The SayNoTo0870 Article Discussion Area

I-LOV-MONEY

Bill_of_Roundhay wrote: »

Dept of Health has just launched a consultation on whether GPs should use 084 phone numbers which increase costs for people with inclusive phone deals. Do get in quick to respond - remember this will not take money from NHS services but may reduce the amount of profits that GPs take from the money they get from Government. Government money is intended to cover costs of running GP services, but the 084 nos take extra subsidy from patients indirectly. The publicity genetrated may also rub off on others indirectly subsidising themselves from service users this way. Survey is at:- http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_091879

Well as consumers I cannot see anybody voting for the retention of the 084 numbers. The way the consultation is phrased it suggests it is a "done deal" anyway.

The article says that the surgeries do not make a profit from using these numbers, but just offsets the costs. Any organisation has to pay their phone costs, maybe as it is the NHS they can be VAT exempt.

I hope when this charge is abolished it will also apply to NHS Direct.

utilitybroker

Bill_of_Roundhay wrote: »

Dept of Health has just launched a consultation on whether GPs should use 084 phone numbers which increase costs for people with inclusive phone deals. Do get in quick to respond - remember this will not take money from NHS services but may reduce the amount of profits that GPs take from the money they get from Government. Government money is intended to cover costs of running GP services, but the 084 nos take extra subsidy from patients indirectly. The publicity genetrated may also rub off on others indirectly subsidising themselves from service users this way. Survey is at:- http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_091879

Already a long thread here on this subject.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=602529&highlight=0844+doctors+surgeries

Simons-Photography

alibabaery wrote: »

I complained to talktalk about having to use 0870, which outside my package, to get information from them and was told that talktalk customers were identified, if in a package deal, and not charged for the call. I will check my bill at the end of the month to check this out! Small consolation but sensible. I hated the idea of having to pay to complain.:j

its inconceivble that a phone company should have a premium rate number to contact them on I've come to find that telephone companies will have a free number as they provide the line anyhow but everyone else has a 0845 number.

what I really find criminal is that even the police use 0845, you read a newspaper article featuring say a robbery and at the end say police would like anyone with information to come forward and can contacted on 0845...... I think jesus why don't they just make 999 a paynumber too ! luckily we know the real landline number of our local police station

bbb_uk

I-LOV-MONEY wrote: »

The article says that the surgeries do not make a profit from using these numbers, but just offsets the costs

It depends on the definition of "profit." Reading NEG's case studies, i quote:-

[FONT=NHZFOX+TradeGothic-BoldTwo][FONT=NHZFOX+TradeGothic-BoldTwo]You and your staff benefit[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=NHZFOX+TradeGothic-BoldTwo]

[/FONT][FONT=DTGZBV+TradeGothic-Light][FONT=DTGZBV+TradeGothic-Light]When a surgery switches to an 084 number, NEG will install and maintain the[/FONT]

[FONT=DTGZBV+TradeGothic-Light]most efficient communications system on the market. You specify exactly what equipment you want to receive (from handsets to switchboards) for no extra charge. 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.[/FONT]
[/FONT]

[FONT=DTGZBV+TradeGothic-Light]

[FONT=DTGZBV+TradeGothic-Light]Surgeries, I assume, are prohibited from making a profit so instead the money is "re-invested." Basically to me that reads they get money from the calls but put it into something else. One wonders what the something else maybe.... [/FONT][/FONT]

Heinz

To add to their £100,000+ p.a. salaries?

Silent_Calls_Victim

Let us get some things straight.

GPs are not an exception as providers of NHS services, many NHS Trusts also use revenue sharing numbers. The NHS is not an exception within public services, many other public bodies do so also.

Whether or not GPs are overpaid is of no relevance, the issues would be exactly the same regardless. It is also irrelevant as to whether all the money earned from the revenue share goes to pay for a good telephone system that patients love, or if it helps to provide a surplus for the practice from which the partners and staff are able to benefit whilst patients hate the telephone system.

The NHS carries the proud principle of being "free at the point of need", funded by taxation. It is this principle that is breached by use of revenue sharing telephone numbers in the provision of NHS services. Whatever other issues may be raised when considering examples of this, and whatever rightly needs to be done to deal with these also, I must urge focus on this issue whilst the current consultation is underway. A proper and complete resolution may assist with some other matters.

Attacking the earnings of GPs in general (90% do not use revenue sharing numbers) will not win their support in seeking alternative ways of funding advanced telephone systems. GMS contractors are not prohibitted from making "profit", nor are GPs paid a "salary" by the NHS; getting engaged in the detail of their particular financial arrangements will do little to help resolve the real issue.

There are many other public bodies which do not levy chjarges for their services, but nonetheless use revenue sharing numbers; Police services are actually in the lead amongst those who are now changing away to geographic or 03 numbers. I hope it is not being suggested that GPs should not change because others have not done so first.

For bodies that do levy charges for their services it is a matter of how those charges are distributed and advised. Most would agree that Customer Services operations should be funded out of gross profit on the main business, rather than more directly. This could however be a matter of debate, especially in situations where these operations are outsourced.

It is unquestionably unacceptable to use mis-advertised revenue sharing numbers to provide a chargeable service that is said to be free, or not understood as being chargeable. Furthermore it is unacceptable to use BT tariffs as the basis for advising costs, because there is no obvious "standard charge" and those most commonly used are atypical of charging in general.

Laneypops

I think this is a brilliant website.....my mobile phone company T Mobile told me about this site as we had fallen into the trap of ringing 0845 numbers and 0870 numbers and been charged extortionate prices!! Good on then I say and I have told everyone I know about saynoto0870.com!!

robbies_gal

I tend to try and look up numbers for the normal number so to speak but cant always find it or i havent got enugh time and end up using the 0870 number

i think its disgusting that doctors are now using this-people are ill and its mean to be a free nhs service!

as for the news that bt are including it in their weekend packaages good for them-but when will virgin and the like follow as im not spending out to get bt installed jsut because its a few free calls

I-LOV-MONEY

I am with Talk Talk, and I have written to them asking if they are going to offer free calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers.

Incidently, on the BT website it says that calls to 0871 and 0844 are not included.

coochicoo

I am also with TalkTalk and have raised the question of their increase in prices by not altering the monthly charge despite the reduction of VAT. No doubt they will issue the standard "We are working on providing the best blah blah blah" and we will be contacting out customers shortly"

I-LOV-MONEY please keep us informed of the reply