Non-geographic telephone numbers in the United Kingdom
Last updated
UK phone number not linked to a location
A non-geographic number is a type of telephone number that is not linked to any specific locality. Such numbers are an alternative to the traditional 'landline' numbers that are assigned geographically using a system of location-specific area codes. Non-geographic numbers are used for various reasons, from providing flexible routing of incoming phone calls to generating revenue for paid-for services.
Non-geographic numbers were introduced to offer services that were historically unavailable on standard landline phone numbers, particularly in terms of call routing and special charging arrangements. Advertised benefits of non-geographic numbers include:[1][2]
Call Routing. Calls can be flexibly redirected to virtually any destination. For example, calls could be answered in different call centres depending on where the caller is located or the time of day.[3]
Ease of Communication. Organisations covering multiple locations can advertise a single national phone number rather than having to publicise different numbers for different areas.
Location Neutrality. Standard geographic numbers are firmly linked with specific localities. Using non-geographic numbers can help an organisation avoid appearing to be limited in scope to a specific geographic area, and also removes any need to change telephone numbers in the event of relocation or expansion into a different area.
Resilience and Disaster Recovery. Standard geographically routed landline numbers may become unreachable in the event of a fault or damage to the telephone network in the area they are linked to.[4] Non-geographic numbers allow for incoming calls to be easily redirected to alternative locations when necessary.
Special Charging Arrangements. The use of number prefixes that are distinct from standard landline numbers allows for a variety of different charging arrangements – from freephone numbers that cost the caller nothing to dial to premium rate numbers that generate revenue for the called party.
Call handling
Calls to non-geographic numbers are handled in various different ways by the telephone network. In the simplest case, calls are simply forwarded to a regular geographic number and routed by the telephone exchange in the normal way. In other cases, such numbers may channel calls directly to a company's private telephone system or VOIP service.
Developments in telecoms technology mean that advanced call routing facilities are no longer unique to non-geographic numbers with many suppliers offering the same functionality through 'virtual' geographic numbers.[5][6]
Calling non-geographic numbers from abroad
Calling certain non-geographic number ranges might not be possible when calling from abroad of the United Kingdom. This is mostly the case with the 070 personal numbering range, the 080 freephone range and service numbers starting 084, 087 and 09.
Non-geographic number ranges
All non-geographic numbers offer similar functionality, with the main difference being the charge levied on the caller. The major non-geographic prefixes now in use are:
080 (freephone)
0800 and 0808 numbers are free-to-caller from landlines, mobile phones, and payphones alike.[7] The organisation receiving the call pays the cost of the call.
03 numbers
Billing and costs
Numbers starting with '03' are non-geographic numbers charged at standard geographic rates. Calls to these numbers cost exactly the same as calls to regular local or national landlines (those starting with 01 or 02). Regulation ensures that if a tariff offers inclusive minutes or free calls to numbers starting with 01 or 02, calls to 03 numbers must be included on exactly the same terms.[8]
Since their reintroduction in 2007[lower-alpha 1], these 03 numbers have been the only variety of non-geographic number whose charge is officially linked to that of geographic numbers. No provision has been made for replicating the old 'local rate' or 'national rate' prefixes, as almost all UK telephone operators now charge all landline calls at the same rate, regardless of location.[9]
Usage
As of 2016, active 03 number prefixes are: 0300, 0303, 0330, 0333, 0343, 0344, 0345, 0370, 0371 and 0372.[10]
While all 03 numbers operate the same way, some sub-ranges have restrictions on their use.
030
Reserved for allocation to public sector bodies and not-for-profit bodies such as registered charities[11][12]
034 / 037
Reserved for migration from equivalent 084 and 087 numbers.[13]
Service numbers
These are the non-geographic numbers starting 084, 087 and 09. They are also known as premium rate numbers. Until 2015, 084 and 087 numbers were called special rate or business rate numbers.
Since 2015 these numbers have a two-part charging structure. Call charges consist of a per-minute access charge levied by the caller's phone service provider, plus a service charge or 'premium' paid to the joint benefit of the organisation being called and their telecoms provider.[7]
The access charge varies considerably by phone operator, with calls from landlines charged at 2p to 27p per minute and calls from mobile phones charged at 4p to 89p per minute.[14]
The service charge is charged at the same rate regardless of which telephone company the caller uses to make the call. The rate that applies must be detailed wherever the number is publicised and falls into the following bands:
084 numbers: up to 7p per call and/or 7p per minute
087 numbers: up to 13p per call and/or 13p per minute
09 numbers: up to £6.00 per call and/or £3.60 per minute.
There is no official central repository for Service Charge information, but the Federation of Communications Services (FCS) has provided an interactive online facility to look up the Service Charge for any 084, 087, 09 or 118 number.[15]
Service charge price points
Upon introduction of the "unbundled tariff" for calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers on 1 July 2015 there were 80 price points for the Service Charge element of the call cost.[16][17] These were designated SC001 to SC080.[18] A further 20 price points, designated SC081 to SC100, were added on 1 July 2016.[19] There were 100 price points[20][21] until 1 April 2019. The same charges apply to calls made from all landline and mobile providers.
