We have been receiving a high volume of calls on 01792 311400 for DVLA general enquiries. Callers are advising that this number has been obtained from this website. This number is not associated with the DVLA enquiry unit and is purely for administration purposes. Customers are being advised of this fact when they call the above number and are then provided with either 0870 240 0010 / 0009 to redial.
I would appreciate it if you could remove this number from the website to eliminate caller frustration at having to redial again.

It would be better if callers were advised to redial 01792 782341 rather than an 8p/minute 0870 number.

Whoever has been using that 311400 number obviously missed the FOI reply DVLA (eventually) gave:
Quote:

Ref: Freedom of Information Act 2000 - request for information I am writing to confirm that the Agency has now completed its search for the information which you requested on 1 January 2005. As an overseas caller, you requested an alternative geographic number for making driver/vehicle enquiries.  I can confirm that our switchboard number is 01792 782341 and can be used for this purpose. If you are unhappy with the way the Agency has handled your request, you may ask for an internal review.  You should contact me if you wish to complain.   If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF

wrote on May 13^th, 2005 at 9:07am:

... I would appreciate it if you could remove this number from the website to eliminate caller frustration at having to redial again.

The "caller frustration" is with being ripped off by being forced to dial 0870 in the first place! Whilst I appreciate that you did not put the number in place, may I suggest that the volume of calls coming through to this number is as a direct result of the 0870s being in place, and that you point this out to the powers that be at the DVLA.

This is in the database as "Personalised Registration Enquiries". There are other alternatives to the Vehicles and Drivers 0870 you quote listed in the database, including the switchboard one Heinz mentions.

wrote on May 13^th, 2005 at 2:08pm:

The "caller frustration" is with being ripped off by being forced to dial 0870 in the first place! Whilst I appreciate that you did not put the number in place, may I suggest that the volume of calls coming through to this number is as a direct result of the 0870s being in place, and that you point this out to the powers that be at the DVLA.

I think what the anonymous DVLA poster means is "receiver frustration" (I wouldn't be at all frustrated making such a call - it would cost me nothing).

Maybe the anonymous DVLA poster can post some geographical numbers which go straight to the Vehicles and Drivers office, rather than just telling us to dial 0870.

This posting from the DVLA is FANTASTIC NEWS   ;D

It means all the hard work from the folks on this site is working. The DVLA are getting narked.

Well done!

The FOI response didn't provide the proper number.  DVLA offices are open until 8pm on weekdays and on Saturdays (some depts) so there must be another 01792 number for the actual enquiry line.

The switchboard number provided is only operational 9 - 5, Mon - Fri >:(

And also I'd like to say that I will continue to call the other 01792 number, even if I'm not connected to the right dept, just to prove that we are not going to accept defeat and go away.  If they want the calls to stop, they should provide an 01792 number. >:( >:( >:(

I am tempted to suggest that everybody in this forum now calls the DVLA number that the protester complains about at least 10 times a day until the DVLA desists from the use of 0870 numbers. ;D

Excellent Idea.   ;D

Gather a coalition, set a date to begin and we'll get dialling 8)  

wrote on May 16^th, 2005 at 8:45pm:

Excellent Idea.   ;D Gather a coalition, set a date to begin and we'll get dialling 8)

On the other hand writing letters of protest to one's local member of parliament, local police authority etc will probably achieve more.

I wonder what our friend Paul Tyler is going to do to fill his spare time with now that he has ceased to be a Member of Parliament.  Perhaps he needs a new campaign to work on?

And what announcement will Ofcom be making at the start of July.  It could be that we are left with nothing at all to protest about? ;D

Of course there is always the issue of why has BT has been allowed to prevent rival operators who take up its  wholesale line rental product (eg Onetel and the Post Office) from then letting their customers have access to all telephone service providers in the marketplace (as BT's customers do by statute).  Since no wholesale line rental operator can do this I can only assume that this is yet another BT anti competitive practice although fortunately as yet BT have not found a way to do pull this stunt for VoIP calls with other network operators.

Ok lets all set a date and time and then phone in and over load the switch board then they will know we all will not dial 0870 numbers   :)

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 12:32am:

And what announcement will Ofcom be making at the start of July.  It could be that we are left with nothing at all to protest about? ;D

What announcement?

In response to you posts, i have contacted saynoto0870.com and they have removed the number from the site.

The number that was listed (01792 311400) is not associated with the DVLA. We are a contractor who work on behalf of the DVLA and the number published was for our contract administrator. I hope that this clarifies our situation.

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 10:57am:

In response to you posts, i have contacted saynoto0870.com and they have removed the number from the site. The number that was listed (01792 311400) is not associated with the DVLA. We are a contractor who work on behalf of the DVLA and the number published was for our contract administrator. I hope that this clarifies our situation.

You make a fair point then that probably an inappropriate geographic number was listed on this site.

However I would hope that you were not personally supportive of the use of 0870 numbers and would make the point with your DVLA contacts that public opposition to these numbers is now so overwhelming that they must seriously consider desisting from their use and instead follow the guidance given by the Central Office of Informtion on government contact centre phone numbers.

