Beat call centres

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Rebecca Atkinson
Tue, 06/04/2010 - 17:56

From being left on hold listening to lift music to having to deal with complicated electronic switchboards, call centres are a pain many of us would rather not have to deal with.

Luckily, there are ways to beat call centres - for example, using a geographic number is not only cheaper, it can also speed up access to a real person.

It is also possible to find 'cheats' such as repeatedly pressing a single button in order to bypass the queue and get the help you need. However, there are different ways to beat different systems.

Help other Moneywise readers by sharing direct numbers for companies you use on our forum - and share your own tips on beating queues.
 

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Bates:

I've not used it but someone pointed me to this website to find out geographic numbers. http://saynoto0870.com/search.php

I think that one of the worst things about call centres is that the staff have no power to actually solve any issues!

Wed, 07/04/2010 - 17:52
Martin Adam (not verified):

www.saynoto0870.com provides all the alternative 01 or 02 numbers for the non geographical numbers such as 0870, 0800, 0845, 0844, 0871 etc

You can search by company name or the phone number and you will be provided with the 01 or 02 number meaning that you can save on phone calls, get that call in your inclusive mobile phone minutes. Also it list different department phone numbers and all most of the numbers are verified.

www.saynoto0870.com

Fri, 09/04/2010 - 16:03
Carrotsucker:

'saynoto0870' website is brilliant but it relies on someone having posted the alternative numbers there.

Better to try to send a fax to the Managing Director - this is the only kind of communication that seems to get attention nowadays. 

Fri, 09/04/2010 - 16:18
Tony Elward (not verified):

I always used the web site of saynoto1870.com to call my bank and any 0845 number, also for the hospital. I put the call on loudspeaker and get on with something else until they answer. We all know they delay answering so they can rack up more money from us. Its a good idea to use this if you have to contact budget airlines also. Its about time they were outlawed.

Fri, 09/04/2010 - 16:28
Guest (not verified):

many companies have what is an ordinary geographical number in the guise of an international number . Just ignore the international prefix and get straight through!

Fri, 09/04/2010 - 17:36
Ferret lover (not verified):

The Coop Insurance have call centres in the UK with real people. The staff are really helpful.

Fri, 09/04/2010 - 19:32
Guest (not verified):

If you have the apple iphone then you can download the free app for saynoto0870.com. As someone said earlier, this does rely on previous customers to have posted the numbers there already but there are quite a lot of numbers on there.

Fri, 09/04/2010 - 21:25
noony 29 (not verified):

I have tried this in the past, when booking theatre tickets, only to get a recorded message telling me that I have to phone the 0845 number, or 0870 whichever. It seems that these companies are determined to get their greedy little mitts on our money by hook or my crook

Sat, 10/04/2010 - 01:23
Guest (not verified):

Using the alternative numbers doesn't always work. I have tried on occasions only to be told the "we can't deal with your query on this number, you have to dial......" giving me the call centre number. If you use the logical argument that I am bi-passing the call centre, then the phone goes down and so you have to resort to the call centre where all the time you are listening to 'adverts' about uninteresting things extolling the virtues of the Company in question or their products, or music, whilst the Company being called is making more money. Notice how many times they answer before three minutes!

Sat, 10/04/2010 - 11:52
Nannie (not verified):

I phoned one of the biggest computer in the world 3 times this morning, 7 times in total over the past six days, each and every time I have been transferred to another department, held in a queue for up to 18 minutes, then I've hung up the phone in sheer frustration. All calls are 0874 numbers at a cost of five pence a minute. It's got to making these companies thousands of pound. Disgusting!

Sat, 10/04/2010 - 21:29
Valmaifox (not verified):

I have had a problem with talk talk. I moved house and due to bad service left the company six months ago. despite having moved to a naw exchange area and having a new phone number they still keep sending bills although they made the old number dead on oct 16th 2009. Even the senior managers don't appear to be able to be able to fully resolve the issue but at least I now have a personal contact who removes the bills as they arrive when I contact her by e-mail.
The call centre staff were worse than no good as they did not have anyone to refer the issues to.

