Martin's appearance on Watchdog

A question about : Martin's appearance on Watchdog

Liked your bit on the prog last night, Martin, but could you not ask them, next time you're there, why, as a consumer 'watchdog', they insist on only giving out an 0870 number for contact?
Surely this helps to perpetrate the 'covert' premium line scam!

Best answers:

• I suppose they could give out an 0800 number.
  Providing you wish to pay even more for a TV licence!
• whats wrong with an 01 / 02 number
• It could be a carryover from the days when the national rate was much higher than local so the Beeb didn't want to appear too London-centric. At least 0870 gives the same (expensive) rate to everyone.
  Still maybe if you're earning a lot as a broadcaster it doesn't occur that the rest of us are being ripped off. Yep with a geographic code then even I might ring them via 18866.
• On the last series they did use an 02 number,but this series,as a supposed champion of the consumer,they like a lot of BBC radio/t.v programmes are using these rip off numbers. > >
• And, when you use the cheaper route (e-mail) to complain, they can't even be bothered to reply.
  watchdog@bbc.co.uk
• Agreed, Heinz, I had tried that when I complained directly to them ( and also got no reply!) - just thought Martin might have a bit of extra 'clout' as he is one of the 'team' at BBC Watchdog.
• They don't say calls are charged at "national rate". They now say "Tariffs vary, please contact your operator for details" under the 0870 number on their Contact Us page.
• The BBC has a long term agreement with their telco provider to use 0870 numbers in these situations.
  They don't get an revenue for using 0870 numbers but it helps them offset the cost of providing other contact numbers (including the 0800 ones they have)
  Regards
  Sunil
• The following is a response from BBC in reply to my questioning their use of 0870 numbers, as you can see they admit to receiving revenue from these numbers
  Dear Derrick
  In response to you e-mail on the types of phone numbers used.
  The BBC has been using premium rate numbers across its programmes for over 10 years or more. In the early 90s it was recognised that people wanted to interact far more with programmes than previously. The best way to do this was through the use of premium rate telephone numbers. These allow mass listener or viewer access and are a quick and easy way of the listener or viewer feeling involved with a programme, either by entering a competition or registering their opinion on a particular subject or contacting a phone-in programme before being called back. Premium rate telephone numbers use a massive telephone network which allows thousands of people to call simultaneously, does not discriminate on where people live and is immediate. For programmes like Money Box Live it means that people in all parts of the UK can have an equal chance of getting through and having their question considered for inclusion. The amount of time taken to note down a person's question is generally very short and callers who have their questions selected for inclusion in our programme are always called back.
  Through using 0870 numbers BBC Audiocall can handle large volumes of calls without interfering with the normal telephone network. Any revenue generated is an optional extra which is used to fund the operational costs and legal expenses. BT obviously take a share of that revenue and any small profit from each call is re-invested by us to keep down the licence fee.
  BBC Audiocall services (to information lines) are controlled by a very strict Code of Conduct, which dictates that the length of the call is as short as possible, and that calls automatically terminate at the end - even if the caller forgets to hang up.
  Regards
  Chris A'Court
  Assistant Editor
  Money Box
• What I mean is that the BBC don't get a cheque every month etc (which is what most people assume happens) - the telco keeps all the revenue generated from the calls and as part of the contract, its used to offset the costs of running such services.
  I no longer watch Watchdog anyway - havent for several years.. its generally not as good as it used to be
  Sunil
• Thanks, Sunil, I agree that the programme is very poor nowadays, I only watch if Martin is going to be on!! (Crawling is my speciality!!).