Zen Internet charged six of the price points at the wrong rate, three from 1 July 2015 until their withdrawal on 1 April 2019 and three more from 1 July 2016 to January 2019.[22][23][24] From 1 July 2016 to 26 December 2016, Sky Talk charged three of the Service Charge price points at the wrong rate.[25][26][27] From 30 November 2016 to 14 March 2017, Sky Mobile charged three of the price points at the wrong rate.[28][29][30] Virgin Media did not list price points SC081 to SC100.[31][32] Andrews & Arnold did not list price points SC068 to SC072, SC080 or SC081 to SC100.[33] Origin Broadband did not list price points SC081 to SC100.[34]
On 1 April 2019, Ofcom introduced a price cap (on the Service Charge element of the call cost) of £3.65 per 90 seconds of a call on calls to numbers starting 118.[35] From this date, twenty-six of the existing one hundred Service Charge price points were no longer available for use by services on telephone numbers starting 118. Of those twenty-six price points, some fifteen price points were available only for use by services on numbers starting 09, and eleven price points were withdrawn from use.[36] From 1 May 2019 new price points started to be introduced. These re-used some of the previously withdrawn SC code numbers - all as noted in the table below.
↑ 0345 xxxxxx numbers were first introduced in 1985, along with 0645 xxxxxx numbers, both designated as 'local rate' non-geographic calls at that time. Subsequently these numbers were changed to 0845 7xx xxxx and 0845 9xx xxxx in the Big Number Change of April 2001.
1 2 3 New price point introduced from 1 July 2019.
↑ From 1 July 2016 to January 2019, Zen Internet charged this price point as 1p per call plus 13p per minute.[23][24]
1 2 New price point introduced from 1 August 2019.
1 2 3 4 5 6 From 1 July 2015, Zen Internet has charged the per-minute element from start of the call.[22][23][24]
Personal numbers
Numbers starting 070 are "personal numbers" –virtual telephone numbers intended to offer non-geographic number functionality to individuals, such as by allowing people to have a single number that directs calls to their home, work or mobile phone as they choose. They are controversial as they are charged at premium rates and can be confused for mobile numbers, and therefore the cost of calls to them may not be apparent to callers until they receive their bills.
From 1 October 2019, Ofcom will cap the termination rate for these calls at the same rate as for calls to UK mobile numbers thereby allowing phone providers to include these calls within monthly allowances or otherwise charge them at the same rate as a call to a mobile number.[37]
Controlled Premium Rate Services
A subset of non-geographic numbers, designated Controlled Premium Rate Services (CPRS), is subject to additional regulation by the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA), formerly PhonepayPlus.
Ofcom's "PRS Condition" defines Controlled Premium Rate Services as those:
using "unbundled tariff numbers" starting 087, 090, 091, 098 or 118 with a Service Charge of more than 7p per call or per minute inclusive of VAT,
using other numbers where the termination fee or rate is more than 10p per call or per minute inclusive of VAT (covers numbers starting 070 and 076 and various mobile shortcodes),
providing a chatline service, irrespective of call cost or prefix used,
providing an adult-entertainment service, irrespective of call cost or prefix used,
is an internet dialler-operated service, irrespective of call cost or prefix used.
From 16 January 2019, all Information, Connection and/or Sign-posting Services (ICSS), irrespective of call cost or prefix used, were added to this definition.[38]
Services identified as CPRS must comply with the PSA Code of Practice.
History of Non-Geographic Prefixes
Most non-geographic numbers use prefixes recovered from former use as geographic area codes. For previous uses of prefixes such as 0345, 0800 and 0990, see: List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom.
Freephone - including 0800 and 0808
During the 1980s, free-to-caller numbers were introduced using a range of prefixes that had previously been used as geographic area codes. By the 1990s, the prefixes 0321, 0500 and 0800 were all in use and allocated to Vodafone, Mercury Communications and BT respectively. Typically, the relevant prefix was followed by a six-digit number, giving a total number length of ten digits including the initial '0'.
Increased competition and a shortage of the popular 0800 numbers in the early 1990s saw various strategies employed to increase freephone capacity. Newly issued 0800 numbers were lengthened to include seven digits after the 0800 prefix, and the additional 0808 prefix was introduced during 1997. Also during the 1990s, deregulation allowed companies other than BT to acquire 0800 numbers and issue them to their customers, as well as allowing customers with existing freephone numbers to retain them when changing telecoms supplier.
With the 0800 and 0808 ranges established as the primary freephone ranges, the 0321 number range was withdrawn during 2001. The 0500 number range will be withdrawn during 2017, with users migrated to 0808 5 numbers.[39]
Major mobile phone operators went through a period of charging callers to dial most freephone numbers from around 2005 onwards - but this practice largely ceased on 1 July 2015 as 0800 and 0808 numbers became universally free to call from mobiles and landlines due to changes in Ofcom legislation.[7]
As a freephone call results in no charge to the caller, the organisation receiving the call pays the call cost.
03 Numbers
The original range of telephone numbers starting '03' was progressively cleared between 1995 and 2001: former geographic area codes starting 03 were renumbered to start 013 during the national PhONEday renumbering, while premium rate, local rate and mobile phone prefixes such as 0331, 0345 and 0378 were transferred to a simplified structure of 09, 08 and 07 numbers. The 03 numbering range was then designated as available for any new geographic area codes that might be created during further renumbering.
With no further geographic renumbering undertaken, the 03 numbering range was no longer required for its original purpose and was instead redesignated for "non-geographic numbers charged at geographic rate" service in 2006.[40] Telecoms regulator Ofcom introduced the range as it believed that some organisations would benefit from a type of non-geographic number that did not impose any additional charges on callers, and that some consumers were confused about charges for existing special-rate numbers starting 084 and 087.[41]
The decision to introduce the new 03 range followed a period in which increased competition in the telecoms market had brought considerable change to the way in which calls were charged for. When first introduced in the 1980s, special 'local rate' and 'national rate' non-geographic prefixes (such as 0345, 0645 and 0990) had been charged at exactly the same rate as normal local and national geographic calls. Telecoms deregulation saw several more landline providers enter the market and call packages with "inclusive" minutes to 01 and 02 numbers started to become the standard offering after 1999. While BT's charges for calls to non-geographic numbers were capped, most call packages did not include calls to non-geographic numbers, and other landline providers and mobile operators were free to charge whatever they liked for these calls. In time, a situation developed where supposedly 'local' and 'national' rate prefixes (which by 2001 had been renumbered to begin 0845 or 0870) frequently cost more to call than a genuine local or national landline. By 2004, the situation had become even more complicated as most telephone companies abandoned any distinction between local and national rate calls and began charging geographic landline numbers at a single rate. The new 03 number range had none of these ambiguities or complications and allowed organisations to once again advertise non-geographic numbers that were consistently priced and did not result in callers paying a premium.
