Thanks for the article - some clarification though!
Hello, I made the video. Thanks for the link - should probably clarify one major point in your article.
0870 numbers were NEVER "local" rate, they were originally given the misnomer of "national rate", based on a BT tariff from when calls were expensive of 8p/min. There's no such thing as a "national" call now, and no-ones paid that to call a number in years, so thankfully the whole 0870 business is being changed by ofcom (another reader has the link).
Amazed you managed to get a response from them - I felt a complete "we don't give a ****" attitude, from not bothering to tell me the phone was ready, to having a "repair status" line that didn't work, to having phones not connected (in the shops of a communications company, FFS!).
And don't believe the "as soon as it was brought to our attention" BS either - I told them the line wasn't working a month ago!
Anyway, it's great you've picked the video up - and from some of the responses I've had, it looks like the Reading branch isn't the only one with a number that never gets answered.
Once again, thanks El Reg!