Encase you didnt already know Ofcom have confirmed that with-in 12 months payouts on 0870 phone numbers will cease. Organistations have for years been able to generate revenue of between 1.5p - 4.0p per minute from peak phone calls using 0870 numbers but soon it will only be 0844, 0871 and 09xx numbers that will have a revenue sharing potential.

This is a shock to me and is likely to cause MASSIVE disruption when the revenue sharing ceases as organisations who bought 0870 numbers from re-sellers will likely find that as the re-seller no longer generates any revenue from the 0870s they will lose their number or face HIGH line rental charges that were either not there before or at least at a cheaper rate. Thats why we’re advising all clients to migrate over to 0800, 0844 or 0871 numbers now so that they (a) dont lose their number and (b) avoid high rental charges.

Well this “You Say We Pay” Premium Rate Scam is certainly get out of hand! I’m not sure what ITV hope to acheive by suspending their premium rate competition and premium rate vote services on their TV shows, I personally cant see this being very helpful as it suggests that they are concerned about how legitimate their premium rate services are!, it also prolongs this negative publicity generate from just 1 premium rate service.

Although its a disgrace and certainly an embassement to the premium rate industry, other premium rate users should not need to suffer especially as the Richard & Judy Show has promised to REFUND all callers who feel victim to this scam or give the cost of their call to Charity. Premium Rate users should feel re-asurred that if they do fall victim of a premium rate scam they WILL eventually be reinbursed, for instance in this case it looks like calls going back over 2-3 years are even going to be refunded.

So in my opinion just FIRE and/or FINE those individuals and/or companies involved and lets move on. Long live Premium Rate!

Are you likely to buy anything from Argos, Boots, Virgin Megastore, HMV, Waterstones, Woolworths, John Lewis, Currys, PC World, Next, Marks & Spencers or any of a hundred high street retailers this week? Of course you are its hard not to! Whether its a dvd, shirt or something as expensive as a TV or computer its more than likely that you will spend at least £30 - £50 in your favourite high street shops within the next week or so.

So would you like to know how you can slash 10% to 20% discount off everything in your favourite high street shop without reducing the amount of things you buy? Well here it is…. Use their gift vouchers against them. Yes thats right you can go on to eBay and pick up £100 worth of Virgin Megastores vouchers for around £80.00 (thats a saving of 20%) and all kinds of others like £50 of Next vouchers for £45 (10% Saving) and dozens of others, like for you business men and women if you reguarly pick up a sandwich or buy dinner from Marks & Spencers would a 20% discount make a small or HUGE difference to you over time?

There are HUNDREDS of gift vouchers on eBay as there sold cheap as unwanted birthday presents, people who need or prefer cash, unwanted prizes etc and so providing you dont get carried away with the bidding (guilty!) you can save a good few quid.

I know this as believe it or not this is what I used to do part time before I started Phonenumbers4u back in the day I would buy £100’s worth of Virgin Megastores vouchers for £75 - £80 go and buy a PS2 or Xbox and sell it on eBay for the same price I bought it but as I got the vouchers cheap I would make £20 to £30 a sale. It was a lovely little cash cow and something I continue to do on a personal basis.