Service Numbers starting 084
After the national PhONEday renumbering in 1995, the first new use of numbers starting 084 was in 1996 when 0845 numbers were introduced for non-geographic services charged at a local rate. These 0845 numbers joined, and eventually replaced, existing local rate prefixes 0345 and 0645 which had been introduced in the 1980s. Telephone companies originally charged these calls at the same rate as local geographic calls.[42]
In 1999, landline providers started to offer "inclusive" call packages where calls to all 01 and 02 numbers are free. However, outside the plan there was no price distinction between local or national calls. In 2004, telecoms companies scrapped the remaining tariffs that had provided a discount for local geographic calls. With this change, "local rate" ceased to exist for all customers. Prices for calling 0845 numbers remained roughly the same as before, but since 2004 the UK Advertising Standards Authority has ruled against every company describing them as "local rate" or "lo-call" numbers.[9][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] Some operators began to include 0845 numbers in their calling plans, but others - including mobile operators - did not.
In 2000, the 0844 prefix was introduced for use with dial-up internet services (in the range 0844 0xx xxxx) and for general uses charged at a rate of up to 5p per minute (all other 0844 numbers).[50] The 0843 prefix was added to provide additional capacity in 2007.[51] These numbers were never linked to geographic call rate and were never included in call plans; the Advertising Standards Authority has taken action against companies that falsely claim 084 numbers are "local rate" or "lo-call" rate calls.[9][47][48][52][53][54][55]
Prices from BT lines were regulated such that calls to 0843 and 0844 numbers typically cost no more than 5p per minute. However, such calls were not included in calling packages and other landline companies and mobile operators charged a far wider range of prices, typically up to 40p per minute. This charging structure allowed organisations to benefit financially from calls to such numbers, by receiving a percentage of the charge made to the caller.
On 1 July 2015, a simplified universal charging system was introduced for 084 numbers and all other 'service numbers'. Calls to all 084 numbers now consist of a 'service charge' of up to 7p per minute and/or 7p per call, plus a standard 'access charge' set by the caller's own phone company which typically ranges from 7p to 45p per minute.[7][14] The total call cost therefore typically ranges from 7p to 52p per minute.
The service charge is the portion of the call cost that is received by the organisation being called and/or their number supplier; a variety of different per-minute and per-call rates are available. Organisations are obliged to detail the applicable service charge wherever they publicise their 084 number.[7]
Service Numbers starting 087
The first new 087 numbering range introduced after the PhONEday renumbering of 1995 was the 0870 prefix. Introduced in 1996, this was for non-geographic calls charged at the same rate as national (or 'long distance') calls. It initially existed alongside the older 0541 and 0990 prefixes, before finally replacing them entirely in 2001.
In 2000, a further batch of numbers using the prefix 0871 was introduced for use with dial-up internet services (in the range 0871 0xx xxxx) and for general uses charged at a rate of up to 10p per minute (all other 0871 numbers).[50] In 2007, the 0872 and 0873 prefixes were added to provide additional capacity.[51] In contrast to the 0870 range, neither prefix was linked to geographic rates or included in call packages, with both 0871 and 0872 numbers instead intended to be charged at a typical rate of no more than 10p per minute. In practice, such charging rates applied only from BT lines and calls typically cost 16p per minute from non-BT landlines and up to 45p per minute from mobile telephones.
In 1999, landline providers started to offer "inclusive" call packages where calls to 01 and 02 numbers were free. Within a few years most customers were on this type of plan. The price for calling 0870 numbers continued at roughly the same levels as before - and as they were not usually included in calling packages or free minutes, they effectively became more expensive to call than regular geographic numbers in most cases. Mobile operators also began to charge a higher rate for 0870 calls than for geographic numbers. As a result, the term "national rate" was no longer an accurate description of the price for calling 0870 numbers. The Advertising Standards Authority made several rulings against companies claiming that their 0870 numbers were charged at national rates over the following years.[9][47][48][56][57][58][59]
As with 084 numbers, the charging structure allowed organisations to benefit financially from calls to such numbers, by receiving a percentage of the charge made to the caller.
As 0870 numbers had been adopted on a large scale by public services, healthcare providers, banks, utilities and other companies, the relatively high cost of calling such numbers became a matter of public concern. By 2004,[60] the website saynoto0870.com had been established to help callers find alternative contact numbers for companies, and in 2005 BT suggested scrapping 0845 and 0870 numbers entirely.[61] BT believed the public were being misled about their call prices from other operators and Ofcom proposed removing revenue share from 0870 numbers and capping prices at less than "national rate"[62] - but such changes were delayed by several years.
In response to concerns about the continuing abuse of 0870 numbers,[63]Ofcom announced in 2008 that higher charges for 0870 numbers could remain provided that there was an announcement before the call. However, since that announcement Ofcom changed its decision, citing technical difficulties relating to alarm systems, some of which are life critical[64] and due to strong lobbying and pressure from the telecoms industry. From 2009, the ability of organisations using 0870 numbers to receive a proportion of the call cost was removed.[65] However, the cost of calling such numbers continued to vary considerably; some landline tariffs now included 0870 numbers in inclusive allowances, while mobile operators charged a premium for calling such numbers. Many organisations changed to using other 084 and 087 numbers through which they could continue to receive an income from call costs.
