Financial firms have been urged to cut the cost to people calling their customer service or complaints lines. A study by consumer group Which? found that almost three quarters of such lines were costly 084 or 087 numbers. The British Bankers' Association (BBA) said it expected many of its members would switch to cheaper call rates for complaints in the near future. Which? called on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to act to stop the use of high-rate complaints line numbers. It also said the FCA should extend these regulations to cover customer helplines.

Ban exclusion

Which? said that 177 out of the 242 lines it surveyed were 084 or 087 numbers. The firms using these numbers included many of the UK's leading High Street banks and building societies. They included HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Nationwide and TSB Bank, credit card providers American Express, Capital One and Tesco Bank and insurers Aviva, Churchill and Direct Line, said Which?.....Read more HERE