Hello, does anyone know any other automated numbers to get through to the student accom at Aberdeen Uni? Previously it was 01224 359002 which I got from this forum, but they've stopped that service.  I've complained bitterly in the past about their 0870 number but they wont budge on it.  The 0870 number is 0870 050 9777.  I have found a tempoary workaround and that is calling the porter's 24 desk on 01224 274002 and asking for the extension number (not sure if this should be listed or not)
Any ideas anyone?

Much appreciated.

So this is a central number that you ring and when it answers, you input the extension number?

Which means that you are charged even if the destination does not answer or even if they are engaged on another call. Welcome to Rip-Off Britain.

The 0870 050 and 01224 35 prefixes are allocated to THUS plc.

This reminds me of University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) who we found the geographical number for because outgoing calls showed a 01772 number on the caller display of the recipient (see here). This number wouldn't accept incoming calls, but a nearby number turned out to be the one that the 0870 routed to. They then changed that (maybe they found it one here) and a little searching revealed the new number.

I suggest that you try other 01224 3590xx numbers. Some may be in service, so make a note of them.

Thanks for the reply, you're correct, the 0870 number is an automated "enter extenstion number" system for all the student flats across the campus.  Obviously they stand to make a fortune as all the students families keep in touch this way as its (only marginally!) cheaper than mobiles.  
The outgoing calls are all withheld, and I've tried alot of other numbers, but the range of extension numbers they use in the flats are different to ones which have a DDI! Plus there are literally hundreds of these extensions, so its unlikely they have them like that.  However am I correct in saying every 0870 number must terminate on a "real" number somwhere or other? So if I could get speaking to the right person they might be able to tell me where that number is directed to?
Thanks

speedbird001 wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2007 at 4:43pm:

The outgoing calls are all withheld, and I've tried alot of other numbers, but the range of extension numbers they use in the flats are different to ones which have a DDI!

What other numbers have you tried? It will save others who want to help trying the same ones.


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Plus there are literally hundreds of these extensions, so its unlikely they have them like that.

I doubt that there is a separate 01224 number for each flat's extension.


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However am I correct in saying every 0870 number must terminate on a "real" number somwhere or other?

In most cases yes. I've never been able to ascertain whether they have to, but some people have suggested that there are cases where they operated without an underlying 01/02 number.

However, we know that this system used to use 01224 359002, so it's likely they've changed that number simply to stop people escaping the revenue generating 0870. Incidently, how did the 01224 number get into the public domain? Where did you get it from?


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So if I could get speaking to the right person they might be able to tell me where that number is directed to?

That may only be known by the telephone company operating the system.

I tried through the range from that number I had before, which I got from this site by searching for the 0870 number, but its now not returning any results.  
I've also contacted the university main switchboard and asked them if there was such a system where I could type the number and told no, they told me the only external numbers they have are assigned to extensions beginning with 4, but all the ones in question begin with 5.  I've tried quite a bit of the 01224 359002 and its all "number not in use" which seems odd,  the range they do have in use are mainly going to real people or else ringing out!

I did actually ask the University for a proper number and was told "where to go" politely saying that they need this revenue etc etc, so I doubt their going to be very helpful!

However I am interested to know who posted the original number on this site in the first place, although it's now gone.

Also, in my last job as an IT manager, on our BT Meridian phones using ISDN30 when calling an 08x number, we could sometimes press the "info" button on the phone to find all or part of the number it was really directed to.  Not sure if this is something that can be done for all 0870 numbers?


The replies are much appreciated.