I know it is hard to believe, but I can't get over the fact that an NHS doctor has got an 0870 number.  They are earning money from patients calling them.

The number is - 0870 428 0773.  

Not sure if I should put the full address! (for legal reasons) - but the post code is SN10 1QU

I have the old geographic number, which we used to phone for appointments, but this has been discontinued and they are terminating the 0870 number to a different one - possibly a 'direct dial' range on an ISDN line - as they did the 0870 number at the same time as putting in a new switchboard.

Your help in getting the geographic number would be appreciated - so I can share it around!!!

~ Edit by Dave: Thread title amended

Welcome cricketer.

I think you may have missed THIS THREAD.

Sorry to say that our chances of finding it are slim to none.

When Companies/Agencies decide to change their Geographic number and then go to 08**/090* without ever releasing the new Geo number, there is NO WAY on earth that we will ever find it (without insider information). This for obvious reasons is usually done by the 08** provider to maximise the income revenue.   :-/

After a nice conversation with the Complaints Manager for the St James Surgery, she advised they are aware of the Government ruling and are in the process of reverting back to the Geographic number as requested.

I hope the lady I talked to sees this and adds her own comments, and maybe even the new Geographic number.   :-*

Is is just me or does anyone else find it incredible that a GPs' surgery should find it necessary to employ (or that the taxpayer should be funding the employment of) a 'Complaints Manager'?

Well, perhaps they attract such a volume of complaints about their 087 number and can justify a member of staff where they can not bring themselves to admit their greedy mistake ;)

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!

Just read the entire thread from start to finish!

I thought it was just me!  At least I am not alone.

Thanks for all your information.  On a related matter then, is it possible for someone to provide a chart that details the cost of a call for evenings, weekends and daytime, for calling all the NGN's - from different types of phones!

Is this too complicated a chart?  It would be quite nice to know though.

Have a try of the Residential Telecom Tariff Cost Comparison Preview
- it should provide what you want.   ;D

Yikes, I was looking for something a bit simpler than this.  

Something along the lines of calls from a landline, a mobile, and a phone box, to 0845, 0844, 080, 0871, and perhaps some 09 numbers, for the different times of the day and weekends?

I shall have a trawl around the net, as I seem to be looking for the impossible!  

Trouble is, now that I know about these costs, I want to know a bit more - but just a bit, I don't want to overdo it!

Thanks anyway DaveM

OK, really confused now! I have done a bit of research and every time I ask BT I get a different answer!

I  have come back for some reasoned and sound advice please, as I have now found that my doctor has changed his 0870 number to an 0844 number!!!!

I want to write to them explaining the cost of calling an 0844 number, but I would like to have my facts correct!

Can someone let me know if the following is correct and also tell me the rates from calling from a mobile and a call box - pleeeeeeeeeeeeease, before I go crackers!

Calls to 0870 - Peak
From a landline - 6.73
From a mobile - ?
From a call box - I think (?) A minimum of 30p's worth of coins to put in and for this 10p is a call set up and 20p for the calls, so you get to be on the line for 1.8 minutes?

Calls to 0870 - Off Peak
From a landline - 3.36
From a mobile - ?
From a call box - ?

Calls to 0870 - Weekends
From a landline - 1.27p
From a mobile - ?
From a call box - ?

Calls to 0844 - Peak
From a landline - 4.255
From a mobile - ?
From a call box - ?

Calls to 0844 - Off Peak
From a landline - 4.255
From a mobile - ?
From a call box - ?

Calls to 0844 - Weekends
From a landline - 4.255
From a mobile - ?
From a call box - ?

Am I being 'blonde' here.  God I hope not!  I really hope you guys can help me out.

Thank you, in anticipation. ??? ???

The rates you have for landline are excluding VAT. They are presumably BT Together ("discounted") rates.

0844 numbers vary from 1p to 5p per minute. BT pricing for all numbers, including 0844, is here.

Mobile rates vary widely, so can't say.

The pages in the BT Price List that are of interest are as follows:

• Numbers ranges - Look up the prefix and work out which Charge Rate it is.
  
• Non-discounted BT rates
  
• Pricing (including BT Together)
  
• Pricing from BT Payphones - Note, it shows number of seconds 10p gets.

Now settle down or you'll give yourself heart failure !  :-/

The prices you show are without VAT so start off by adding the VAT to get the real cost of calls.

Also a point to mention is that you need the whole 0844 number to get the correct tarrif from the tables, so before we go any further, let's have that to be getting on with.

Then go to the Area Code Lookup page at Magenta Systems website.
Put the number in the slot marked Partial Telephone Number to Lookup: and click on Lookup Number button. That should tell you more, then carry on from there to find the call cost.

Some 0844 are charged at the same rate as Local (Lo Call) rates ie. 3p - peak /1p - Off peak & Weekend.

Sorry, forgot the number - it's 08444778648.

Magenta says it is UP TO 5p but BT tell me, having given them the number, that it is 4.255p!!!

Ah! 4.255 + VAT is 5p.  Doh!

So 5p per minute is charged at all times of the weekday or weekend, for this particular 0844 number - but from a landline - correct?

