From: "John of Aix" 
Newsgroups: uk.telecom uk.misc uk.media uk.finance
Subject: Re: 0870 rip-off / Oftel Consultation
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2003 21:18:08 +0100


"Andrew Crane"  a écrit dans le message de news:
bqps8v$23pa$1@custnews.inweb.co.uk...
>
> "Pete Williams"  wrote in message
> news:923a3737.0312050337.55079218@posting.google.com...
> > (Apologies if similar postings have already appeared recently)
> >
> > 0870 Rip-Off - Please act now!
> >
> > You are probably aware of the growing use of 0870 telephone
numbers.
> > You may also be aware that these calls, despite being widely known
as
> > 'national rate', can cost much more than national calls.
Virtually
> > all operators charge around 8p/min for daytime calls to these
numbers,
> > whereas standard national calls can be made for around 2-3p/min.
>
> But this is only because the cost of making national geographic
calls has
> reduced whereas the cost of 0870 hasn't.
>
> Forcing a reduction in 0870 cost will also drive down 0870
termination
> revenue which would mean uncertainty of income for telephony
operators.
> Because of tight margins this could force some out of business which
would
> be bad for competition which could ultimately will drive prices up.

What a pathetic argument. It comes down to saying that a company
cannot stay profitable (and in business) unless it overcharges and
that that is a good thing. Well it isn't and the quicker such
companies go into receivership the better.