From 2008, the higher-rate 0871 and 0872 numbers began being regulated by the premium-rate telecoms regulator, PhonepayPlus.[66]
On 1 July 2015, a simplified universal charging system was introduced for 087 numbers and all other 'service numbers'. Calls to all 087 numbers now consist of a 'service charge' of up to 13p per minute and/or 13p per call, plus a standard 'access charge' set by the caller's own phone company which typically ranges from 7p to 45p per minute.[7][14] The total call cost therefore typically ranges from 7p to 58p per minute.
The service charge is the portion of the call cost that is received by the organisation being called and/or their number supplier; a variety of different per-minute and per-call rates are available. Organisations are obliged to detail the applicable service charge wherever they publicise their 087 number.[7]
Service Numbers starting 09
During the 1980s and early 1990s, a range of premium rate prefixes were brought into use for a variety of purposes including competitions, recorded information, chat lines and television voting. The BT prefixes 0891 and 0898 became well-known, but a wide variety of other prefixes were also used including 0338, 0660, 0890 and 0991.[67]
From July 1998, numbers starting with 090 were progressively made available for all new premium-rate services. Initially, these were further subdivided by type: 0909 was for adult services, while 0907 was intended to be used as a pay-for-product range.[67]
A year later, on 1 July 1999, the promotion of services using older premium rate prefixes not starting with 090 was prohibited. Finally, in April 2001, all such numbers were permanently withdrawn.[68]
Various new premium rate prefixes starting 090 and 091 have come into use in the years since and Ofcom has now set aside the whole of the 09 number range for use by premium-rate services. The block of numbers starting 098 is reserved for adult services with sexual content (alongside older 0908 and 0909 prefixes).
As with 084 and 087 numbers, a simplified two-part charging scheme was adopted for 09 numbers on 1 July 2015.[7]
Revenue Sharing and Call Price Indications
The cost of calling non-geographic numbers starting with 084, 087 and 09 usually includes a 'service charge' which allows for the possibility of what is known as revenue sharing.
For any telephone call to a non-geographic number, there are four parties involved: the caller, the originating telecommunications company (or 'telco'), the terminating telco and the called party. The caller pays their telephone bill to the originating telco.
The called party is supplied their non-geographic telephone number by the terminating telco, which will have issued with specific blocks of non-geographic numbers by Ofcom. Each block will have a specific service charge associated with it - for example, numbers starting 0845748 are BT numbers with a 5p per minute service charge, while those beginning 0871484 are numbers operated by TTNC Ltd. with a service charge of 10p per call.[69] The called party has complete control over this choice when they pick a telephone number for their business from the available supply.
After covering the cost of routing the call to its final destination, the terminating telco may share some of the remaining "premium" directly with the called party in a revenue share arrangement, or may use those monies to offset the cost of providing other services for the called party.
Revenue sharing is not possible on 0800 and 0808 number ranges due to their free-to-caller nature, and is specifically prohibited for 03 numbers.
Call price indications
The total charges for calls to 084, 087 and 09 numbers consists of two distinct parts, which are intended to be communicated to callers separately:
The called party is responsible for informing callers of the 'service charge' they and/or the terminating telco will receive;
The originating telco is responsible for informing its customers of the standard per-minute 'access charge' they levy on calls to 084, 087 and 09 numbers.
Previously, the called party was obligated to quote only the call price from BT landlines. For example, for 0844 numbers they would typically state: "calls cost 5 pence per minute from a BT landline, other providers and mobile operators may charge more." As other landline providers and mobile operators often charged significantly more than the tightly regulated BT amount, there was considerable potential for bill shock and confusion.
The called party would now be expected to include a statement such as: "calls cost 7p/min, plus your telephone company's access charge". This removes the ambiguity of the phrase "may charge more" and makes it clear where organisations are choosing to impose a service charge on callers - but does rely on callers being aware of their call provider's access charge to calculate the total price.
Usage of non-geographic numbers and popular opposition
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2016)
Different prefixes have different costs for both the user and caller. Where the call is completely free to the caller (rather than simply inclusive within an allowance) the user pays extra to cover the costs not met by the caller. However, most non-geographic prefixes charge the caller extra and this "premium" or "enhanced termination rate" is passed on to the terminating telecoms company to pay for call routing to the final destination with any excess being paid out to the called party in a "revenue share" arrangement. Hundreds of UK companies offer NGNs for sale or rent. Some also offer switchboard and call centre equipment in a package deal where some of the revenue derived from calls subsidises those costs.
While all 084, 087 (except 0870) and 09 numbers charge a "premium" to the caller, numbers starting 0871, 0872, 0873, 090, 091 and 098 are covered by additional Premium Rate Services (PRS) regulation, generally have the highest costs, and are heavily regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority. New "adult" services (SES) must use 098; legacy 0908 and 0909 numbers also carry these services.
With the increased price differential, the use of non-geographic telephone numbers in the United Kingdom has been a major cause of bill shock. Pollster YouGov found that 49% of mobile users have been surprised to see how much they have been charged for calling non-geographic numbers and 90% believe organisations should make the cost of these calls clearer.[70] According to Ofcom,[71] UK consumers paid around £1.9 billion for calls to non-geographic numbers in 2009.
Clients are attracted to 084 and 087 numbers because per minute revenue is generated for them from each call, and call queuing is permitted. Call centres may generate very high revenue from high call volumes. Questions have been asked in the British House of Commons about how much money the UK government is receiving from call queuing on non-geographic numbers.[72]
There is increasing consumer opposition to non-geographic numbers. This is partly due to revenue sharing concerns and partly due to these calls not being eligible for use within inclusive minutes. Whilst a national or regional business may want a single contact number that is not tied to a location, there seems little sense in a small trader covering a town, or at most a county, having a non-geographic number for their single telephone line. Businesses are attracted to using 084 numbers as many of the sellers of NGNs assert that callers are paying only a "local rate" call.
