The 0870 fiddle.

The Met. were reprimanded yesterday because they used an 0870 number for relatives of people who may have been involved in the July 7 London bombings to contact them. They have duly apologised.

I note however that this premium rate number (10 pence a minute) is being increasingly used by banks, building societies, insurance companies etc. instead of the 0800 freephone number or the 0845 local rate number. What annoys me very much however is that you can then be held in a queue for anything up to 20 minutes listening to some ridiculous music waiting to speak to someone at the othe end. I'm sure that this is deliberate and that the firms and BT are making huge money out of this dodgy practice.

Bah humbug, I shall refuse to call anyone with an 0870 number in future and write them a letter instead.
Gordon Fuming