Have you had the soul-destroying experience of having to phone a supplier or service provider on a premium rate number starting 087 because a service or product has gone wrong? The cost of the call increases along with your blood pressure as you are connected and wait in line whilst a robotic voice tells you between snatches of "muzak" how important your call is to them.

It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that many companies are content for customers to wait long periods whilst they make even more money from them, or to deter people from pursuing a problem.

This is even more annoying if you have a telephone package which includes all calls to UK landline numbers, as 0870 numbers are excluded, so that you basically pay twice for your call. The cost is even more if you have to call from a mobile phone.

We're pleased to say help is at hand. Visit the underlined link to "Say No to 0870" above and you will find non-premium geographical phone numbers or even freephone numbers to use as alternatives to the expensive 087 and 084 numbers.