Consumers are aware that they are being charged for time spent waiting for their call to be answered. (Even more of the public is aware of the huge costs of 09 Premium rate numbers, where prices have to be clearly indicated, and on which call queuing is specifically prohibited.) There has been increasing media coverage[73] which has raised awareness of this.
During debates in the House of Commons, a number of Members of Parliament have criticised the use of 0845 numbers to provide access to government services, such as at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).[74] It is objected that taxpayers are already financing government services via taxation, and in the specific case of DWP that many callers are benefit claimants without much money. The DWP is in the process of migrating from 0845 numbers to 0800 or 03 numbers.[75] The Department of Health undertook a public consultation on banning 084 numbers in NHS services[76] and amended GP contracts in 2010 to ban their use.[77][78]
Some consumers have tried to avoid calling non-geographic numbers by instead calling a non-advertised geographic number.[79][80] Geographic rate alternatives to chargeable non-geographic numbers can often be found through simple online searches on web sites such as saynoto0870.com.[81]
In June 2014, the Consumer Rights Directive will make it illegal to use "numbers that cost more than the basic rate" for customer services and complaints.[82][83][84] Many current users of 084 and 087 numbers will have to move to their 034 and 037 equivalents or to 01 or 02 geographic numbers or to new 030, 033 or 080 non-geographic numbers.
Following their success in TV voting on shows like BBC One's The Voice UK,[85]voice short codes are now being used as an alternative to non-geographic numbers. Voice short codes enable businesses to provide greater transparency on call rates, as the rate is fixed irrespective of which network is being used to make the call.
Healthcare
Due to concerns raised by patients having to pay unfair costs when calling NHS services by telephone,[86] the usage of 0870 non-geographic numbers was banned by the Department of Health in 2005.[87][88][89] At that time, 0870 numbers often cost more to call than geographic 01 and 02 numbers and were not usually included in bundled minutes. Around 400 GP surgeries used 0870 numbers and were also coming under greater scrutiny[90][91] with a few reverting to geographic numbers.[92]
Many of these services quickly moved to 0845 or 0844 revenue share numbers as they were not specifically banned, even though they also cost more to call than 01 and 02 numbers and in many cases cost more to call than 0870 numbers. The tendency to unlawfully refer to 084x numbers as 'local rate' or 'lo-call' numbers hid the true cost of calling them,[9][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59] compared to the price for calling geographic numbers. One supplier of surgery telephone systems opted to use 0844 revenue share numbers paying the surgery 2p/min[93] from the 5p/min "premium" paid by callers. Contravening ASA advice,[43][52][53][54] surgeries were told that 0844 numbers were "lo-call" numbers[93] and subsequent tariff comparisons ignored both packages with inclusive minutes and users with mobile phones.
In December 2006, Lord Norman Warner sent a letter to all primary care trust chief executives drawing attention to the Central Office of Information guidance on telephone numbering, which suggested that healthcare providers consider adopting an 03 telephone number so that people "do not have to pay over the odds to contact their local services".[94][95] Very few took notice. In July and November 2007, two early day motions were signed by numerous MPs calling for GPs to no longer use 0844 and other such expensive telephone numbers.[96][97]
In recent years, there has been much discussion in the media about the use of 0844 numbers in the healthcare sector, mainly due to the costs incurred by people who have to dial these numbers as the primary form of contact with their local healthcare services, especially when calling from mobiles.[98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112]
The issue was debated in Parliament in early 2008.[113][114] The BMA recommended that GPs publish call costs for 0844 numbers in surgeries.[115] Former Health Secretary Alan Johnson has publicly advocated the use of 03 numbers.[116] By early 2008 there were already more than 800 GPs in England using 0844 telephone numbers.[116]
The Department of Health started investigating the use of 084 numbers in the NHS in March 2008[117] Phone supplier NEG stated their belief that 0844 numbers would not be banned.[118]
In 2008, Leicester City NHS Trust looked into their usage of telephone numbers and revealed a complex set of issues to be solved,[119] some of which were fixed later in the year.[120] Enfield Primary Care Trust wrote to all 62 surgeries in the borough warning them that it does not approve of them using premium rate 0844 numbers.[121] It was revealed that Mid-Yorkshire hospital trust had made more than £80,000 from use of a 0844 telephone number in two years.[122][123]
The Department of Health published a consultation[76][124] at the end of 2008 calling for views on the usage of 084 numbers in the NHS[125][126][127] which received more than 3000 responses. Ofcom recommended the 03 option.[128] In 2009, Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust moved 22 GPs to new 0345 numbers.[129]
Although 0870 numbers were banned in 2005, even as late as 2010 there were NHS bodies only now just getting around to complying with that ban.[130]
It had been widely reported in 2009 that 084 numbers were to be banned from the NHS.[77][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139] In December 2009, the Department of Health published directions to NHS bodies concerning the cost of telephone calls made by patients to the NHS: "An NHS body must not enter into, renew or extend a contract or other arrangement for telephone services unless it is satisfied that, having regard to the arrangement as a whole, persons will not pay more to make relevant calls to the NHS body then they would to make equivalent calls to a geographic number."[140][141] This reiterated the "free at the point of delivery" principle of the NHS and the direction applied to all NHS bodies.
