TalkTalk's 'Free Local Call Checker' is extremely broken.


First impressions went bad as soon as I was invited to "Type London or Liverpool as the area or 0208 or 01511 as the dialling code".

The code for London is 020 and for Liverpool is 0151.


Ofcom have spent a lot of money to get people to use 020 for London. London has one code. It covers all of London: 020.

Likewise, Liverpool is 0151 and has been for several decades; it is not, and never has been, 01511.



So, I typed 020 into the checker to see what areas would be free, and this is what it returned:


Quote:

If you live in this area      - Using this area code You can call these area codes for free: Bournemouth      - 01202 01202, 01258, 01425, 01725, 01929 Coldstream      - 018902 01289, 01361, 01368, 01573, 01668, 01890 Colney Heath      - 01727 01438, 01442, 01582, 01707, 01727, 01920, 01923, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Colney Heath      - 01707 01438, 01442, 01582, 01707, 01727, 01920, 01923, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Doncaster      - 01302 01302, 01405, 01427, 01709, 01777, 01909, 01977 Esher      - 01932 01276, 01293, 01306, 01344, 01372, 01483, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Esher      - 01372 01276, 01293, 01306, 01344, 01372, 01483, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Hoddesdon      - 01992 01277, 01279, 01438, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01920, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Iver      - 01895 01276, 01344, 01372, 01494, 01628, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Iver      - 01753 01276, 01344, 01372, 01494, 01628, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Iver      - 01784 01276, 01344, 01372, 01494, 01628, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Continued...

Quote:

London      - 0203 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Continued...

Quote:

London      - 0207 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Continued...

Quote:

London      - 0208 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Continued...

Quote:

Lowestoft      - 01502 01493, 01502, 01508, 01728, 01986 Merstham      - 01883 01293, 01306, 01322, 01342, 01372, 01689, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01932, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Merstham      01737 01293, 01306, 01322, 01342, 01372, 01689, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01932, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Romford      - 01708 01268, 01277, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Southend-on-Sea      - 01702 01245, 01268, 01375, 01621, 01702 Swanley      - 01959 01268, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Swanley      - 01689 01268, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Swanley      - 01322 01268, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Watford      - 01923 01442, 01494, 01582, 01707, 01727, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089 Wolverhampton      - 01902 01212, 01213, 01214, 01215, 01216, 01217, 01384, 01543, 01562, 01746, 01785, 01902, 01922, 01952

Yes!  It really did return ALL of the above.

The problems are many:


1. Why is it also returning stuff as if I lived in Doncaster or Wolverhampton when I am searching for free calls dialled from London?


2. Why is London listed three times, as 0203, 0207 and 0208? London has one area code - 020 - and it covers all of Greater London.


3. For free calls dialled from 0207(sic) it returns...

Quote:

London      - 0207 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

... which nobody is ever going to read.


Now, that's the same 45 "area codes"...

Quote:

01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089,

... repeated over and over again, a total of ten times.

So, the box for 0207(sic) contains 450 numbers in all. The same stuff is repeated verbatim for both 0203(sic) and for 0208(sic).

This means the same 45 'codes' are therefore repeated over and over again, for a total of 30 times each (1350 entries in total).



4. Finally, the codes for London are listed as:

Quote:

02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

... which is another error. London has only one code. It is just '020' for all of London.


The results for London, when I type 020 should therefore be this, and only this:

Quote:

London      - 020 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 020

... not the pages and pages of junk results that it actually returns.


That is, some 1350 items of information should really be just 16.

According to TalkTalk, these codes were given to them by BT. This doesn't surprise me - see BT's advice on how to format numbers here:


Quote:

The convention for writing and displaying geographic numbers (those starting 01 or 02 related to particular places) is to use a space after the first part of the complete number known as the national dialling code.  For example, 01582 XXXXXX for a Luton number and 0207 XXXXXXX for a London number.

