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URGENT - BBC Board To Decide on 03 Numbers on April 21st
NonGeographicalMan
Posts: 1,441 Forumite
in Phones & TV
Hi All,
BBC Board To Decide About Possible Switch From 084 and 087 Numbers to 03 on Monday 21st April - Please Email the BBC Board & BBC Trust's Members
I have been told by a reliable source at the top management level of the BBC's Marketing, Communications and Audience section (which also controls the activities of BBC Information) that at its scheduled meeting this coming Monday, 21st April, the BBC's Executive Board (see www.bbc.co.uk/info/running/executive/index.shtml) will consider a paper that will consider the case for the BBC adopting a policy that would require all external contact numbers with the BBC (ranging from its main BBC Information call centre to regional radio station numbers and numerous individual program 087/084 audience line numbers) to change to 03 numbers.
When my source originally spoke to me some months ago they indicated there was a 90%+ likelihood their paper would recommend a switch to 03 numbers and they telephoned me to discuss this proposal to test whether the reaction of the SayNoTo0870 campaign (since I am one of the campaign's most long running, regular and staunchest critics of the BBC over its use of 084 and 087 numbers) would respond positively to such a change. They were concerned about the fact that 03 numbers did not yet seem to then be very widely used or recognised by the public (last November) but told me that their research so far indicated that if the BBC's contract(s) with their telecoms and/or main call centre suppliers was renewed or renegotiated to enable a switch to 03 the actual cost to the BBC of using 03 numbers, instead of 084 and 087, was likely to be negligible in terms of the total cost of the contract, even though it might mean a very slight cost increase.
My reason for this post is because consideration of this paper by the BBC Board was put back after Ofcom decided to postpone the ending of revenue share on 0870 from 1st Feb 2008 in Autumn 2007 (on the amazing grounds that Ofcom was apparently so incompetent it had not previously anticipated problems with automated burglar diallers calling 0870 numbers with call price announcements). I was naturally concerned the BBC might, as a result, just decided to continue with 0845 and 0870 and even 0871 (Question Time tickets for future shows line) unless and until Ofcom eventually announced a date to end 0870 revenue sharing. However in the event the paper is now going forwards to the BBC Board but what I don't know is what recommendation it is making in the light of Ofcom's delay/cancellation of 0870 call charge changes and whether that recommendation might have in any way changed. I would be concerned for instance whether this paper might consider that the BBC could get away with switching to say 5p per minute 0844 numbers, on which any lost revenue share in the weekday daytime would be made up for by higher call charges on weekday evenings and the weekend when the majority of viewers and listeners call the BBC.
I believe that in order to put pressure on the BBC Board to take the right decision (make it compulsory for all contact numbers used by the BBC for normal contact other than quiz/prize lines or voting lines to switch to 03) it would help if as many well informed members as possible of SayNoTo0870 wrote to all BBC Board Members and all members of the BBC Trust setting out their own personal views as to why a public sector organisation like the BBC can only acceptably use 01, 02 or 03 prefixed numbers.
I don't think the email needs to be massively long as these are busy people.
The main arguments should focus on matters such as:-
1) The latest COI guidance suggests that where cost to the citizen consumer
and providing equal access to all consumers is an issue that 03 numbers should now be considered.
2) The cost of calling 0845 and 0870 are vastly above the cost of normal 01/02/03 calls for those paying per minute and also many other consumers now pay nothing per minute to call 01/02/03 (due to a fixed price monthly call package covering all calls to these numbers) but calls cost up to 40p per minute on mobile phones to 084 and 087 prefixed numbers.
3) The BBC has already been badly tarnished with allegations of telephone sleaze regarding various game show lines (including Blue Peter) using 09 numbers where viewers were encouraged to continue dialling while lines had already closed and/or the prize was not given to a genuine member of the public calling the 09 line but to a pre-arranged individual chosen by the director/producer of the show. This image of sleaze is only exacerbated by the BBC using 084/7 numbers perceived as covert premium rate and/or as involving a revenue share to the BBC. Switching to 03 for all its normal numbers would restore public confidence in the image of the BBC and the public's enthusiasm for making contact with it and engaging with it.
