Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Non-geographic telephone numbers in the United Kingdom" in English language version.
the claim "Lo-call" was misleading, because calls to 0870 numbers were not charged at a low rate as implied.
we told Windsor Telecom to stop describing 0845 numbers as 'local rate'
We therefore concluded that the description of the '0845' number as a 'local rate' call was misleading.
We told Max TV not to describe calls to 0845 numbers as 'local rate' calls.
We considered that, because the cost of a call to the 0844 telephone number quoted in the ad cost more than a call to a geographic number the ad should include pricing information for the number; that information should include the set up cost of the call and the price per minute.
because the cost of a call to the 0844 telephone number quoted in the ad cost more than a call to a geographic number the ad should include pricing information for the number
We considered that, because the cost of a call to the 0844 telephone number quoted in the ad cost more than a call to a geographic number, the ads should have included pricing information for the number; that information should have included the set-up cost of the call and the price per minute.
The Authority considered that the description "National Rate Calls" for an 0870 number was misleading and likely to confuse consumers. The Authority told the advertisers not to refer to 0870 numbers as 'national rate'. Marketing communications should also state that the price of calls originating from non-BT call providers varies.
Because most UK callers now paid more for calls to non-geographic 0870 numbers than for calls to geographic national destinations, we considered that the term "national rate" was inaccurate.
(we) ruled that the costs of making calls to such numbers (0870) should be stated in the ad.
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) ... has told advertisers who quote 084 and 087 numbers ... that they must not describe calls to those numbers as being charged at 'local' or 'national' rate. ... On their introduction, calls to 084(5) numbers were charged at the BT standard local rate and those to 087(0) numbers were charged at BT standard national rate. Calls made from other phone companies were often more expensive. BT has abolished its standard rate for the majority of its customers, making the description of calls being charged at 'local' or 'national' rate meaningless for them.
See section 39 (2).
With your own 084 number, you keep about 2p from every call to re-invest in your practice, instead of BT making all the profit from calls to your surgery. ... Calls to 084 or 'lo-call' numbers cost patients 4p per minute, the same as the first minute of BT's standard call rate between 6am and 6pm.
Under the proposed new structure, Ofcom expects call cost descriptions to follow the format: "This call will cost you X pence per minute plus your phone company's access charge." We do not believe that it is appropriate for a patient to receive the Service Charge information advised by OFCOM when they contact their surgery as this will only seek to alarm them, and perpetuate the myth that all calls (to 084 numbers) are more costly.
Ofcom has designated the '030' range of telephone numbers in the National Telephone Numbering Plan for allocation to communications providers on the basis that those numbers are used by public sector bodies and not-for-profit bodies such as registered charities. Ofcom will publish this document on its website, updating it as necessary, to provide guidance on how individual bodies will be considered as eligible to use '030' numbers.
From 1 July, charges for service numbers will be made up of an 'access charge' going to the phone company, plus a 'service charge' set by the company or organization being called. ...from the start of next month Freephone numbers (beginning 0800 and 0808) will become free for consumers to call from mobile phones, just as they generally are from landlines.
These numbers allow organisations to have a single national point of contact without consumers having to pay extra to call them... Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.
The site lists inclusive, geographic rate or free numbers for many well known companies. Search on an expensive 0842, 0843, 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871, 0872 or 0873 number to find an inclusive or geographic rate 01, 02 or 03 number or a free 0800 or 0808 number.
We can use a range of number types such as 0845, 0800, 0843, 01, 02 and 03 across all our products to help your organisation encourage inbound calls and manage them efficiently.
Dr Rasheed, who has been with the surgery since 2005, said the surgery makes about £200 a month from the 0844 number, but spends £400 making calls to patients.
Of course, if your local telephone exchange blows up, it may not be possible to divert your number at all ... it can easily take days to get even a temporary solution in place and weeks or even months to fully recover.
We can use a range of number types such as 0845, 0800, 0843, 01, 02 and 03 across all our products to help your organisation encourage inbound calls and manage them efficiently.
The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) ... has told advertisers who quote 084 and 087 numbers ... that they must not describe calls to those numbers as being charged at 'local' or 'national' rate. ... On their introduction, calls to 084(5) numbers were charged at the BT standard local rate and those to 087(0) numbers were charged at BT standard national rate. Calls made from other phone companies were often more expensive. BT has abolished its standard rate for the majority of its customers, making the description of calls being charged at 'local' or 'national' rate meaningless for them.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)the claim "Lo-call" was misleading, because calls to 0870 numbers were not charged at a low rate as implied.
we told Windsor Telecom to stop describing 0845 numbers as 'local rate'
We therefore concluded that the description of the '0845' number as a 'local rate' call was misleading.
We told Max TV not to describe calls to 0845 numbers as 'local rate' calls.
We considered that, because the cost of a call to the 0844 telephone number quoted in the ad cost more than a call to a geographic number the ad should include pricing information for the number; that information should include the set up cost of the call and the price per minute.
because the cost of a call to the 0844 telephone number quoted in the ad cost more than a call to a geographic number the ad should include pricing information for the number
We considered that, because the cost of a call to the 0844 telephone number quoted in the ad cost more than a call to a geographic number, the ads should have included pricing information for the number; that information should have included the set-up cost of the call and the price per minute.
The Authority considered that the description "National Rate Calls" for an 0870 number was misleading and likely to confuse consumers. The Authority told the advertisers not to refer to 0870 numbers as 'national rate'. Marketing communications should also state that the price of calls originating from non-BT call providers varies.
Because most UK callers now paid more for calls to non-geographic 0870 numbers than for calls to geographic national destinations, we considered that the term "national rate" was inaccurate.
(we) ruled that the costs of making calls to such numbers (0870) should be stated in the ad.
The site lists inclusive, geographic rate or free numbers for many well known companies. Search on an expensive 0842, 0843, 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871, 0872 or 0873 number to find an inclusive or geographic rate 01, 02 or 03 number or a free 0800 or 0808 number.
See section 39 (2).
With your own 084 number, you keep about 2p from every call to re-invest in your practice, instead of BT making all the profit from calls to your surgery. ... Calls to 084 or 'lo-call' numbers cost patients 4p per minute, the same as the first minute of BT's standard call rate between 6am and 6pm.
Dr Rasheed, who has been with the surgery since 2005, said the surgery makes about £200 a month from the 0844 number, but spends £400 making calls to patients.
Under the proposed new structure, Ofcom expects call cost descriptions to follow the format: "This call will cost you X pence per minute plus your phone company's access charge." We do not believe that it is appropriate for a patient to receive the Service Charge information advised by OFCOM when they contact their surgery as this will only seek to alarm them, and perpetuate the myth that all calls (to 084 numbers) are more costly.