Councils and 0845

FannyHill

Why are councils moving from regular numbers to 0845 ?

I looked up the number of my local council and it's 0845.
Luckily I managed thru Say No To 0870 to find a regular number for them.
Many people now have inclusive call packages that give them free calls to regular numbers but charge for 0845.

I got thru and asked for the number of a certain dept.
They started quoting an 0845 and I said can you give me a regular number not an 0845.

They advised me they are moving all council numbers to 0845 and it's better for me as it's a local call charge and even if I am outwith the town I can still ring the council and as it's local charge so it's better than the old STD code and number.

All a load of nonsense as I can phone the old STD and number for free.

Why are they doing this, do they get a cut of 0845 numbers to them ?

The lady actually did connect me to the dept from her switchboard but after waiting 15 mins couldn't wait any longer so had to hang up.

McKneff

Yes, you are correct, all 0845 and 0870 numbers are income generated so the council do get a cut of the revenue. You'll probably find the police and some health authorities do this too. It really is outrageous that they can do this and the more publicity saynoto0870 gets the better. the only generic number i have been unable to get on this is the number for travelodge.

pounds_and_sense

I called my insurance company this morning on the 0870 number, and received a message that the number had changed to an 0844 prefix. Would there be any logical reason for this?
It really annoyed me as I (foolishly) switched to BT recently on the basis of free calls to 0870 numbers.

Heinz

Remember though that, with BT's standard daytime charge for geographical calls going up from 4½p/minute to 5¼p/minute on 1st October (and the call set-up fee going up from 8p to 9.05p), those with a 18185 account will still be able to call 0845 numbers for 5p connection and ½p/minute by using 18185's 08081703703 freephone access number.

FannyHill

Thanks for that as I do sometimes use 18185.

Slightly off on a tangent but if you have Post Office Tel Service can you use 18185 ?


Why do councils always say we are changing the system to give better service to our customers when it obviously isn't true ?

Heinz

FannyHill wrote: »

Why do councils always say we are changing the system to give better service to our customers when it obviously isn't true ?

Because their in-house telecomms people (who should know better) accept the sales nonsense they hear (just like so many GPs' Office Managers have accepted the nonsense NEG told them about the benefits to patients of 0844 numbers).

McKneff

and lots of companies in the wake of free 0845 and 0870
lots of companies are changing their income generated calls to 0844 and 0871

JohalaReewi

pounds_and_sense wrote: »

I called my insurance company this morning on the 0870 number, and received a message that the number had changed to an 0844 prefix. Would there be any logical reason for this?
It really annoyed me as I (foolishly) switched to BT recently on the basis of free calls to 0870 numbers.

Revenue sharing on 0870 numbers has been (is being) stopped as of 1st August. Revenue sharing on 0844 (and 0871) still remains. As to why companies are changing from 0870 to 0844/0871 instead of 03.... Follow the money.

lookafterthepenny

Saynoto0845 just type it in your search box and bang there is a directory to search for either a land line number or a free phone. we recently had a car accident and it would of cost me a small fortune on phone calls without the use of saynoto0845. the website gave me a free phone number for my insurance company!

FannyHill

I use Say No To 0870 but not everyone knows about it and should the dear old lady who doesn't have internet have to learn how to use it at the library to find this info assuming there is an alternative no, to stop the council charging her a higher rate than she needs to 'cos she wants to speak to them ?

She phones up and waits 20 mins to get someone in the right dept to speak to.
With her inclusive calls package it used to cost nothing as it was a regular no starting 01.
Now she is forced into using 0845 ( unless she learns how to get an alternative regular no ) and has to pay per min whilst waiting and listening to "all our operators are busy, your call is important, we are recording this call for training purposes and for your benefit,you can contact us thru our website,someone will be with your shortly, here is some music by Slasher D :eek: that you may enjoy " etc etc etc.

OldGreyFox

Their is a thread about Local Authorities use of 0845 on saynoto0870
see here: http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1246154514