Make cash by
getting an 0845 number and have a second phone line fitted. Redirect the 0845 number to your new phone number. Then use that whenever you sign up to anything that requires your number. In fact, fill in as many customer research forms on the internet as you can possibly find and tick/untick the box that says you want to share your number with every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Have a spare computer connected to the line to act as an answering machine with a lengthy greeting. Have a script run an audio file consisting of some umming and ahhing along with a few 'tell me more' and 'could you repeat that' style comments. You may need to delete the recordings every so often or you'll end up filling the hard disk with inane recordings of call-centre staff steadily getting more and more exasperated.

Hopefully, call centres will start calling the 0845 number, and your answering machine set-up should keep them on the line long enough for you to make a small but satisfying profit for beer money etc.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 7 Sep 2009, 10:16, 4 replies)

When you say small but satisfying
We're talking under a penny a minute - you're going to need quite a few calls just to cover the line rental...
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Mon 7 Sep 2009, 10:25, closed)

stop picking holes in my idea.

( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Mon 7 Sep 2009, 10:42, closed)

Would it not work
with a premium rate number?
( Rookie You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel, Mon 7 Sep 2009, 13:17, closed)

ofcom just changed the rules
they come into effect on 1st aug....

shame - I'd love to have told Virgin to call me back on an 0870 number!
( camp freddy well, would you look at that!, Mon 7 Sep 2009, 13:39, closed)