Consumer group Which? has published a list of businesses and government departments it claims are profiting from forcing customers to call peak-rate helplines.

The body claims more than 30 bodies make money from using 0870, 0871, 0844 and 0845 numbers, many of which keep customers on hold for long periods of time.

The list includes Tiscali, British Gas, TV Licensing and the DVLA, which it says made £3.4m from its 0870 number last year.

Other companies - including charities - used such numbers but did not take a share of the revenue, Which? added.