Cartel?

I am so disappointed with O2. Not only with O2 but with other UK networks too. They would not allow calls made to 0870, 0845 or 0844 as inclusive minutes. The problem is that calls made to these numbers are chargeable. It is expensive. I will give you an example.

Let say you want to make a call to HSBC. You know that by going to the branch might not solve your problem. Most of the time cashiers will ask customers to give a call to their helpline which is a 0870 or 0845 number. Well, guess what? customers will have to bear the cost of making such a call. Secondly, it is not cheap to make such a call. Do you know why? You would first be put through answering machines (press 1 for xxx, press 2 for xxx and etc.). What is this?

We as consumers are wasting our money listening to options for us. Why can't they allow us to go directly to a human being? Would it not be better this way? Now, all mobile networks will charge customers for the above calls, not even O2 is spared. I don't understand and I think it is not good of O2 to do so. It will make people go to other networks which I think I will be leaving O2 and go to another network. Terrible network...

I am having problems in getting text messages send through on time. It takes a few hours before my text messages were received my by friends. What is going with O2? Are they in trouble again?