4) Contrary to claims that the BBC does not earn a revenue share on its current 084/7 numbers the reality is that the revenue earned by the owner of the numbers(Cable & Wireless) appears to lower the costs of the BBC's outgoing calls and/or the supply of telephony hardware and/or phone line rental costs in a manner that would not be possible if 084/7 numbers were not being used by Cable & Wireless to cross subsidise the price charged to the BBC for these facilities.
Continued Below:-
BBC Board To Decide About Possible Switch From 084 and 087 Numbers to 03 on Monday 21st April - Please Email the BBC Board & BBC Trust's Members
I have been told by a reliable source at the top management level of the BBC's Marketing, Communications and Audience section (which also controls the activities of BBC Information) that at its scheduled meeting this coming Monday, 21st April, the BBC's Executive Board (see www.bbc.co.uk/info/running/executive/index.shtml) will consider a paper that will consider the case for the BBC adopting a policy that would require all external contact numbers with the BBC (ranging from its main BBC Information call centre to regional radio station numbers and numerous individual program 087/084 audience line numbers) to change to 03 numbers.
When my source originally spoke to me some months ago they indicated there was a 90%+ likelihood their paper would recommend a switch to 03 numbers and they telephoned me to discuss this proposal to test whether the reaction of the SayNoTo0870 campaign (since I am one of the campaign's most long running, regular and staunchest critics of the BBC over its use of 084 and 087 numbers) would respond positively to such a change. They were concerned about the fact that 03 numbers did not yet seem to then be very widely used or recognised by the public (last November) but told me that their research so far indicated that if the BBC's contract(s) with their telecoms and/or main call centre suppliers was renewed or renegotiated to enable a switch to 03 the actual cost to the BBC of using 03 numbers, instead of 084 and 087, was likely to be negligible in terms of the total cost of the contract, even though it might mean a very slight cost increase.
My reason for this post is because consideration of this paper by the BBC Board was put back after Ofcom decided to postpone the ending of revenue share on 0870 from 1st Feb 2008 in Autumn 2007 (on the amazing grounds that Ofcom was apparently so incompetent it had not previously anticipated problems with automated burglar diallers calling 0870 numbers with call price announcements). I was naturally concerned the BBC might, as a result, just decided to continue with 0845 and 0870 and even 0871 (Question Time tickets for future shows line) unless and until Ofcom eventually announced a date to end 0870 revenue sharing. However in the event the paper is now going forwards to the BBC Board but what I don't know is what recommendation it is making in the light of Ofcom's delay/cancellation of 0870 call charge changes and whether that recommendation might have in any way changed. I would be concerned for instance whether this paper might consider that the BBC could get away with switching to say 5p per minute 0844 numbers, on which any lost revenue share in the weekday daytime would be made up for by higher call charges on weekday evenings and the weekend when the majority of viewers and listeners call the BBC.
I believe that in order to put pressure on the BBC Board to take the right decision (make it compulsory for all contact numbers used by the BBC for normal contact other than quiz/prize lines or voting lines to switch to 03) it would help if as many well informed members as possible of SayNoTo0870 wrote to all BBC Board Members and all members of the BBC Trust setting out their own personal views as to why a public sector organisation like the BBC can only acceptably use 01, 02 or 03 prefixed numbers.
I don't think the email needs to be massively long as these are busy people.
The main arguments should focus on matters such as:-
1) The latest COI guidance suggests that where cost to the citizen consumer
and providing equal access to all consumers is an issue that 03 numbers should now be considered.
2) The cost of calling 0845 and 0870 are vastly above the cost of normal 01/02/03 calls for those paying per minute and also many other consumers now pay nothing per minute to call 01/02/03 (due to a fixed price monthly call package covering all calls to these numbers) but calls cost up to 40p per minute on mobile phones to 084 and 087 prefixed numbers.
3) The BBC has already been badly tarnished with allegations of telephone sleaze regarding various game show lines (including Blue Peter) using 09 numbers where viewers were encouraged to continue dialling while lines had already closed and/or the prize was not given to a genuine member of the public calling the 09 line but to a pre-arranged individual chosen by the director/producer of the show. This image of sleaze is only exacerbated by the BBC using 084/7 numbers perceived as covert premium rate and/or as involving a revenue share to the BBC. Switching to 03 for all its normal numbers would restore public confidence in the image of the BBC and the public's enthusiasm for making contact with it and engaging with it.
