Doctors Surgeries told to stop using 0844 Numbers.

[Deleted User]

Heinz wrote: »

Do they have a website? It'd be very handy for the campaign being waged on SayNoTo0870.com.

Unfortunately there isn’t a website Heinz, as for rather complicated reasons it wasn’t made a ‘public’ battle. I’m concerned that I posted rather in haste this morning, while in the midst of dealing with other things, and would like to apologise if I’ve jumped the gun rather and raised people’s hopes over the 03 numbers. I’ve checked back and although using 03 was discussed I don’t have it in writing that the new system will definitely be using them, so I may have wrongly assumed there!!

I do know for a fact that negotiations with the 0844 company were cancelled and that the PCT is now involved in the provision of the new system. As soon as I know more, I’ll post here.

bunking_off

Jammy1 wrote: »

However take a look at today’s article in the Mail: Patient left with £127 phone bill after hanging on the line for 49 minutes trying to make an appointment

Erm, I don't think so. There's more to this than meets the eye. If you look at the picture - closely - in this article you'll see his bill says he was on the phone to the hospital for 49 hours, not minutes. Clearly there's either been some kind of error on the bill, or he failed to replace his handset. Unfortunately, the zoom they've provided of the bill misses off the timings of the call so it's impossible to verify which.

BritBrat

Heinz wrote: »

Isn't that what the last paragraph of my post says?

I should have gone to specsavers.

Speedee

Where can I find the list of charges for all types of numbers. I was looking on the BT website for it for residential and business lines, so I can compare the two for certain numbers (0845); never find anything I want on there . A link or two would be great .

Our doctors have a 0844 4771886 number - what does that cost - it is so busy at 8am you can hang on for 20 min's; if you wait too long you won't get an appointment that day, and they don't let you make them in advance (usually).

P.S. I did see something on the BT website that 087? numbers have changed recently to be the same as 01/02 ?? and an announcement would play at the beginning?

[Deleted User]

bunking_off wrote: »

If you look at the picture - closely - in this article you'll see his bill says he was on the phone to the hospital for 49 hours, not minutes.

Well spotted, I hadn't noticed that! Although the article has at least raised the 0844 issue again.

Heinz wrote: »

It'd be very handy for the campaign being waged on SayNoTo0870.com.

One of the highlighted quotes in that link says

To facilitate the changeover, those calling the old telephone number will hear a recording, with details of the new number they need to call.

This redirection message will be kept on the old line for as long as it is needed.

The new number will be charged at local rates

Yet again "local" is being used instead of "lo-call" for an 0844 number! This is misleading as the two are charged differently!

Even if you know there is a difference between the two terms (and many don’t), when the cost of the call is being given out over the phone or on the radio, it’s very hard to tell the difference! This adds to why, if it's within their powers to do so, I believe Ofcom should ban telecoms companies from using the term "lo-call".

NonGeographicalMan

JohalaReewi wrote: »

The prime minister's response to the e-petition can be read online.

http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page15215.asp

Ho Johala. Its good to see a fellow Tivo owner also fighting the good fight against 084/7 numbers.

Well done on your xtivoweb module too by the way. I must admit to using a different name over on that forum (https://www.tivocommunity.com) though, unlike your good self.

NonGeographicalMan

Jammy1 wrote: »

I do know for a fact that negotiations with the 0844 company were cancelled and that the PCT is now involved in the provision of the new system. As soon as I know more, I’ll post here.

There is no need for them to use an 03 number as that would cost them extra money compared to just retaining a geographic 01 number on their actual local exchange. So may be they are keeping their old phone number and using the new phone equipment with that now.

Its a complete lie peddled by Network Group Europe and their other doppleganger telecoms GP stitchup rivals that you can only provide a modern efficient switchboard using 0844. The only reason to use 0844 is so that they can put most of the extra cost of the call in their pocket while casting a few remaining crumbs in the direction of the doctors surgery.:eek:

NonGeographicalMan

Jammy1 wrote: »

Well spotted, I hadn't noticed that! Although the article has at least raised the 0844 issue again..

Yes but why didn't their system disconnect him when his call reached the top of the queue and there was no one on the line at his end?:eek::mad:

hollydays

Is there anything more maddening,when you are ill,than being charged to ring the bloody doctor,then being cut off by their crummy system,and having to ring back into the crummy automated system!!

JohalaReewi

hollydays wrote: »

Is there anything more maddening,when you are ill,than being charged to ring the bloody doctor,then being cut off by their crummy system,and having to ring back into the crummy automated system!!

Yup. Being told you can only book appointments on the day (no advance booking allowed). So you see the doctor who says come back in two weeks. You cant book an appointment for two weeks time so at 8:30pm two weeks later, you and the rest of the local population phone the 0844 number to book an appointment. One of you is lucky and gets through, the rest get fleeced.