GPs banned from using 0844 (and other 084x and 087x) numbers in 2010
In April 2010, the Department of Health introduced new GMS (General Medical Services) contracts[78][142] so that GPs would now also be covered by the earlier direction.[140][141] From this point on, the more than 6,500 GP surgeries in England and Wales were banned from using phone numbers that "cost more than calling a geographic number", and given one year to comply.[143] The GMS contract variation was needed as GPs are not NHS bodies, rather independent contractors.
Questions were asked in the Scottish Parliament in June 2010.[144]
A year after the GMS contract variation came into effect, many GPs were continuing to use 0844 numbers in defiance of the ban.[145][146][147][148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156] In March and May 2011, more than 1,300 GP surgeries were still using the banned 0844 (and 0845/0870) numbers.[157][158] It was becoming clear that local decision makers (i.e. PCTs and GPs) had failed to understand the 0844 revenue share mechanism as well as the price regulations that apply uniquely to BT and make their call rates atypical when compared to other providers.[159] At least one PCT claimed that they did not know what patients were paying for calls and further claimed that they had no way of finding out,[156] seemingly unaware that every telecoms supplier publishes a detailed price list on their respective websites.
A number of GPs claimed that only calls from landlines should be taken into account, but a statement in Parliament confirmed that "It is absolutely clear that there is no distinction between landlines, mobiles or payphones. The directions are very clear that patients should not expect to be charged any more."[160][161]
Primary care trusts (PCTs), en masse, had seemingly misunderstood the regulations or had been misled by the incorrect advice spread by NEG[162][163][164] and the BMA[165] as by November 2011 more than 1400 GPs were using the "banned" numbers.[166]
Protests against the use of 0844 numbers were growing.[167] There are even cases of GPs changing to 0844 numbers a year after the ban started.[168][169]
Only a small number of GPs had complied with the ban.[170][171][172][173][174][175] Various GPs using 0844 numbers attempted to justify their position[176] based on demonstratably false information.[177][178][179] In some areas, patients took it upon themselves to find and publish geographic numbers for GPs continuing to flout the 0844 ban.[180][181]
In January 2012, a parliamentary debate took place[182][183] where it was confirmed that users "should not pay more than a geographic rate call" and it was clarified that this applies to "both landlines and mobiles". Additionally, "bundled" or "free minutes" should also count.[184][185] The reference provides some additional commentary on the major points.[186]
A month later, the Department of Health issued further guidance on the use of 084 numbers in the NHS confirming that GPs should consider "all means of telephoning the practice – including from payphones, mobile phones and landlines"[187][188][189][190] which the BMA disputed.[191] 0844 numbers were mentioned again in a parliamentary debate in March 2012 when the Secretary of State Andrew Lansley confirmed: "We have made it very clear that GPs should not be using 0844 numbers for that purpose and charging patients for them."[192][193] A small number of surgeries have since complied with the regulation by moving to 01 or 02 numbers[194][195][196][197][198][199][200] but most have not done so.[201][202][203][204][205]
The Northern Ireland Assembly debated the issue in May 2012[206][207] where it was disclosed that 23 of Northern Ireland's 355 GP surgeries use an 0844 number.[208] A briefing note was produced within, and for the usage of, UK government. This covered some of the history relating to the issue.[209] Campaigners had already produced a simplified timeline.[210] In their response to an ongoing Ofcom consultation on simplifying non-geographic numbers, NEG said "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."[211]
In order to comply, GPs should be using numbers that begin 01, 02 or 03 and should not be using numbers that begin 070, 084, 087 or 09.[212] The 034 and 037 ranges are reserved specifically for 084 and 087 migration. GPs using 084 and 087 numbers can migrate to the equivalent 034 or 037 version of their number without ending their phone service contracts.[213] Alternatively they can move to brand new 030 or 033 numbers or to a geographic 01 or 02 number. Only a few GPs and NHS services have chosen 03 numbers[214] even though this should be the most obvious solution since 03 numbers allow the same call queueing and call management facilities as 084 and 087 numbers while costing the same as 01 and 02 numbers for all callers.
In spite of the ban on 0844 numbers in the NHS since April 2010, more GPs continue to sign up to use them[215][216][217][218][219][220][221][222][223] however the Phone-paid Services Authority has also taken an interest in extending regulations that already cover 09 and 087 numbers — as used for premium rate chat lines, competitions and phone-in voting systems — to also cover 084 numbers.[224]
Multiple PCTs have failed to enforce the terms of the April 2010 variations to the GMS contract and many GPs continue to use the banned numbers.[225] At least one surgery with an 0844 contract and with considerable time remaining time before it ends has adopted Skype as an alternative method of contacting the surgery.[226] Some surgeries have two telephone numbers: one a premium rate 0844 number with a higher level of service and the other a standard geographic 01 or 02 number with a lower level of service,[227][228] thereby creating a two-tier system for accessing the NHS services.[229]
Almost three years after the ban, in the South-East of England, usage of 0844 numbers continued unabated.[230][231][232] In any case, in 2013 the Consumer Rights Directive will soon make it illegal to use 084 and 087 numbers, indeed any number that "costs more than geographic rate", for customer services and complaints.[82][83][84] Where contracts are ending, GPs often choose to return to using 01 and 02 numbers[233][234][235] even though 03 numbers cost the same for all callers.
Future
With widespread abuse of non-geographic numbers continuing unabated,[63] lack of price transparency and low consumer confidence, on 30 April 2010 Ofcom announced a new, wide-ranging review of all non-geographic call services.[236] This is eventually expected to result in 0870 numbers returning to revenue share and their regulation being aligned with that for 0871 and 0872 numbers, 0845 regulation being aligned with that for 0843 and 0844 numbers and all 084 and 087 numbers being covered by a new "unbundled tariffs" scheme.
In June 2014, Article 21 of Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights[82][83] came into force. It states
Member States shall ensure that where the trader operates a telephone line for the purpose of contacting him by telephone in relation to the contract concluded, the consumer, when contacting the trader is not bound to pay more than the basic rate.
