It's probably a bit too late now, but this site is worth bearing in mind should you find yourself being put on hold for a similarly interminable length of time by a similarly intractable corporate 'help'-line:
Most (although not necessarily all) 0845, 0870 etc. numbers have a corresponding landline number (ie. normally starting with 01~) and depending on where you're calling from / what kind of phone you're using, taking advantage of the latter may save you some cash.
For example, when I use Skype to call the UK from Japan, 0845 numbers are astronomically expensive, whereas normal 01~ numbers are the standard 2p or so per minute.
Say no to 0870!
It's probably a bit too late now, but this site is worth bearing in mind should you find yourself being put on hold for a similarly interminable length of time by a similarly intractable corporate 'help'-line:
http://www.saynoto0870.com/
Most (although not necessarily all) 0845, 0870 etc. numbers have a corresponding landline number (ie. normally starting with 01~) and depending on where you're calling from / what kind of phone you're using, taking advantage of the latter may save you some cash.
For example, when I use Skype to call the UK from Japan, 0845 numbers are astronomically expensive, whereas normal 01~ numbers are the standard 2p or so per minute.
Yours consumer rights-ingly
Muzuhashi