Another story from Mail on Sunday (Thisismoney.co.uk) is here.


Quote:

Government's £6m phone rip-off Simon Fluendy, Mail on Sunday 20 May 2007 Government agencies are still raking in millions of pounds from premium-rate 0870 phone numbers despite being told more than two years ago to switch to standard charges. New figures given to Liberal Democrat peer Lord Tyler show that organisations such as the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions have taken in more than £6m since telecoms regulator Ofcom demanded they stop charging money for calls from the public that is then split with phone operators. Tyler has been following the issue since 2005 when as Paul Tyler MP he first questioned the Government. 'There is hypocrisy at work here,' he said. 'The Government is slamming TV companies and telecoms groups for making money from quiz shows and interactive TV. At the same time it has continued to use expensive numbers for vital public service helplines, including those connected to Jobcentre Plus.' […] The biggest earner since the ban was introduced is the DVLA, which earned £3.7m from public information lines and almost £2m from driving test inquiries. […]

One of the problems being - as mentioned in the article - is that Ofcom can't force the government to withdraw their non-geographic numbers from service. The only glimmer of hope is that the government will start switching to 03 numbers once they officially come into service...

Or that those of us not particularly enamered of our employers get posting...........

That ofcourse would also be extremely brilliant :D.

From a reply to the petition this is an extract which makes me laugh!! This government rips us off everywhere we turn. They are still using 0870 numbers.

Quote
Ofcom is also extending the regulation of Premium Rate Numbers to 0871 numbers because of concerns that companies are increasingly using them and charging the caller much higher rates for services such as weather forecasts and sports' information. Consultation will take place this year but the main aim will be to ensure customers know how much it will cost them to call 0871 numbers.

You might also be re-assured to know that the Government advised two years ago all its departments and agencies against their own use of 0870 numbers.
By no means all Departments did use 0870 numbers, but where they did, they should now have been replaced with either geographical, 0845 (local rate) or 0800 numbers.

sunnylodge wrote on May 21^st, 2007 at 4:45pm:

From a reply to the petition this is an extract which makes me laugh!! This government rips us off everywhere we turn. They are still using 0870 numbers. Quote Ofcom is also extending the regulation of Premium Rate Numbers to 0871 numbers because of concerns that companies are increasingly using them and charging the caller much higher rates for services such as weather forecasts and sports' information. Consultation will take place this year but the main aim will be to ensure customers know how much it will cost them to call 0871 numbers. You might also be re-assured to know that the Government advised two years ago all its departments and agencies against their own use of 0870 numbers. By no means all Departments did use 0870 numbers, but where they did, they should now have been replaced with either geographical, 0845 (local rate) or 0800 numbers.

Yep, notice they only "advised" and did any follow that advise? certainly not DVLA for example!

And they still think 0845 is "local rate".