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 9:13am:

What announcement?

Ofcom will be announcing what regulatory changes they plan to make for 084x/087x numbers in June/July following on from their Consultation Document that closed in January - NTS Options for the Future.

Ofcom originally proposed that 084x/087x call prices merely needed more publicity and that there needed to be more price levels to improve competition (that is competition to charge your captive customers the highest possible exorbitant prices for calling) but BT put the cat among the pigeons on this in its response by proposing that all 0845 and 0870 revenue sharing be abolised and these numbers priced by all phone companies at the same lower prices they already charge for 01 and 02 geographic numbers.  Although rather  strangely BT proposed that revenue share could still continue on 0844 and 0871 which would amonted to something of a massive loophole.

However because Ofcom seem to live in fear of upsetting the commercial applecart that people like DVLA and Surrey Police have now signed up to it is likely that they will come up with some meely mouthed recommendation that companies with 084x/087x numbers should publish the geographic alternative and must more clearly indicate the call prices involved and that the words "local rate" and "national rate" to describe them will no longer be allowed to be used.  But as the guidance will not be binding it will be resoundingly ignored and our campaign to get rid of these numbers will continue.

Thanks NGM 8)  Something to look forward to I guess... ::)

NGM.

I see that our friends? at OFCOM are now displaying there Geographic number on there website ,together with there 0845 one!!!!

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 12:27pm:

NGM. I see that our friends? at OFCOM are now displaying their Geographic number on there website ,together with their 0845 one!!!!

They only began displaying their geographic number in  addition to the 0845 number following my complaint to their Chief Executive at the start of 2003.

I keep trying to persuade them that they must withdraw the 0845 number since although they might possibly still leave it in service due to some old publicity material still in circulation (although hopefully it would then simply play an announcement suggesting you call their geographic number instead) they should not be encouraging the public to call a number that will cost many of them far more money.

But they say that in offering an 0845 number they are providing a choice!!  And despite the platitudes mouthed by gentlemen from Ofcom, such as Matt Peacock on Radio 4's You & Yours program, staff on their main switchboard are stll inclined to claim that their 0845 number is only at the "local call rate".

With wooly thinking like that at Ofcom no wonder they haven't managed to ban 0845 or 0870 numbers yet.

When will Ofcom's Geographic number be printed on the back of my BT bill instead of their 0845 number?

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 12:55pm:

When will Ofcom's Geographic number be printed on the back of my BT bill instead of their 0845 number?

I have only recently been chasing them on the one listed in the BT phone book and had not realised about the one on the back of the BT bill as well.  I am told that a geographic  number is now listed in the very latest BT phone books for Ofcom but only in addition to and not instead of the 0845 number.

You might care to do the following to attempt to resolve this:-

1. Email melanie.abbott@bbc.co.uk and dan.saladino@bbc.co.uk on their You & Yours program saying that you are a BT consumer who has found yet another way in which Ofcom is stil pushing their 0845 number and would like to be interviewed on this matter to express your discontent.

2. Email matt.peacock@ofcom.org.uk with cc to stephen.carter@ofcom.org.uk indicating your dismay at this further dismal failing on their part to line up all their 0845 and 0870 ducks.

wrote on May 16^th, 2005 at 6:35pm:

I am tempted to suggest that everybody in this forum now calls the DVLA number that the protester complains about at least 10 times a day until the DVLA desists from the use of 0870 numbers. ;D

...or call the top bods...

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 6:05pm:

...or call the top bods...

Dave,

Do you have the direct phone lines for the DVLA's top bods?:-)

wrote on May 17^th, 2005 at 9:28pm:

Dave, Do you have the direct phone lines for the DVLA's top bods?:-)

Sorry, do you want me to make it even easier for you? Click words "...or call the top bods..." in my post, or click here. Thanks to an insider who has also posted other government numbers on here.

Oops I didn't spot the link in your previous reply as they just looked like words and weren't underlined etc.

Have you or anyone else here tried calling or emailing any of these people?

What has happened to Dorf and Juby by the way as I notice they don't seem to be following this thread.

Hi, totaly new to all this but nice work everyone. I have had success on a few occasions simply by going to the companies annual report online. Generally, hidden away on the last page are numbers for the head office and any branch offices they may have. This has worked four times with me in the last month whilst trying to deal with insurance and finance companies. If this is common knowledge already sorry for wasting the space.

wrote on May 21^st, 2005 at 11:18am:

Hi, totaly new to all this but nice work everyone. I have had success on a few occasions simply by going to the companies annual report online. Generally, hidden away on the last page are numbers for the head office and any branch offices they may have. This has worked four times with me in the last month whilst trying to deal with insurance and finance companies. If this is common knowledge already sorry for wasting the space.

I suspect it is not common knowledge.

Dave needs to add it to his list of possible ways to find a geographic number.

Today's Sunday Mirror features a little article about the DSA and DVLA. See here.

Be warned, it features a comment from OfCOM which actually makes sense :o

Dorf is following this thread NGM.

These days though I do not always feel that I have to contribute specifically if my viewpoint has already been stated by others.

Dorf