OK.  So, looking at the kind link from Dave, a caller calling from a phone box would get 43 seconds for 10p at all times of the weekday or weekend, for this particular 0844 number?  Therefore, if my maths is correct, this is a pence per minute of 13.95p?

So, a call from a mobile to at all times of the weekday or weekend, for this particular 0844 number will be ???.  Where can I find this information chaps?

Sorry to be dumb, please bear with me?

wrote on Apr 25^th, 2005 at 8:01pm:

So 5p per minute is charged at all times of the weekday or weekend, for this particular 0844 number - but from a landline - correct?

That looks right.


Quote:

OK.  So, looking at the kind link from Dave, a caller would get 43 seconds for 10p at all times of the weekday or weekend, for this particular 0844 number?  Therefore, if my maths is correct, this is a pence per minute of 13.95p?

That's right. Ofcourse there is a 10p connection fee and all calls are subject to a 30p minimum charge. But then you knew that anyway, because the above link tells you in such a userfriendly way.


Quote:

So, a call from a mobile to at all times of the weekday or weekend, for this particular 0844 number will be ???.  Where can I find this information chaps?

How long is a piece of string? ::)

Which mobile provider and tariff are we talking here?

Just found the following on  this link - http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/current/docs/Call_Charges.boo/001623.htm - even more confused!

"Calls from BT public and managed payphones using cash to 0845 & 0870 numbers in the local or national charge rate will be charged at the g5 rate. Operative Date:31.12.2004"

g5 seems to be charged at 55 seconds for 10p!!

For goodness sake, what is going on here?

Dave, thank you for your patience.

Does it really depend on your mobile service provider and the tariff you are on, as to what you are charged to call an 0870 and 0844 number?

Is it possible to give me some 'ballpark' figures, as sure as hell the surgery will not know?!!!!

All I want to achieve is to send them a letter (copy to the press) with a small chart showing how their changes from their 01380 number, to 0870 and now to 0844 are affecting their patients costs.

I appreciate your help.

wrote on Apr 25^th, 2005 at 8:30pm:

Just found the following on  this link - http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/current/docs/Call_Charges.boo/001623.htm - even more confused! "Calls from BT public and managed payphones using cash to 0845 & 0870 numbers in the local or national charge rate will be charged at the g5 rate. Operative Date:31.12.2004" g5 seems to be charged at 55 seconds for 10p!!

That's right, 10.91p/min to 0845/0870 from a payphone (subject to 10p connection and 30p minimum charge). This has been talked about in one of the other threads on surgeries with 0870 (who will be forced to use 0844).

It of course means that these 0844s are more expensive than 0870 from BT Payphones!


Quote:

Does it really depend on your mobile service provider and the tariff you are on, as to what you are charged to call an 0870 and 0844 number?

Yes. If you want the information it's best to look at providers' websites. Whether the information is there and/or easy to find is another matter.


Quote:

Is it possible to give me some 'ballpark' figures, as sure as hell the surgery will not know?!!!!

No, some charge the same rate as normal (geographical) numbers, some don't. For those on contracts with inclusive minutes, some allow the inclusive minutes to be used with non-geographicals and some don't. There are some threads in the Cheap Call Providers section on this.

May seem a silly question but will the FOI act work with Doctors surgeries !?   :-/

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION - PUBLICATION SCHEME

http://www.uleysurgery.nhs.uk/uley/uley72412.html


Yes, Doctors Surgeries come under the Freedom of Information Act.

If you can't get any joy from the Surgery itself, then you can contact their Primary Care Trust who overseas them,   it is their responsibility to ensure that GP Practices adhere to policies.  Your GP Surgery is obliged to give you details of how to contact your local Primary Care Trust.

Hope this is of help.

Thanks vm. I feel a slanging match coming on with the Trusts' complaints dept. I wonder if they'll remember and take notice of me this time ?  I did warn them ! ;D

I'll read the publication now and see what needs to be done next if they don't comply with the request .

I believe St James Surgery that is in question comes under this PCT


Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT  
 Southgate House, Pans Lane, Devizes, SN10 5EQ  
 Telephone: 01380 728899  
 
all GP and PCT information can be accessed from
www.nhs.uk   Right hand side will give you England, Scotland etc.  Can be used to find Dentists, GPs, pharmacies etc.  Usefull site if you are looking for NHS Dentist!

There are 35 Doctors' Surgeries in Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT

Out of those 35, two are listed with 0870.  St James and this one.

Southbroom Surgery
15 Estcourt Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1LQ
Tel: 0870 2206770

courtesy of www.nhs.uk  !!

Yes ! I noticed that as well - changed since the first time I looked & called them on the 14th. I'll hassle them about that one too ! ;D

Blimey, you chaps have been busy.

I have been away for a week, and just got back, so sorry for not contributing.

Is there such a thing as a 'good' letter (to get the desired result of going back to an 01 number) when writing to surgeries?

I want to have a rant with them about 0870 and then making it worse by going to 0844.

However, I have not got all the jargon and full understanding of the situation - apart from knowing that it now costs me more money to call the surgery on a weekend or off peak?

Your help, as always, would be appreciate with the wording of a letter.

This thread has been continued on this link in the Geographical Chat forum.