This article was written in 2013, I wonder how he's been getting on since?
I'd imagine a lot of companies have wised up and won't call 0871 numbers.
Interestingly he mentioned he puts his 0871 number as his contact number for banks/energy bills etc so if they contact him about something he gets money for it.
Generally they only contact you by phone if they’re trying to sell you something. Banks being the one notable exception but I still get more than my fair share of sales calls from the bank too.
Plus at the time that was written, it was pre-GDPR so you’d often find your number getting sold on if you weren’t extremely careful when signing up to even non-free services.
Fun fact, in the Netherlands the government sells data to these companies, knowing it is against GDPR. They will partly cease this in the future (not immediately)
How it works:
Chamber of commerce requires all companies to register there.
They sell your data to other companies.
There is no option to not have your data sold.
Since I registered there (one man company) I have received countless calls and mail. Most calls are trying to scam me into a more expensive energy contract.
It has not calmed down in the last year at all.
I'd imagine a lot of companies have wised up and won't call 0871 numbers.
Interestingly he mentioned he puts his 0871 number as his contact number for banks/energy bills etc so if they contact him about something he gets money for it.