Stockport’s Vernon Building Society has welcomed a consultation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into customers being charged high prices to contact financial services firms on premium rate numbers.
The local building society previously used 0845 numbers as these were charged at local rates. However when some telephone providers significantly increased the costs of these calls the Society returned to using local 0161 and 01625 numbers in 2010, making it easy and cost effective for customers to contact the Society.
Ian Keeling, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Vernon said:
“We strongly believe in being fair to our customers which is why we use the geographical dialling code on our numbers and have real people answering our telephones instead of automated menus. It’s a shame that it requires the intervention of the regulator to get other institutions to do the right thing.”
Customers can also contact the Society without cost by email, via their website www.thevernon.co.uk or securely through their online banking system.
Vernon Building Society celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, having been founded in Stockport in 1924.
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