Make your life more economical ... don't use 1890 or 1850 numbers !

I recently had to make a phonecall from my pay as you go mobile and was left on hold with the usual jingle and robotic voice informing me i was in a phone queue. I questioned how much is this going to cost me at the time but it was either hold on as i was already in the queue or drive 16 miles return journey to the bank i was calling. In the end i checked and discovered my phone credit was reduced by over 6 euro. And the issue i was calling about wasn't even solved when i eventually did get through to a bank official. I decided there and then that in future i will wait and fit my schedule in with a planned visit to the institution in question. That way i know that i will be dealing with a human being and not a machine. It is sickening to think telecommunications companies are abusing customers like this. I researched it online and discovered that excessive rates are being charged by 1890 and 1850 numbers when they are perceived to be Low Cost / Lo Call phone numbers.

On further investigation i discovered that many peoiple are annoyed by the fact that these nymbers are not included in bundle rates that people assume they are covered with.

One way to avoid paying, what can be 35cent a minute, is to look for an international number on the relevant company website or advertisment where you see a 1890 or 1850 number. Remove the 00 353 from this number and dial the geographical Irish code instead. It will be the same customer help service. This way you will be covered free if you are on a national bundle rate.

A useful Irish website to discover alternative geographical numbers for 1890, 1850 and 0818 numbers is www.SayNoTo1890.com which is a free service. In the UK www.saynoto0870.com offer the same free service.

Finally voice your opinion to companies who operate 1890 and 1850 numbers and tell them how disgusting it is that the general public are being duped like this. Ask the relavent management to get rid of these numbers or offer an alternative free call number. If we don't speak our mind they won't change.