So I just had a post deleted from a Scan thread...

[jimbouk]

This thread, now closed.

Chris P stated "The regulators of 0871 numbers class them as " Lower cost services ", which are are those which cost no more than 10p per minute.

Consumers may class this number as Premium, but the correct definition is as above."

I looked up the regulator, PhonepayPlus, and found the public guide to Premium rate numbers which includes 0871 numbers. I was not rude in what I said, I just questioned the statement that was made. I linked to my sources. This was not in the After sales support forum where we are not supposed to post.

I don't expect anything to happen from this repost (except possible a ticking off?), Scan are welcome to moderate their section of the forum as they see fit. I just wanted to make the community aware of what has been claimed and how this may not be true, and the actions that were taken when this inaccuracy was pointed out.

[peterb]

Thank you - not sure why it was deleted, but as you say, Scan staff moderate their own section of the HEXUS forums and we rarely, if ever, intervene.

As for the original query, it seems to have been answered

01204 474747 - Option 1 then option 3.

However, as Chris_P also stated, there are many ways of contacting Scan without using the 0871 number (or the number noodles2k has quoted) including their call-me-back service, e mail and of course the HEXUS pages for registered members. Scan staff do regularly monitor the HEXUS pages, often in their own time, and that can be a good way of bringing up a non-urgent issue.

[wesleyaldred]

Sorry i was editing your post to include the draft information that has now come into force and deleted it by accident, all revived now with the relevant link.

[Saracen]

....

I don't expect anything to happen from this repost (except possible a ticking off?), Scan are welcome to moderate their section of the forum as they see fit. I just wanted to make the community aware of what has been claimed and how this may not be true, and the actions that were taken when this inaccuracy was pointed out.

Personally, I see no reason for a ticking off.

Also personally, I see no reason for your original post to be deleted BUT their support forums are for support, and they run them pretty much as they please. It wouldn't be how I'd do it, but then, I run neither their forums, nor Scan.

However, that style of moderating is precisely why I never use their forums these days, and haven't even looked in there for several years.

But, just as they set the moderating tone in their support forums, we (with oversight from DR) set the tone here. And I see nothing at all in your post here even vaguely resembling a justification for a ticking off. I haven't read the original post in the Scan section because, well, I don't go in there any more, and couldn't do much, if anything, if I did.

And, by the way, "premium" numbers, however they're described or referred to, are also a pet hate of mine. I, like a very large number of people these days, have a call-inclusive plan on my home phone where I don't pay for normal geographic calls, and won't use such numbers when phoning in an order. I'd use a competitor, even if it meant buying a different product or paying more, first. Which, truthfully, is not an issue with Scan because I tend to buy locally to me, not mail order, anyway, and if I was to use Scan, I was aware of the geographic area code anyway (thanks to SayNoTo0870).

Oh, and by the way, I can't think of any occassions where something like this, posted in HEXUS areas, has led to any comment or complaint to us from Scan. There have been occasional issues raised, some if which have been downright defamatory, and then, we'd act. But it's been very occasional, and not over something like this.

My guess, and it is a guess because I don't know, is that the deletion was not because Scan object to what you were saying, but merely because it's not what those forums are for. That is, not what you said, but that it's the wrong place to say it. But ... just a guess.

[Saracen]

Sorry i was editing your post to include the draft information that has now come into force and deleted it by accident, all revived now with the relevant link.

And .... it seems my last post guessed wrong.

[herulach]

To be fair to scan, they're not alone in only providing 0871 numbers, hell for a long time ebuyer didn't even have phone numbers. personally I don't think I've actually phoned a company where I don't have to in years.

[jimbouk]

Sorry i was editing your post to include the draft information that has now come into force and deleted it by accident, all revived now with the relevant link.

Thank you for the apology and restoring the post.

I can't see any reference to this policy coming into force myself beyond the consultation draft you linked to and a guidance note (which state at the bottom "General Guidance does not form part of the Code of Practice"). Maybe my google fo is lacking though!

Anyhow, I just saw the thread and thought Duty Calls. I guess we shall have to agree to disagree on what 0871 numbers are referred to.

[Butcher]

From the PhonePayPlus link, "Calls to 0871, 0872 or 0873 numbers cost between 5p and 12.5p from landlines and between 25p and 41p per minute from mobiles." I'm not sure 25-41p/minute is what I'd call "lower cost" given an actual geographical national rate would cost me nothing from my mobile (due to being in-plan).

[Dooms]

saynoto0870.com is your friend. Always.

[Lucio]

I generally don't phone companies, prefering to email so that I have a written record.

[Saracen]

I generally don't phone companies, prefering to email so that I have a written record.

For me, that depends on circumstance.

I tend to record basic calls (like orders). As soon as it gets to problems and complaints, I tend to have three stages :-

1) Initial contact. Record call.

2) Follow up if not resolved. Either by phone (recorded), and confirmed by email, or just by email.

3) Still not resolved. Letter, with Certificate of Posting ... and if one or two 'go missing', I switch to Recorded, and ALWAYS use Recorded if it's a final "sort this or court" type of letter, which thankfully, is rare.