On the FAQs page is this question:


Quote:

How much does it cost to call an 0845 number? Calls to 0845 numbers are charged at the equivalent local rate from a  BT landline. Other providers and mobile rates may vary, please check your contract for prices. We do not make a profit from these calls. For further information email customerservices@buckscc.gov.uk Last updated: 15-04-2008

Note that it has only recently been added or amended.

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Going back to the May/June 2006 edition of Buckinghamshire Times, the news publication by the council, on page 23:


Quote:

Better customer service Here at Buckinghamshire County Council, we are always looking for ways to improve our service to you. To make it easier for you to phone us, our Customer Services Team are now available from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The Team can answer your questions on any of our services. This means you can find out about many services in one quick phone call. For example you could ask the same person about schools, country parks and social care all in one go. We have a new telephone number, 0845 3708090, which means everyone in the County can now call us for the cost of a local rate call.

These people obviously live on another planet. Local and national geographical calls have cost the same since July 2004 so it could be said that a national call is charged at "local rate". This is not the same as the call rate associated with calling a 0845 number.

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And finally, a Windsor Telecom case study:


Quote:

Buckinghamshire County Council required a single service which they could use and market across the UK and which would be cost effective. The service also needed to be able to route calls depending on which areas of Buckinghamshire calls were coming from. Solution:    * Origin call plan    * 0845 number “Before we had Windsor’s call plan we had to rely on our administration staff to route calls. Windsor’s flexible range of call plans gave us the opportunity to route calls exactly how we wanted to, so that our customers could speak directly to their area office, without being put on hold first” Trish Richards, Group Manager for Buckinghamshire County Council www.buckscc.gov.uk

Source: Buckinghamshire County Council

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/news/family_information_service_launched.page

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Family Information Service launched

Date: 18-01-2010

Children and young people will be able to enjoy a variety of free activities this week (18 to 20 January) including drama, sport, cheerleading sessions and information fairs at selected Children’s Centres and schools across the county, to mark the launch of the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service (FIS).

The FIS is a new service which will create a ‘one stop shop’ for information and advice on a wide range of activities, events and services available to families with children up to the age of 19 living in Buckinghamshire. Areas covered as part of the service include childcare, family leisure activities and things to do, as well as advice on disabilities, benefits, health, schools, colleges, work and volunteering.

[…]

Find out more about the launch week events and what the Family Information Service has to offer by contacting them by phone on 0845 688 4944 (9.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday), email familyinfo@buckscc.gov.uk, visit www.bucksfamilyinfo.org or text 07786 202920 with your question.

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http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/4869812.Council_launches_new_service_for_families/


Quote:

Buckinghamshire County Council launches new service for families 11:53am Monday 25th January 2010 A COUNCIL launched a new information service for families on Saturday with a brass band and belly dancers. […] “It provides free, impartial and practical advice on the issues that face every family.” […]