For my number incoming calls are via
0870 120 0870. Is there some sort of alternative to this?

Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm only a philosopher!

Dill

What digit does your extension number start with? I expect you've seen this before:

2xxxx - these numbers cannot be called from outside
3xxxx - precede with a 4 to give 01865 4 3xxxx
530 xxxx - replace 530 by 35 to give 01865 35xxxx
553 2xxxx - replace 5532 by 22 to give 01865 22xxxx
553 3xxxx - replace 5533 by 73 to give 01865 73xxxx
553 4xxxx - replace 5534 by 74 to give 01865 74xxxx
553 5xxxx - replace 5535 by 85 to give 01865 85xxx
7xxxx - precede with a 2 to give 01865 2 7xxxx
8xxxx - precede with a 2 to give 01865 2 8xxxx
9 xxxxxx - remove 9 to give 01865 xxxxxx

(Good grief, you need an Oxford degree just to understand the phone system! ;) )

Numbers starting 2 can be called from the outside using the 0870 number, I believe.

There is probably a geographical number that the 0870 number maps to, but as it's only one number and could be any Oxford number, I can't see an easy way of finding it without it being leaked by someone in the know!

More information on this one please Dill!

A Google of "0870 120 0870" brings up some information on this.

This link says that extensions in the form of 2xxxx can only be accessed by 0870 120 0870. Dial that number and then the extension you want when prompted. What's special about extensions beginning 2?

A check of the Numbers administered by Ofcom shows that 0870120 is allocated to Torch Communications (part of Kingston Communications). A check of numbers in the Oxford dialing code area shows that the only prefix Torch have is 01865 56.

I've had another thought about this. If you dial the 0870 number then the extension, there may be no geographical alternative. The only reason there may be a geo number for each ext is if each ext had its own 0870.

Trying to find the geographical number for 0870 120 0870... every tried looking for a needle in a haystack?!

Another thing to remember is that the call is charged when the 0870 number answers. So it charges you to here ringing and no answer!!  :-X

wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2004 at 9:47am:

! Another thing to remember is that the call is charged when the 0870 number answers. So it charges you to here ringing and no answer!!  :-X

Perhaps one for the 0fcom consultation; to try to prevent such auto-attendant use being behind 0870 - there can be no other reason here than revenue share. grrrr.

The usual excuse for 0845/0844 and 0870/0871 is that the callee wants to be able to route calls around, but obviously not in this instance in Oxford.

This may be of interest:

http://www.kcom.com/aboutus/casestudies/oxford_uni.shtml


Quote:

The 08 number generates revenue to pay for the running expenses of the service, as well protecting Oxford University from incurring massive call charges by students accepting reverse charge calls.

It's funny how phone systems in universities are so much more expensive to run than, say, a home phone. The poor phone companies, they have to use an 0870 number to the university as it's so much more expensive for them!

You have to find the geographical number!

But I believe that free blocking of numbers for transfer charge (call collect) calls is available; so back to my comment about it only being a (disguised) revenue generator. Grrrr.

As I say, this is 100 times worse than having an 0870 for each line as calls are metered before you even dial the extension, and even if no-one answers.  :-X

4,200 lines they have on this number!! :o

These days it's a marketing exercise where these systems charge no line rental! They pretend they're giving you something! IMHO that's the case with mobiles, the caller pays a fortune, the subscriber pays no line rental and pays more for calls. Mobile companies are busy telling us we can have free this and free that.

Students can either use this system or a mobile. That's competition for you! The students have no other choice because the choice is down to the universities who are quite happy to rip them off! Doesn't this make a BT line such a good deal?

The 0870s are their to get subsidy from the caller for the phone system. The more calls the more subsidy/profit.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch"

The link Johnathon provided above gives a name of someone to complain to at Oxford: Ian Everett, Telecommunications Manager.

As mentioned in my thread, unversities are defined as public bodies under the Freedom of Informtaion act, which is now in force.

You should be able to request the underlying geographical number (assuming there is one!) under the act.

The number in the database is 01865 288 000 and seems to go through to the 0870 recording asking you to input an extension number out of hours only.

Where did that number come from?  :o

that number doesn't work.  You simply get bleeping similar to an engaged tone before it cuts off.

wrote on Oct 6^th, 2005 at 10:51am:

that number doesn't work.  You simply get bleeping similar to an engaged tone before it cuts off.

I did say that it works out of hours only in my message above. I can't remember where that information came from. Try later on this evening.

Righto oh!
I'll give it a go.  
Thanks

I may try asking the student's union for help with this - it does seem that the university is ripping people off.

wrote on Oct 6^th, 2005 at 4:33pm:

I may try asking the student's union for help with this - it does seem that the university is ripping people off.

You may also consider a Freedom of Information request, see this page on the university's website for more information. Also, have a look at the FOI Requests & Responses section on this site.

On further investigation, that number gets you through to the admissions office and does not offer the ability to connect.
I have found that the only way to avoid 0870 at this moment is to call any college's lodge on an 01865 and ask for the extension.  If you don't call the same one all the time they won't get too fed up (hopefully).  With over 30 colleges it should be ok.

I will considder making an FOI request.

Thanks for all the help.

UPDATE:

They now allow VoIP (eg Skype).  

Made a FoI to the Univeristy and was told to make it to the college.  I will do this.

Hi,

Can anyone help me with decoding 0870 276 0xxx? at Oxford university student accomodation.

I have done a bit of research 0870276 seem to be assigned under charge group: NTL Group ltd

Now the numbers allocated for 01865 (oxford) to ntl are:

1865      19
1865      27
1865      28
1865      42
1865      43
1865      45
1865      46
1865      49

I have tried all of them and except to numbers nobody picks up or it says numbers not assigned. The two who picked up were not the number that I was calling to.


These codes are assigned under mixed operators and they dont work either:

1865      23
1865      57
1865      61
1865      69


Can anyone help with this, it will potentially help a lot of people at Oxford university:).

Thank you

Is there a separate 0870 number for each room? Or is there only one 0870 number, which is answered by a recording, and you then have to enter the extension number you want?

The latter is how 0870 120 0870 used to work (it was the number callers had to dial to reach a room in college). Have these new 0870 numbers replaced the old system?

If there's only one 0870 number, it's like looking for a needle if a haystack.

If there's more than one, you are in with a chance. Are the internal extension numbers the same as the last four digits of the 0870 number? If not, you should try the internal number with the Oxford codes.

Also, is there an Oxford number allocated to NTL that starts with 0 or 1? i.e. 01865 0x or 01865 1x

Yes there is a separate number for each room.

The internal numbers are the same as the 0870 last four digits.  There is an oxford number allocated to NTL that starts with 1 and that is 01865 - 19.

Looking at an internal telephone directory it states that room numbers cannot be directly called from outside the Uni's network.  
We've found the best thing to do is to call a random College's lodge and be asked to be put through.  Most will, but some refuse.  If the latter, either abandon  them and try another lodge or give them a story about calling from abroad.  

I know this is an ancient thread, but for the benefit of people searching all Oxford University numbers seem to be callable by dialling 01865 280000 and then entering the room extension.