The NTL phone system at Leicester Uni has been replaced by one by Masterpoint which I think uses VoIP. Broadband internet has been installed in each room at the same time.

The numbers remain the same as when it was NTL: 0870 015 xxxx. Today it seems that, if I dial from an NTL line, I can use the same alternative Leicester number: 0116 005 xxxx. (Masterpoint might be using NTL's network to route calls to the switched phone network, I suppose).

But look at what it says on the Masterpoint website:


Quote:

How much does it cost for someone externally to ring me on my 0870 number? 0870 Numbers are charged at the same rate as national calls. Typically this is about 8p Peak, 4p Evening and 1.5p at weekends.

http://www.uolhelp.co.uk/telfaq.html

They don't just say, "charged at national rate," they say it's charged at the same rate as national calls!

I'm going to e-mail them, pointing them towards Leicester trading standards' comment about it being a criminal offence (they won't know they've since "changed their minds").

I'm also going to point out that we have a large number of students from abroad at the university who won't be familiar with the UK phone system, and that these numbers make it extremely difficult for their families to contact them.

The only slight thing in their defence is that, from their - what shall we call it, expensive? - in-room phone service, national rate calls do cost 8p a minute. However, this is the one place no-one will be using the 0870 numbers from, as there are internal numbers to make free calls between rooms.

You should also point out to them:-

ASA Stop the Call Confusion Guidance - Click Here

and

Parliamentary EDM Against 0870 Numbers - Click Here

I don't see how they can avoid the new ASA requirements on the matter.