I contacted the radio station reception yesterday to ask what number their studio line was.  (The number they use is 0845 650 1066).  The number was allocated to NTL in 1998 as one of a batch of 10000 consecutive numbers.  

The receptionist suggested I e-mailed the managing director which I did.  I did instead get a reply from the Chief Engineer.  I then ohoned him, and was told that "their Telco advised me that calls are charged at local rate.  I pointed out that this was not true.  He was also told that different geographic numbers are charged differently depending on where you were in the country, and that someone living in Nottingham would get an unfair advantage being able to dial the geographic number without an STD code.

So, if anyone knows the geographic number for the studio please can they post it here.  Thanks.

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~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended

I rang the switchboard & talked to Jonathan (Engineer) at Saga FM & got the rest of the story direct.

This radio station broadcasts to a wide area and went onto the 0845 some 3 years ago, so at that time, they were NOT mis-sold by the Telco (NTL?) who advised them correct rates at that time. Their main intention was to hide their true location, and it additionally equalised the charges made depending on where you were calling from and also removed the unfair advantage someone living in Nottingham would get. This obviously changed in July 2004, but was valid at the time they installed it !

Like I often explain to people, some 0845's are valid and are put there with good intentions. Not everyone in UK has an inclusive plan (under 40%) so it's not more expensive for those who don't. It's only users (like ourselves) on inclusive plans that end up paying more for them. Sorry, I forgot those using mobiles as well !

After a long chat, I explained the current call charges (properly) and Jonathan now understands what you were talking about.

I also rang back and left a suggestion that they should also get a mobile number for call-ins, which they will hopefully take up.   ::)

Thanks for the reply.  Sorry if I missed anything out in respect of my conversation.  If it has been in place that long, what you say is correct of course.  Thanks for getting in touch and hopefully something will come of it.

wrote on Aug 17^th, 2005 at 4:26pm:

....Their main intention was to hide their true location, and it additionally equalised the charges made depending on where you were calling from and also removed the unfair advantage someone living in Nottingham would get....

I agree with the equalisation of call charges (at the time) but can't understand why they would need to hide their true location!

People who listen to the radio station would know which area they are based in anyhow and generally visiting their website indicates this area (although they do have a PO box address).

They have a geo number for reception/news room/sales so why try and 'hide' the location of the studio even though having an geographical number would just reveal the area they are based in and not their exact location.

wrote on Aug 17^th, 2005 at 4:26pm:

After a long chat, I explained the current call charges (properly) and Jonathan now understands what you were talking about.

So will they supply us with the geographical alternative for the station?

NO !!





Sorry, I'm not shouting - I just thought it looked more dramatic like that !!  ::)

Any reason? Not that there could really be a rational explanation.  :(

It would appear that the reason why they won't give out the real number is because of local perception.  The East Midlands according to them is not an "official" region in the same way that the Wst Midlands is, and it is assumed that people who live in Leicester or Derby would not be happy to know the station serving the East Midlands was based in Nottingham, in case they might think it is not local!!!  (A stupid argument)!  :(

Despite this I am still trying to find the real number - no success yet though.  

same as were somtimes reffered to as living in the Midlands, even though I live in Norfolk which is hardly the midlands!

wrote on Aug 31^st, 2005 at 12:49pm:

It would appear that the reason why they won't give out the real number is because of local perception. ...

What a load of rubbish!

They could provide it to us to put in the database.

Do people really care? What is it with this 'dumbing down'? ::)

Isn't Saga Radio a niche market anyway? That is something like over 50s, so a bit like BBC Radio 2?

Whilst I can see that they may wish to make all listeners in their transmission area feel 'at home', by giving different areas a mention, I can't see people will just desert because of where the studios are.

So do they never give out their true location? And has any DJ who has done so been taken off air, never to be heard on Saga again?   :-X

Don't know about that, but this morning I dialed what I THOUGHT was the geographic number, only to discover it was the number used for studio emergencies - ie the number used to call if there is a problem.  I called it at the time of a competition at breakfast time this morning, and the presenter on air was EXCEEDINGLY RUDE, saying "Who gave you this number?" in a billigerant tone, (I did not reveal this and won't for obvious reasons).  I caled the regular number to apologise, and his response was that "0845 is the same cost as a local call...  the damage is done now, I'll have to report it".  (He said he would report the fact that the "xd" number was given out!!!)

I should find out soon what the real number is - I hope!