The same problem also affects all of these area codes (and area codes immediately adjacent all of these), but to a much lesser extent:

Quote:

Birmingham  (0121) Bristol   (0117) Cardiff       (029) Coventry  (024) Edinburgh    (0131) Glasgow    (0141) Leeds        (0113) Leicester  (0116) Liverpool   (0151) London   (020) Manchester   (0161) Newcastle    (0191) Northern Ireland    (028) Nottingham   (0115) Portsmouth     (023) Reading    (0118) Sheffield     (0114) Southampton   (023)

... They also return loads of extra unwanted information, the major city is listed multiple times, the codes have too many digits, and the information is incorrectly formatted.




In some cases (like for Northern Ireland, and for Portsmouth and Southampton), there is a need to include the first digit or two from the local number in the list. This needs to happen when callers have not got free local calls to all numbers within their area code (How confusing is that?).

In those cases do include the initial digits from the local number, but do NOT run the area code and the initial local number digits together; it makes it impossible to read.

To make things really clear, why not list the numbers in the (already used for several decades) Ofcom-approved number format like (028) 45xx xxxx instead?

This makes the whole thing completely clear without there being an enormous long list.



The checker is poorly designed, badly implemented, and confusing on many levels.

While I'll agree that TalkTalk really should have checked the info they got from BT, it isn't really their fault if BT isn't following Ofcom's guidance. I imagine they get a copy of the BT area code listing in some kind of database form, and they're unlikely to want to have to trawl through it and correct BT's mistakes.

This tool is so much more clear:   http://www.davros.org/phones/cg020.html

It uses the right terminology and shows stuff in the right format.

Let us not get too excited over this very tricky issue.

As explained in Clive Feather's article it began with Post Office Telephones dividing the country into over 600 charge groups. Calls within, and between "adjacent", groups were deemed "local". With the introduction of universal STD it was possible to determine membership of a group from a portion of the concatenated STD code, exchange and exchange number (i.e. the full number dialled). The portion necessary is not necessarily the same as the digits that may be omitted.

An over-simplistic understanding would lead one to think that numbers which one could dial omitting the STD (area) code were local, whereas others were not. Sadly (perhaps) this is not the case.

I believe that the lists published are those used for billing purposes, which have doubtless been assembled on the basis of historic pragmatic amendment (e.g. replacing 0181 with 0208). More care could have been taken to clean these up for presentational purposes, or the failure to do so could have been explained.

On balance, I see it as useful that the billing mechanism has been revealed so that it may be checked for material errors.

Even the graphic on that page is misleading and has several obvious errors:

It says...

Quote:

Belfast 028902 can ring:  02897  -  02894  -  02893 Cardiff 02920 can ring:  01443  -  01633  -  02920 Glasgow 01401 can ring:  01236  -  01355  -  01698 Manchester 01601 can ring:  01204  -  01595  -  01457 London 0208 can ring:  0207  -  0208  -  01322

It is obviously going to be incomplete, as it only ever mentions three areas per code, however for something supposedly so simple, it is full of inaccuracies:

- It lists being able to ring within own area for both Cardiff and London, but does not include own area in the list for the other three. Some people would be confused by that.

- Shows Glasgow as 01401 when the correct code is 0141. Where did that extra zero come from?

- Shows Manchester as 01601 when the correct code is 0161. Where did that extra zero come from?

- Shows London as 0208 when the correct code is 020.

- Runs the area code and the number start together as shown in 02920, however there is no need with either 020 or 029 to mention the start of the number part at all.

- Could have listed perhaps five or six codes for each area, not just three.

- For London, mentions 0207(sic) and 0208(sic) but does not mention 0203(sic). In any case, should be just listing 020 as one area.

- Should make the N.I. stuff a lot more clear:  Belfast 028 902x can ring: 028 97xx - 028 94xx - 028 93xx - i.e. separate the number part away from the area code; don't run them both together.

- Could show several other N.I. examples in rotation for extra clarity.

- Could do a much better job with London by listing 020 plus several adjacent 01 codes, not just the single 01 code that it does. In fact, it completely wasted the entry for London by saying that 0208(sic) can ring numbers in 0207(sic) and 0208(sic). All London 020 numbers can ring all London 020 numbers as a local call; and have been able to do so for over a decade! The point is that this graphic was supposed to be conveying the adjacent area codes that can also be rung for free. It totally failed to do that for London.

