The ripoff 0871 phone line is no more, at least for people calling SAFC. Few will mourn its passing.
Salut! Sunderland can claim no credit, beyond having drawn the issue to SAFC supporters’ attention, but let us applaud today’s announcement from the club.
Here it is:
Sunderland AFC is introducing new local rate telephone numbers for supporters wishing to contact the club.
The new numbers will be prefixed with 0371, replacing the old 0871 codes. This will significantly reduce the cost to supporters when calling the club, in many cases to zero (as 03 numbers are included within any inclusive call bundle) or at most to the cost of a local call.
The new numbers are as follows:
Ticket office, 0371 911 1973
General enquiries and main switchboard, 0371 911 1200
Matchday hospitality and events team, 0371 911 1555.
The numbers are live with immediate effect.Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02) and must be included in inclusive minutes and discount schemes in the same way. Calls from landlines are typically charged up to 9p per minute; calls from mobiles typically cost between 3p and 55p per minute. Calls from landlines and mobiles are included in free call packages.
I was assured when our piece appeared that the matter was under review and the statement shows that to have been the serious commitment I took it to be.
Most if not all Premier League clubs have now taken similar action and praise is due to to the West Ham fan site, Claret and High, for campaigning as well and effectively as it did.
When our article appeared in October, only three clubs – ours included – were then still operating these lines. At least one of the others has also dropped them.
Better late than never.
