Don’t you just hate it when you receive your monthly phone bill (if your on a contract) or your pay as you go minutes seem to go quicker than they should do? Chances are, you’ve been calling 0845, 0870 or other premium numbers without realising it. Mum and dad won’t won’t pay your bill and it’s down to you, in a word, “I can’t afford it”. Step forward SAYNOTO0870.COM.

I found out about this website a while back which is an online database of alternative numbers which don’t start with 0845, 0870 and other 08 numbers. Local numbers for most major companies here in the UK can be found on the website and users regularly update the listings. If you’ve spent 2 hours on the phone (perhaps to BT?) like I have, with no answer, then this is the website for you. Sometimes the numbers, may lead you to a security guard at reception of the company’s HQ, but usually they will oblige and forward you to customers services, just not knowing how you got their number in the first place. A few companies have cottoned on to the fact that none of their customers seem to be calling the ‘helpful’ 0845 customer care numbers, so some of the numbers on SAYNOTO0870.COM have either disappeared or stop working, but there’s always another number recently listed that will work.

The website was featured on BBC’s Working Lunch TV programme, BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio Norfolk and has appeared in The Guardian, Which Magazine, Readers Digest and many more press outlets. So if these services already exist benefitting customers to save money when needing to call their respected companies, something which I think should be standard for all companies, then surely it’s as simple as creating a SAYNOTO0870.DE or .JP or .FR, and so on, the idea would be just as effective?

The Telegraph also ran the story about a new iPhone app which automatically prevents you from dialling 08 numbers by searching SAYNOTO0870.COM and automatically brings up an alternative  number. The article can be found here. Simon Maddox, creator of the app has obviously jumped on board the idea, so surely it’s as simple as spreading the idea to other countries, something that SAYNOTO0870.COM should be doing themselves?

http://www.saynoto0870.co.uk/