- Local codes are usually those that 'surround' an area, but the graphic does not convey that at all. The 'home' code should be in the centre of the image.

- Failed to convey the scope of the free calls by limiting the number of items in the list to three (five or six would have been better).

- Wasted space by repeating the area code the caller is already in as a place that could be called. Should show the 'other' areas that can be called, not own code repeated again.


I'd say that most people looking at the graphic, would be confused by it once they noticed the actual numbers that are shown.

The only way to get this sorted will be to take it up with TalkTalk directly or speak to BT (who TalkTalk claim gave them the data). If that fails, Ofcom might be the way to go, although I don't know how much control they can exert over the format of telephone numbers (I expect it is more of an advisory capacity, not an influential one).

You're preaching (for the most part) to the converted here - we're not the ones you need to convince.

jgxenite wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 11:30pm:

The only way to get this sorted will be to take it up with TalkTalk directly or speak to BT (who TalkTalk claim gave them the data). …

It is surely an issue with Talk Talk. What has it got to do with BT how Talk Talk conducts its business?

Is it defined in legislation what telephone providers consider "local" calls?

If BT is handing out incorrect information about the calling groups, then it is BT who need to be corrected. You can't really expect TalkTalk to (manually or automatically) correct the calling group information it has been handed by the BT.

My suggestion is to focus on material errors, rather than problems of presentation. If calls within Manchester and Glasgow are not shown as being local in these listings, it is likely that they would not be so treated in billing.

The data itself is mostly fine; the problems are mostly with the presentation of that data:

1. Including part of the local number as if it were a part of the code (making the code look 'longer'), when there is no need to do so, like 0208 instead of 020.

2. Running the code and the local number together as one, instead of proper separation, like 02894 instead of  028  94xx. In this case, it is necessary to show part of the 'local number' for clarity.  This is one of those areas of the country where these splits do need to be shown because, in this case, the 028 area code actually covers more than one charge group. In these cases there should be a gap shown between the code and the initial digits that are a part of the local number.

3. Showing multiple 'long codes' as destinations when only one short code is needed...

Quote:

02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

The 30 listed entries shown here for London, and noted above, are all able to be replaced by the single entry 020 in this case. There are some areas of the country where these splits do need to be shown because there are some areas where one area code actually covers more than one charge group. However in those cases there should be a gap between the code and the initial digits that are a part of the local number.

4. Unnecessary splits shown for the caller's own area code, like breaking London into 0203, 0207, and 0208, as the caller's own location. London only has one code, 020, for the whole of London and that code covers only one charge group. There are some areas of the country where these splits do need to be shown because there are some areas where one area code actually covers more than one charge group. However in those cases there should be a gap between the code and the initial digits that are a part of the local number.

5. Repetition of codes, over and over, like for London where the same list of numbers was repeated ten times within each list of destinations; that is, repeated ten times for each of 0203(sic), 0207(sic), and 0208(sic), due to poor programming.


Clarity of presentation is everything. Without that, people will not properly understand the offer.

My point still stands thought - TalkTalk are more than likely just presenting the data they have been given by BT. If this is the case, the focus of this problem is the fact that BT are not storing the data correctly. BT are making the lives of everyone that uses that data 10 times harder by unnecessarily duplicating the London area codes (for example), which means the systems that use that data are doing unnecessary work. Coding the system to present it properly is only adding to that unnecessary work.

catj wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:50am:

The data itself is mostly fine; the problems are mostly with the presentation of that data: ... Clarity of presentation is everything. Without that, people will not properly understand the offer.

Can we qualify the "mostly"? What are the material errors?

Presentation of telephone numbers is indeed important. It is a consideration that appears to have been totally disregarded in this context, which addresses only the issue of billing. Like it or not however, the two are not readily addressable in the same simple terms, which denies the opportunity for there to be an easy and precise comprehension of the offer.

The term "area code" is perhaps wrongly used and there is unnecessary detail. I cannot however see how this makes the checker unusable for its purpose of determining whether or not a particular call is "local".