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Most institutions will have a geographical number, calls to which are likely to be included in people's call packages. The non-geographical numbers are usually either the switchboard, and you just ask to be connected to the right department from there, or they are meant to customers calling from abroad. I refuse to call non-geographical numbers pretty much on principle now, unless it's a service that I have good reason to pay for (the National Rail info line and stuff).
The one institution so far where I've encountered problems with this tactic was HMRC who basically said, this line was only for customers calling from abroad, I should call the 0845 number, and they were going to terminate the call now. I'm still contemplating a mini crusade against them: I pay enough tax in this country to not expect to give the HMRC a cut of my phonebill to boot.
Incidentally, Natwest will happily give you geographic numbers for their branches and online banking service.
no subject
Most institutions will have a geographical number, calls to which are likely to be included in people's call packages. The non-geographical numbers are usually either the switchboard, and you just ask to be connected to the right department from there, or they are meant to customers calling from abroad. I refuse to call non-geographical numbers pretty much on principle now, unless it's a service that I have good reason to pay for (the National Rail info line and stuff).
The one institution so far where I've encountered problems with this tactic was HMRC who basically said, this line was only for customers calling from abroad, I should call the 0845 number, and they were going to terminate the call now. I'm still contemplating a mini crusade against them: I pay enough tax in this country to not expect to give the HMRC a cut of my phonebill to boot.
Incidentally, Natwest will happily give you geographic numbers for their branches and online banking service.