084 and 087 numbers - are they now gone?

movedto03

Around a decade or more ago (2010 to 2015), a bunch of Directions, Guidance and Regulations from the Department of Health, BIS, Cabinet Office, Ofcom, FCA and others, forced the removal of the vast majority of premium rate 084 and 087 numbers from various inappropriate use that had been ongoing since before 2004.

Most users changed to inclusive 03xx numbers or free 080x numbers. A few closed their phone lines and moved to online-only contact.

Has everyone now complied?
Are there any offenders still out there, a decade or more after the rules changed?
Who is still getting away with it?

DullGreyGuy

The scope of the push was not a universal removal of them but a push to remove them from customer service lines for existing customers. There was no push to remove them from sales or other purposes of calling. If the Cabinet Office wanted them banned they could simply pass primary legislation to do so, similarly the FCA could introduce regulations banning their use. 

Some are still using these types of numbers though some differentiate between business and consumers, like DHL has a 0844 for businesses to call but a 0345 for consumers. 

movedto03

DullGreyGuy said:

The scope of the push was not a universal removal of them but a push to remove them from customer service lines for existing customers. There was no push to remove them from sales or other purposes of calling. If the Cabinet Office wanted them banned they could simply pass primary legislation to do so, similarly the FCA could introduce regulations banning their use. 

Some are still using these types of numbers though some differentiate between business and consumers, like DHL has a 0844 for businesses to call but a 0345 for consumers. 

There were multiple pushes to remove them from various sectors. Were you unaware of them?

The Cabinet Office told all government departments, their agencies and contractors to get rid of 084, 087 and 09 numbers through guidance published in late 2013.

The FCA did the same for banks and insurers through regulations that came into effect in late 2015, banning their use for customer contact.

mits999

Bt landline plan unlimited minutes includes 0845 and 0870 numbers + Vodafone mobile has add on for £3.50 a month for 250 mins or virgin media has add on 250 mins for £5 a month

movedto03

mits999 said:

BT landline plan unlimited minutes includes 0845 and 0870 numbers + Vodafone Mobile has add on for £3.50 a month for 250 mins, or Virgin Media has add on 250 mins for £5 a month.

This is a bamboozling proposition. VirginMedia and Vodafone are prepared to pay out up to £32.50 per month (250 * 13p) to organisations called, but charge the caller only £5 or £3.50 per month? This is unusually generous.