4) Contrary to claims that the BBC does not earn a revenue share on its current 084/7 numbers the reality is that the revenue earned by the owner of the numbers(Cable & Wireless) appears to lower the costs of the BBC's outgoing calls and/or the supply of telephony hardware and/or phone line rental costs in a manner that would not be possible if 084/7 numbers were not being used by Cable & Wireless to cross subsidise the price charged to the BBC for these facilities.
Continued Below:-
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Comments
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First off i dont think its wise posting their personal addresses.
Secondly I haven't called the BBC ever? I don't think I would need to? If people are stupid enough to call the competition lines then I have no sympathy for them.0 -
normanmark wrote: »First off i dont think its wise posting their personal addresses.
Why not. The names of these people are published on their website. All BBC email addresses are [EMAIL="firstname.lastname@bbc.co.uk"]firstname.lastname@bbc.co.uk[/EMAIL] - nothing confidential is being revealed. As to spammers that's irrelevant as there is so much spam around you will drown in it anyway unless you use a decent spam filtering service. The BBC will have elaborate spam filtering for bulk junk emails selling Viagra etc.Secondly I haven't called the BBC ever? I don't think I would need to? If people are stupid enough to call the competition lines then I have no sympathy for them.
I'm not talking about their competition line. I'm talking about their lines for viewers and listeners to make comments about the editorial or content of programs. Those should be normal rate numbers as they used to be with the BBC Duty Office before BBC outsourced their call centres to disinterested morons at Capita in Northern Ireland.
If you don't ever call the BBC then there is no need for you to reply. This post is for people who do call it and have views on their use of ripoff 084/7 numbers as a publicly owned body and not a private company.0 -
NonGeographicalMan wrote: »Why not. The names of these people are published on their website. All BBC email addresses are [EMAIL="firstname.lastname@bbc.co.uk"]firstname.lastname@bbc.co.uk[/EMAIL] - nothing confidential is being revealed. As to spammers that's irrelevant as there is so much spam around you will drown in it anyway unless you use a decent spam filtering service. The BBC will have elaborate spam filtering for bulk junk emails selling Viagra etc.
If its not published on the site then a general rule of thumb for myself is its not for the public knowledge. If it goes to one source designated for public contact then if they see an increase in volume for that public in box for the one subject then it's going to be noticed a hell of a lot more I'd say.NonGeographicalMan wrote: »I'm not talking about their competition line. I'm talking about their lines for viewers and listeners to make comments about the editorial or content of programs. Those should be normal rate numbers as they used to be with the BBC Duty Office before BBC outsourced their call centres to disinterested morons at Capita in Northern Ireland.
If you don't ever call the BBC then there is no need for you to reply. This post is for people who do call it and have views on their use of ripoff 084/7 numbers as a publicly owned body and not a private company.
In this day in age an email does just as well. Plus who the hell has time on their hands to complain about the programming or the editorial? Just change channel if it doesnt cut the mustard
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normanmark wrote: »If its not published on the site then a general rule of thumb for myself is its not for the public knowledge.
Clearly you are always going to be a member of the pack and not an opinion former then.Plus who the hell has time on their hands to complain about the programming or the editorial? Just change channel if it doesnt cut the mustard
Judging by the time you clearly have to waste gainsaying threads in this forum on topics in which you profess to not be interested I imagine you would have plenty of time.
Is there a NoThanks button in this forum as I couldn't seem to find it.
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NonGeographicalMan wrote: »Clearly you are always going to be a member of the pack and not an opinion former then.
I have an opinion, i just don't agree with someone coming on here telling what people should be doing. Suggest that they could send an email rather than 'SEND THIS TO THESE ADDRESSES'. etc.
Do i agree with 0845 numbers? Not really. Am i bothered that the BBC use them? Not really. Fair play that you're concerned by the use of 0845 numbers, but don't class me as 'a member of the pack' just for the difference in opinion.NonGeographicalMan wrote: »Judging by the time you clearly have to waste gainsaying threads in this forum on topics in which you profess to not be interested I imagine you would have plenty of time.
Is there a NoThanks button in this forum as I couldn't seem to find it.
Whilst i'm sat on here i'm earning, so I have no problems - are you earning whilst posting up the crusade?
If there was a no thanks then believe me I would of used it & not even bother posting
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If you've spoken to this person months ago, who says they're very likely to do it, then I don't see what antagonising them at the last moment with a deluge of spam would achieve
I've called the BBC 5 times. On a freephone number0
This discussion has been closed.
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