HM Government enacted Article 19 concerning credit and debit card surcharges much earlier than originally scheduled,[237] and the bulk of the directive in July 2013.[238] However, draft legislation banning 084, 087 and 09 numbers for customer service use wasn't published until August 2013.[84] In the initial draft, various sectors such as finance, passenger transport, roundsmen, gambling and package travel were proposed to be exempt, but the FCA subsequently ruled that the financial sector should be included, and their Call Charges Rule Rule GEN 7.2 came into force on 26 October 2015.
Premium-rate telephone numbers are telephone numbers that charge callers higher price rates for select services, including information and entertainment. A portion of the call fees is paid to the service provider, allowing premium calls to be an additional source of revenue for businesses. Tech support, psychic hotlines, and adult chat lines are among the most popular kinds of premium-rate phone services. Other services include directory enquiries, weather forecasts, competitions and ratings televoting. Some businesses, e.g. low-cost airlines, and diplomatic missions, such as the US Embassy in London or the UK Embassy in Washington, have also used premium-rate phone numbers for calls from the general public.
A toll-free telephone number or freephone number is a telephone number that is billed for all arriving calls. For the calling party, a call to a toll-free number from a landline is free of charge. A toll-free number is identified by a dialing prefix similar to an area code. The specific service access varies by country.
A conference call is a telephone call in which someone talks to several people at the same time. The conference call may be designed to allow the called party to participate during the call or set up so that the called party merely listens into the call and cannot speak.
In telecommunications, directory assistance or directory inquiries is a phone service used to find out a specific telephone number and/or address of a residence, business, or government entity.
In the United Kingdom, telephone numbers are administered by the Office of Communications (Ofcom). For this purpose, Ofcom established a telephone numbering plan, known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, which is the system for assigning telephone numbers to subscriber stations.
Telephone numbers in the Netherlands are administered by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation of the Netherlands. The telephone numbering plan may be grouped into three general categories: geographical numbers, non-geographical numbers, and numbers for public services.
The Big Number Change addressed various issues with the telephone dialling plan in the United Kingdom, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the country was running short of new telephone numbers.
118 118 is the UK telephone number for a US owned directory enquiries provider. Once wildly popular for its advertising featuring two runners, the service has experienced a dramatic decline in calls due to easily accessible information via mobile devices. Calls are answered from call centres in the Philippines, with some administration in Cardiff, Wales and other management offices in London, and provide answers to general questions on any subject. 118 118 started operation in December 2002. In September 2013 the company started 118118Money, a provider of unsecured personal loans.
VoIP User was a community-driven and financed SIP based VoIP network. The project's aim was to allow users to experiment with VoIP by providing opportunities to work with SIP and IAX2 devices.
Widespread UK telephone code misconceptions, in particular brought on by the Big Number Change in 2000, have been reported by regulator Ofcom since publication of a report it commissioned in 2004.
The dialling plan for mobile networks and new landline operators is closed; all subscriber numbers must be dialled in full. For landline numbers starting with 02, the dialling plan used to be open; the trunk digit and area code could be omitted if the caller was in the same area code as the callee. However, starting May 3, 2008, all landline numbers must be dialled in full.
saynoto0870.com is a UK website with a directory of non-geographic telephone numbers and their geographic alternatives.
PhONEday was a change to telephone numbering in the United Kingdom on Sunday 16 April 1995. A shortage of unique telephone numbers in the old dialling system meant that it was becoming increasingly difficult in certain areas of the country to assign unique numbers to new subscribers. To counteract this, dialling codes starting with 0 were changed to start with 01. In Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield, the existing area codes, which were 5 digits in length, were instead entirely replaced with new codes comprising 4 digits, to increase the amount of possible numbers by a factor of ten. The changes made possible the ability to provision new numbers in each of these five cities. It also had the effect of assigning all geographic landline telephone numbers into one range of numbers starting with 01, allowing for further changes to be made at the Big Number Change in 2000. A £16m advertising campaign, and an eight-month parallel period during which both old and new codes were active, preceded the change. PhONEday followed a change made in May 1990, when the old London area code 01 was released from use, permitting all United Kingdom geographic numbers to begin with this prefix. Originally planned in 1991 to take place in 1994, in 1992 the change was postponed until the Easter Sunday bank holiday in 1995.
A telephone number in Belgium is a sequence of nine or ten digits dialed on a telephone to make a call on the Belgian telephone network. Belgium is under a full number dialing plan, meaning that the full national number must be dialed for all calls, while it retains the trunk code, '0', for all national dialling.
Personal numbering is the name for the virtual telephone number service in the UK. Typically the national destination code used for this service is (0)70. The service provides a flexible virtual telephone number able to be routed to any other number, including international mobiles. For example, the UK number +44 70 0585 0070 might route to an Inmarsat satellite phone number, allowing the user to have a UK number while roaming globally.
Daisy Health is a telecommunications company founded in 1992. It was acquired by Daisy Group in December 2010 for £23.5 million.
111 is a free-to-call single non-emergency number medical helpline operating in England, Scotland and Wales. The 111 phone service has replaced the various non-geographic 0845 rate numbers and is part of each country's National Health Service: in England the service is known as NHS 111; in Scotland, NHS 24; and in Wales, NHS111 Wales.
Hospedia Ltd is a provider of bedside communication and entertainment units in UK hospitals which also sells clinical workflow solutions for NHS Trusts.
Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom have a flexible structure that reflects their historical demands, starting from many independent companies through a nationalised near-monopoly, to a system that supports many different services, including cellular phones, which were not envisaged when the system was first built. Numbers evolved in a piecemeal fashion, with numbers initially allocated on an exchange-by-exchange basis for calls connected by manual operators. Subscriber numbers reflected demand in each area, with single digit telephone numbers in very rural areas and longer numbers in cities.
