Please help with my petition to stop government departments using 08 telephone numbers. The petition is located on the 10 downing street website. You can visit the petition and sign it by going to the following address. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/saynoto08/

Why does this Government allow the use of 0845 / 0870 numbers for their departments, also local Government? These numbers are not included in free minutes packages provided by telecoms providers. These numbers are often dialed by people who can least afford it I.e. People on benefits, disabled etc.

Why should these people need to spend extra money to contact departments like the DWP. Especially when they are calling because that department has made a mistake.

Well done Jamie,
While I was there, I found another petition at:-

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Freedomfrom0870

Sign them all - They might do something......One day!

jamie wrote on Jan 12^th, 2009 at 10:57am:

[b] Why does this Government allow the use of 0845 / 0870 numbers for their departments, also local Government? These numbers are not included in free minutes packages provided by telecoms providers. These numbers are often dialed by people who can least afford it I.e. People on benefits, disabled etc.

From 16th January they will be from BT landlines

See this thread

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1231409039

sherbert wrote on Jan 12^th, 2009 at 12:22pm:

jamie wrote on Jan 12th, 2009 at 10:57am: [b] Why does this Government allow the use of 0845 / 0870 numbers for their departments, also local Government? These numbers are not included in free minutes packages provided by telecoms providers. These numbers are often dialed by people who can least afford it I.e. People on benefits, disabled etc. From 16th January they will be from BT landlines See this thread http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1231409039

But chargeable at the prevailing rate where they are not inclusive.

BT has stated that only 1.4M of its customers are on the "Anytime" package that will enable calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers to be made during business hours at no extra charge after paying the fee for the package.

Many users of public services are unable to acquire a landline, perhaps exercise their right to use services from operators other than BT, or choose not to subscribe to this particular BT package. That is a lot more than 1.4 million.

The cost they generally incur in making telephone calls is a matter for them.

What is unacceptable is that the public bodies themselves receive revenue share income (or subsidy) from calls to all 084 and 087 numbers. Whatever deal BT may be able to offer with 0845 and 0870, there is no way that all telephone companies could be expected to always absorb the cost of the revenue share, without passing it on to customers in some way or other.

Those who think that what BT has done is universal obviously wish it to be re-nationalised, and granted a monopoloy over all landline and mobile telecomms. It would then need to be instructed to offer free calls to all revenue sharing numbers to all customers at all times, so that businesses could subsidise their telephone costs at public expense.

This is rubbish, it would need to have public service numbers put on a special range, and why not have people pay for these calls at whatever is their normal basic service rate (free for those who buy the appropriate package.)

The simple answer is for all public bodies that "need" non-geographic numbers to adopt 030 numbers. This will achieve what is required, regardless of whatever further changes there may be.

---

Whilst mentioning petitions:

This is the one that needs to be signed before the end of March to support the consultation on a ban of revenue sharing numbers in the NHS.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Healthtelephone/

sherbert wrote on Jan 12^th, 2009 at 12:22pm:

jamie wrote on Jan 12th, 2009 at 10:57am: [b] Why does this Government allow the use of 0845 / 0870 numbers for their departments, also local Government? These numbers are not included in free minutes packages provided by telecoms providers. These numbers are often dialed by people who can least afford it I.e. People on benefits, disabled etc. From 16th January they will be from BT landlines See this thread http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1231409039

Just a thought to bear in mind.

BT's equivalent package including Broad Band, unlimited calls etc is £39.58 on an 18 Month Contract. Total = £694.38 this includes 3 months discounted rate for 3 months.

Tiscali's equivalent on 18 months = £344.82 Disregarding the fact that Tiscali only sign you up for a maximum of 12 months. Therefore the real cost is only £224.88

So to make the bill equivilant to BT you could spend £349.56 on 08 numbers over 18 months before you had spent the equivalent of BT.

Taking this in to account these so called included calls with BT are not included for free. Of course it's an individuals choice on the ISP or Telcoms provider they use but why pay more than you need to. Whoever the line is supplied via it's still BT who maintain the line and there is no difference in the service received.

So, if BT is double the cost of Tiscali and using the adage 'if it is too good to be true, it usually is', what is the catch?

If there is no catch at all, why isn't everyone with Tiscali? (including me!!)

sherbert wrote on Jan 13^th, 2009 at 10:49am:

So, if BT is double the cost of Tiscali and using the adage 'if it is too good to be true, it usually is', what is the catch? If there is no catch at all, why isn't everyone with Tiscali? (including me!!)

I honestly don't know why people stay with BT. BT are not cheap and in my opinion no longer offer value for money. I personally use Tiscali and pay the far lower rate. There are no catches and the service has been superb. I am a web designer and need a reliable fast connection which is what I have. Tiscali even offer a TV service included within their price in some area's.

Why not take a look and save yourself some money at the same time. http://www.tiscali.co.uk/products/?code=ZZ-NL-11EE&srccode=COD_592

Thanks, I will have a look into it.

Becasue, price isn't everything. The service you receive - both technical aspects and customer service - is also important. Tiscali's broadband service is a basic, cut-down package for light users. BT's is a bit more of a premium service. You are more likely to have your speed throttled for heavy downloading with Tiscali. It's also quite easy to find forums where people are moaning about Tiscali's service (I know, you find that for any service, but there are definitely more complaints about Tiscali than BT!)

If you're just comparing phone services, there's little to choose between any suppliers based on price. I have my phone with BT because I want to be able to make international calls using 0844 numbers, which isn't guaranteed to work with anyone else, also in the future I'll appreciate the inclusive 0845/0870 calls.