After the usual letter of complaint setting out various costs, to the caller, of 087x/084x numbers. For ALL public bodies, I ask the following questions?  I often follow the first letter with a second letter.


Please disclose (FOI Act 2000) all documents and notes on this matter.


Why do you use 0870 numbers?  
What is the equivalent geographical number?
What revenue do you receive per minute and in total from the use of 0870 numbers?
Are you aware of the revenue collected by your telecom provider, from your callers?
Have you considered the revised COI guidelines?
If so, what conclusions did you come to?  
Do you realise that all calls (local/national) cost the same?
Are you aware of the cost implications to your callers, when using 0870 numbers?  


Why do you use 0845 numbers?  
What is the equivalent geographical number?
What revenue do you receive per minute and in total from the use of 0845 numbers?
Are you aware of the revenue collected by your telecom provider, from your callers?
Have you considered the revised COI guidelines?
If so, what conclusions did you come to?  
Do you realise that all calls (local/national) cost the same?
Do you realise that 0845 numbers now offer no cost advantage to callers, irrespective or their location, only disadvantages?
Are you aware of the cost implications to your callers, when using 0845 numbers?  

Does this only apply to public bodies only ?  Or does it also apply to companies ?

wrote on Dec 28^th, 2005 at 4:50pm:

Does this only apply to public bodies only ?  Or does it also apply to companies ?

It applies to public bodies and some publically owned companies. See here for more information.

Who's up for making a load of different pre-typed letters and everyone distribute a few in there local areas...

I'm up 4 it :D

Some people may disagree with this but I don't believe bombarding a specific gov body with FoI requests trying to obtain geographical details is worth it.

Firstly, they can refuse to deal with an FOI stating they're "vexatious" (see mc661 thread here).

Secondly and possibly partly due to the above, the gov is thinking of changing FOI so that they are more likely to charge anyone requesting anything under FOI and more exceptions to FOI can be made along with certain organisations, etc may be barred from obtaining info (this latter one I think was aimed at newspapers, etc).

This is why I'm not doing FOI requests to gov bodies where an FOI has already been done, otherwise repeated requests could (and to a certain degree) appear to backfiring.  This won't bother so much the gov bodies, but more than likely us because gov bodies may have more of an excuse to refuse FOI request(s) or likely to start charging.

Does anyone have a Pro Forma letter which I can send to my GP requesting their local rate number?

I am sick of paying the 0844 number and waiting for 10 minutes plus!

Thanks all....

Galacid wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2009 at 10:31am:

Does anyone have a Pro Forma letter which I can send to my GP requesting their local rate number? I am sick of paying the 0844 number and waiting for 10 minutes plus!

As I said in my other posting on this subject, these surgeries seem to have blocks of 01/02 numbers, of which the reception or menu we are looking for is on one.

Perhaps the objective of finding the alternative number can be reached without making it obvious to the surgery what your intentions are. For example, an emailed response from the practice manager might give her direct dialling number which might lead to the number you are looking for.

Coming straight out and requesting the alternative will allow them to see why you want that information which might leave you with a fight, as it were. They might inadvertantly give it to you if they don't realise what you're trying to extract from them.

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