
Last edited by paull; 3rd Apr 2009 at 12:51. Reason: Originally included LHR also, but seems ok now.
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www.saynoto0870.com. Go to find alternative number at the top left- It will then give you the geographical number, also if calling from the UK saves you a fortune 
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I sent an email to the LHR web folk, they say that +44 (0)870 000 0123 works and although it failed this morning twice, it seems to be ok now which is a relief.
As for EMA, thanks for the direct number, handsfree. I can confirm that if I take the advertised 0871 919 9000 and dial 0044 871 919 9000 from France, I get "number is not attributed" message still. The +44 1332 852 852 is fine.
I'll go back and modify the previous post - re LHR.
As for EMA, thanks for the direct number, handsfree. I can confirm that if I take the advertised 0871 919 9000 and dial 0044 871 919 9000 from France, I get "number is not attributed" message still. The +44 1332 852 852 is fine.
I'll go back and modify the previous post - re LHR.
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I wouldn't have bothered sending them the email.
In fact, I send emails to these money grabbing corporations telling them that they SHOULD NOT have 0870 or 0845's. They've normally creamed enough off of us with admin fees, taxes or some sort of way of parting you with your money (such as banks or insurance companies) and then once you've paid them the money you then need to pay more for the privalege of talking to them to resolve what normally is their mistake.
Not only this, as you quite rightly point out the connection often drops when calling from abroad.
0870 and 0845's should be banned. I notice that BT are now advertising that these calls are free on some of their calling plans. Considering it was them that set them up in the first place, I feel a certain element of contradiction is at play!
In fact, I send emails to these money grabbing corporations telling them that they SHOULD NOT have 0870 or 0845's. They've normally creamed enough off of us with admin fees, taxes or some sort of way of parting you with your money (such as banks or insurance companies) and then once you've paid them the money you then need to pay more for the privalege of talking to them to resolve what normally is their mistake.
Not only this, as you quite rightly point out the connection often drops when calling from abroad.
0870 and 0845's should be banned. I notice that BT are now advertising that these calls are free on some of their calling plans. Considering it was them that set them up in the first place, I feel a certain element of contradiction is at play!
Straight & level
off topic a little but...
0870 numbers were charged at National call rates and 0845 numbers at Local rates. They enabled organisations to offer a "non-geographic" phone number and, with an 0845 number for example, people could call an organisation in Penzance from Aberdeen at local rates.
Now that BT offers inclusive call packages which allow people to make "free" National and Local calls was it not an obvious step to include 0870 and 0845 calls to these calling plans?
Hardly contradictory, more good business sense!
off topic a little but...
0870 numbers were charged at National call rates and 0845 numbers at Local rates. They enabled organisations to offer a "non-geographic" phone number and, with an 0845 number for example, people could call an organisation in Penzance from Aberdeen at local rates.
Now that BT offers inclusive call packages which allow people to make "free" National and Local calls was it not an obvious step to include 0870 and 0845 calls to these calling plans?
Hardly contradictory, more good business sense!