UK Calling is the name given to the legislation introduced by Ofcom in July 2015 to make the cost of calling UK service numbers clearer for everyone.
↑ "Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery". Voipfone. Retrieved 13 January 2016. 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.
↑ "Inbound numbers". The Phone Co-op. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016. 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.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Phone charges to be made simpler". Ofcom. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016. 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.
↑ "What are 03 numbers?". Ofcom. Retrieved 13 January 2016. 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.
1 2 3 4 5 Committee of Advertising Practice (8 September 2005). "Stop the call confusion". CAP News. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 2 January 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 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.
↑ "03 Numbers". UK Area Codes and Phone Number Information. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
↑ "Guidance on bodies eligible to use '030' telephone numbers". Ofcom. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 3 November 2016. 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.
1 2 3 ASA (6 April 2005). "Emap Active Ltd". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. the claim "Lo-call" was misleading, because calls to 0870 numbers were not charged at a low rate as implied.
1 2 ASA (25 April 2007). "NET Homeworkers". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. We therefore concluded that the description of the '0845' number as a 'local rate' call was misleading.
1 2 ASA (12 December 2007). "Datel Group plc". Broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. We told Max TV not to describe calls to 0845 numbers as 'local rate' calls.
1 2 3 ASA (2 April 2008). "Zero Gravity Products". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 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.
1 2 3 ASA (2 April 2008). "Zero Gravity Products". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 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
1 2 3 ASA (18 February 2009). "Abstract Games Ltd". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 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.
1 2 ASA (6 April 2005). "Langley Miniature Models". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 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.
1 2 ASA (20 September 2006). "British Sky Broadcasting Ltd t/a Sky Travel Shop". Broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 25 September 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 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.
1 2 ASA (21 May 2008). "Men at Work Ltd". Non-broadcast Adjudications. Advertising Standards Authority. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. (we) ruled that the costs of making calls to such numbers (0870) should be stated in the ad.
↑ "Say no to 0870". SayNoTo0870.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2007. 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.
↑ Lewis, Martin (26 September 2012). "Say no to 0870". MoneySavingExpert.com Limited. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
↑ Clarke, Michael (25 February 2005). "0870 phone lines ban for GPs". London Evening Standard. Evening Standard Limited. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
1 2 NEG (27 June 2006). "Kingshurst Medical Practice finds that Surgery Line pays for itself"(PDF). Case Studies. Network Europe Group Ltd. Archived from the original(PDF) on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2007. 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.
↑ Bourley, Anika (26 January 2007). "Patients facing pricier calls to GPs". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Newsquest (Yorkshire & North East) Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Connell, James (22 August 2007). "Inquiry into cost of calling doctor". Worcester News. Newsquest (Midlands South) Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Connell, James (1 September 2007). "Doctor defends premium rate lines". Worcester News. Newsquest (Midlands South) Ltd. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ O'Dowd, Adrian (15 September 2007). "GPs and patients clash over use of premium rate phone lines". BMJ 2007;335(7619):534.2. BMJ Publishing Group. PMC1976496.
↑ Connell, James (5 November 2007). "Patients to have say on 0844 numbers". Worcester News. Newsquest (Midlands South) Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Stankovska, Simona (1 October 2008). "Trust ditches 0844 number". eHealthInsider. eHealth Media. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (23 February 2008). "Block on top-rate GP lines". Enfield Independent. Newsquest (London) Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (10 February 2009). "Campaign to say 'no to 084'". Daily Gazette. Newsquest (Essex) Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (25 February 2010). "Local number for GP out of hours". Londonderry Sentinel. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (13 September 2009). "40p-a-min calls to GPs are banned". Metro. Associated Newspapers Limited. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (23 May 2011). "Assurance on GP phone rates". South Wales Evening Post. Northcliffe Media Limited. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ NEG (26 August 2011). "Enhanced Telephony - The Facts"(PDF). Network Europe Group Ltd/Daisy Group plc. Archived(PDF) from the original on 20 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (5 August 2011). "GP phone numbers switch". Sheffield Star. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (20 August 2011). "Practice responds to patient pressure". Billericay Gazette. Northcliffe Media Limited. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012. 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.
↑ Earley NAG (20 January 2012). "Doctors Using 0844 Phone Numbers". Earley Neighbourhood Action Group. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (19 July 2012). "New GP phone numbers". Dinnington Guardian. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Gilfillan, Georgie (14 August 2012). "0844 telephone number". NHS UK. Dr. Cloak and partners. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (28 October 2012). "Surgery hangs up on 08444 number". Western Telegraph. Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (20 July 2012). "Medical centre call-rate protest". Kingsbridge, Salcombe and South Hams Gazette. Tindle Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (20 July 2012). "Medical centre call-rate protest". South Hams Gazette. South Hams Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Surgery Line (27 July 2012). "Simplifying non-geographic numbers"(PDF). Consultation Responses. Office of Communications. Archived(PDF) from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012. 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.
↑ Lindsay, Dave; Hickson, David (7 November 2012). "Evidence of call charges"(PDF). Fair Telecoms Campaign. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Hickson, David (2 May 2012). "Supporting Surgery Line". David Hickson Media. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Curtis, Joe (13 May 2012). "Outrage over surgery call cost hike". Waltham Forest Guardian. Newsquest (London) Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Lindsay, Dave; Hickson, David (27 October 2012). "Two tier telephone access to the NHS"(PDF). Fair Telecoms Campaign. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
↑ Reporter (9 March 2013). "Calls to GPs cost up to 20p a min". West Sussex County Times. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
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