0870 AND 0845 NUMBERS IN THE U.K.

Our thanks and acknowledgment  to the Daily Telegraph of 09/01/09 for this good news.

Please note however, that this good news only applies to calls to these numbers through the British Telecom network
AND THEN only if you have subscribed to the appropriate BT calls package.
 You have been warned.

Government agencies are making millions of pounds every year encouraging the public to call expensive 0870 help lines.  There has been a proliferation in income generating numbers, prompting accusations that they are being used as a stealth tax.

Although 0870 numbers are mistakenly described as 'national rate', they cost twice as much as an 01 or 02 number.  Unlike conventional phone numbers, the owners of 0870 and 0845 numbers can take a share of the revenue generated and therefore they have a very good reason for NOT answering your call promptly.  The longer they make you wait the more money they can make.  The Driving Standards Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea made over a million pounds each during 2004 from these 'non-geographical numbers', and the Home Office uses them for its main enquiry line as well as the Passport Agency, the Criminal Records Bureau and Work Permits UK.

Even where organisations claim not to profit directly from the phone lines, the revenue is used to cover costs of running call centres.  The Police and Home Office recently came under fire for using an 0870 number for the London bombings missing persons helpline.  Similar lines in Spain after the Madrid bombings were free.

TV Licensing, which contracts out its call centres to Capita Business Services, said its 0870 number was called by seven million people in 2004.

Opposition to 0870 numbers is growing.  Lord Tyler has campaigned against their use in government, while thousands of people use the www.saynoto0870.com website for cheaper alternatives.

When 0870 and 0845 were first introduced they cost the same, respectively,  as standard national and local rates - the so-called 'geographical numbers'.  Competition has driven down the cost of calling geographical numbers, while in 2004 BT abolished the distinction between local and national call rates.  As a result 0870 and 0845 are more expensive than geographical numbers.  An 0870 number cost 7.5p a minute from a BT phone during the day, compared with a 3p for a geographical number.  The cost of calling from a mobile phone can be up to 35p per minute.

The Department of Health banned GP surgeries from using income-generating numbers in early 2005, but, as I write, July 16th 2005, it still uses an 0870 number for its NHS Response Unit, while some Primary Care Trusts issue 0845 numbers for patients to call their doctor out of normal working hours.

Ofcom has been reviewing the future of the 08 series of numbers.  Even BT, which introduced the numbers in the 1990s, wants them scrapped.

Following many thousands of complaints Ofcom have been considering alternative procedures to the present regime, and on July 27th 2006 announced their decision. 

You may read their proposals  http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2006/07/nr_20060727  

In summary it appears that a new 03 numbering system will be initiated, and this will work in a similar way to the present 0870 in that organisations will be able to offer a single point of contact, but WITHOUT making additional charges for this  convenience service as at present.  I.e. there will be no revenue sharing on 03 numbers, and for charging purposes 03 numbers will be considered as an 01 or 02 number.  HURRAH!!

In the meantime keep looking at  www.saynoto0870.com website for cheaper alternatives to 0870 numbers.

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