Sun, 11/04/2010 - 12:05
dave67 (not verified):

I have used the site above very effectively - however there seems to be no bypass for rip off sky. The last call to them i was kept on hold for 31 minutes before being cut off. You should be allowed to claim this money back when this happens.

Sun, 11/04/2010 - 12:51
Guest (not verified):

With BT 0845 and 0870 being free eveninings and week ends call centres are switching to 0871 and 0844 and one can be on hold for 45 minutes and cost the person paying the bill as much as £1.00

Sun, 11/04/2010 - 14:10
marie17040:

I used an alternative number to ring my bank, the Alliance and Leicester. A woman answered and immediately started ranting on and asking where I got the number from. She said, I will deal with your enquiry this time, but never use it again. She was very rude. Of course, I used it again, I had to after that call. The next person I spoke to never said anything. I wouldn't mind paying the call fee if I got through straight away to someone, but to be kept on hold listening to music for such a long time isn't fair. I rang Student finance the other day as I needed to sort out my sons student loan. i was holding on 24 mins before being answered.

Mon, 12/04/2010 - 00:06
Guest (not verified):

Say no to 0870 is a really good tool it has saved me loads when calling these call centres.
Remember if you find an alternative to an 0845 or 0870 number post it on the website to help others.

Mon, 12/04/2010 - 10:07
Terry Smith (not verified):

I have used http://www.numberstore.com/ to purchase 0845 Numbers.They offers a wide range of Service Plans with features and fees to suit every organization.

Sun, 25/04/2010 - 05:56
Guest (not verified):

I had Sky for 3 years until in a one month period I spent far too many hours trying to contact their 'service' people over problems with reception. I decided to leave and not go back, because there is a point where the offence is just too great to forgive (once is forgivable, twice is not right but three or more times - cut their money supply off). I have done the same with Orange for much the same reason, also PC World (and DSG). If everyone "voted with their wallets" these utterly unacceptable marketing cheats would have to change their ways.

Sat, 26/06/2010 - 21:43
Guest (not verified):

Many companies such as banks normally offer a number to call if you're overseas starting with 0044 01, if you remove the country dialling code and start from 01 you won't have to pay the higher 0845 charge. This is especially useful when calling from a contract mobile phone, as it will just come off of your inclusive minutes. Also as many people have already mentioned the Say No To 0870 Number websites is a god send, I have advised many friends and family members to use it as it has saved me a small fortune.

Wed, 14/07/2010 - 13:36
Guest (not verified):

I use www.saynoto0870.com regularly, as I check for a geographic number every time I'm faced with an 08** number. OK, there's not always an alternative number listed, and occasionally some numbers are no longer in service but generally it's worth its weight in gold. Anyone who finds a geographic number should add it to the site, as that's what it depends on.

The only downside, and they are not to blame, is you still usually get put through to an overseas call centre in most cases!!!!!

Sat, 17/07/2010 - 12:09
Guest (not verified):

I went on a Virgin helpline to set up my broadband the person on the other end spoke little english, when i complained they refunded the entire phone bill as i was on 30 minutes at £1.50 per minute. Ask to speak to a supervisor dont be afraid to complain, they recorded my call so they were able to check. if they say this may be recorded when you ring them ask them to do so.

Sun, 18/07/2010 - 14:39
Guest (not verified):

How do you think call centres pay for their expensive advertising, including T.V.?
I specified wishing for a quote for a classic car on one site to compare.
For the basic prfemium on a like for like basis but WITHOUT THE ADD ONS I HAVE NOW the quotes were some £380 to near £1000. My insurer renewed at £195 but I had been quoted £111 by an Americal owned insurer. Nuf said!
Had similar experience previously with house insurance.......moral: shop around yourself.

Tue, 20/07/2010 - 12:13
Guest (not verified):

I use the Android app "Say No To 0870" and it is brilliant. There are the odd 1 or 2 08 numbers that cant be avoided but that app has saved me £££s by giving me normal 01, 02 or 03 numbers which I can call with my inclusive mobile minutes

Fri, 11/03/2011 - 22:16
wheeliebin:

 Another answer to queuing for call centers when they're busy is to use one of the systems that queue for you. They often save you money as well as time, phoning you back when the call center agent answers. One such service is WeQ4U

Tue, 03/01/2012 - 17:44