http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/ukparl_hl?DB=ukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=0870+&COLOUR=Red&STYLE=s&URL=/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030206/text/30206w04.htm#30206w04.html_spnew0

Feb 6, 2003

The Department for Transport has 134 helplines of which 66 are charged at national rate, three at premium rate and five at local rate. The details are in the following table:

Telephone numbers Rates  
DfT central  
South East Regional Airports Study (SERAS) 0845 100 5554 Local  
 
DfT executive agencies  
Driving Standards Agency  
Booking Enquiries 0870 010 1372 National  
Theory Test, Enquiries and Complaints 0870 241 0204 National  
 
Vehicle Inspectorate  
National Enquiry Line 0870 606 0440 National  
MOT Enquiry Line 0845 600 5977 Local  
Police Enquiry Line 0845 600 5978 Local  
 
Maritime and Coastguard 0870 600 6505 National  
Highways Agency 0845 750 4030 Local  
 
DVLA—local offices  
Wimbledon 0870 600 6767 National  
Stanmore 0870 241 1269 National  
Chelmsford 0870 241 2147 National  
Manchester 0870 241 2146 National  
Reading 0870 241 5161 National  
Leeds 0870 240 3514 National  
Nottingham 0870 241 1876 National  
Luton 0870 240 3515 National  
Sidcup 0870 240 3516 National  
Maidstone 0870 240 3517 National  
Birmingham 0870 240 3518 National  
Portsmouth 0870 240 4730 National  
Bournemouth 0870 240 4731 National  
Brighton 0870 240 4732 National  
Exeter 0870 240 4734 National  
Truro 0870 240 6278 National  
Aberdeen 0870 240 6279 National  
Northampton 0870 240 8228 National  
Edinburgh 0870 240 6281 National  
Dundee 0870 240 6280 National  
Inverness 0870 240 6283 National  
Peterborough 0870 240 8229 National  
Oxford 0870 240 8230 National  
Ipswich 0870 240 8231 National  
Norwich 0870 240 8232 National  
Carlisle 0870 240 0691 National  
Sheffield 0870 240 1315 National  
Preston 0870 240 0692 National  
Stockton 0870 240 0695 National  
Newcastle 0870 240 0669 National  
Lincoln 0870 240 0671 National  
Beverley 0870 240 1316 National  
Bristol 0870 240 1317 National  
Chester 0870 240 1318 National  
Shrewsbury 0870 240 1223 National  
Cardiff 0870 240 1224 National  
Bangor 0870 240 1225 National  
Swansea 0870 240 1320 National  
Worcester 0870 240 1319 National  
 
DVLA—general  
Drivers 0870 240 0009 National  
Vehicles 0870 240 0010 National  
Car Hire 0906 139 3837 Premium  
Telephone Relicensing 0870 240 2288 National  
Date of Liability 0906 165 7585 Premium  
Dealerline 0906 185 8585 Premium  
DSA 0870 241 2415 National  
Post Office Line 0870 600 0301 National  
Photo On Line 0870 600 6661 National  
Motorcycle Vehicle Excise Duty 0870 241 2145 National  
Small Islands 0870 241 5674 National  
Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) 0870 241 1878 National  
Heavy Goods Vehicle Rebate Line 0870 607 6688 National  
Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty Rebate 0870 241 2449 National  
Mandatory V5 0870 240 6415 National  
Local Office address system 0870 243 0444 National  
Web Vault 0870 241 5803 National  
Registration Number Plate Supplied form filler 0870 240 6424 National  
V5 form filler 0870 240 6426 National  
Registration Number Plate Supplied form filler documentation 0870 240 6425 National  
Driver Medical (DM) Ordinary Drivers Licence 0870 600 0301 National  
DM Diabetes line 0870 241 5450 National  
DM Vocational Drivers 0870 241 1879 National  
DM General Practitioner 0870 241 1875 National  
Motor Cycle Consultation 0870 600 1016 National  
Test Reminders 0870 240 3052 National  
 
London Regional Transport  
Customer Service Centre (Underground) 0845 330 9880 Local  

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/ukparl_hl?DB=ukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=0870+&COLOUR=Red&STYLE=s&URL=/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/cm050110/text/50110w96.htm#50110w96.html_spnew0

Jan 10, 2005

The Home Office uses the following 0870 numbers:

0870 numbers  
Immigration and Nationality Directorate  
Main 0870 606 7766  
Application Forms 0870 241 0645  
Beckett House recorded information message 0870 240 3781  
Complaints 0870 241 6523  
 
UK Passport Service  
Main 0870 521 0410  
Textphone 0870 240 8090  
High street partners 0870 243 4477  
Complaints 0870 241 1902  
 
Criminal Records Bureau  
Main 0870 909 0811  
Registration 0870 909 0822  
Disclosure applications 0870 909 0844  
Minicom 0870 909 0344  
 
HM Prison Service 0870 000 1397  
HMP Holloway 0870 000 0575  
 
Home Office  
Home Office Public Enquiries 0870 000 1585  
Home Office Publications (operated by
Prologue on behalf of the Home Office) 0870 241 4680  
TOGETHER (advice to practitioners on
tackling antisocial behaviour) 0870 220 2000  
Crime Reduction (advice on preventing car
crime) 0870 000 8518  
Security Industry Authority 0870 243 0100  

Following is from Hilary Benn MP - three years ago, the rip-off number generated 0.75 million GBP. The government even wants to fleece those that wish to come here.

The use of 0870 by government really is legalized extortion.

>>>

July 22, 2002

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/ukparl_hl?DB=ukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=0870+&COLOUR=Red&STYLE=s&URL=/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020722/text/20722w43.htm#20722w43.html_spnew7

Decisions in all cases were taken on the basis of estimates of the cost to the Department, the cost to the customer, the likely volume of calls that might be generated if 0800, 0845 or 0870 numbers were used, and the impact that volume of calls might have on the levels of service provided.

Additionally, for the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau number, the use of an 0870 number was agreed on the grounds that the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) would reinvest any money earned back into improving the telephone bureau operation and thereby customer service. This has been done and £0.75 million was invested this spring in the purchase of a new switchboard with increased functionality.

wrote on Jan 29^th, 2005 at 12:25am:

This has been done and £0.75 million was invested this spring in the purchase of a new switchboard with increased functionality.

Presumably a new switchboard that has even more complex options, music-on-hold and other loops so it can make even more money through this deceit.

Yep, that's about the size of it!

And don't forget the programmed drop-out after you have been waiting 10 to 20 minutes!

Lib Dem MP Paul Tyler was on Radio 4's You and Yours yesterday (Listen here).

He said that the DVLA's 0870s generates £1.1million  :o

Also, when government departments are banned using these numbers, how much will it cost the tax payer to put it all right?  >:(

Will the people who 'purchased' the systems in the first place still receive their bonuses etc.?