Hi all there,

I have written a complain letter to the Benefits Distribution Centre (Jobcentre plus) in Totton (Southampton) and they stubbornly refuse to provide it by phone.
The answer that I got is that:

1) "the 0845 is cheaper in the main" (?!?!?)
2) with a 0845 number you can get all digital service as automatic answering with option selection (?!?! as it was not possible with a geographical number)

Now, in my reply I wanted to back my statements with a price comparison table from the Internet. There is one on moneysavingexpert.com but it just shows prices from landlines. I would like to show a comparison table with prices for calling 0845 from mobile phones...if it exists.

Also, I know that statements 2 is incorrect, but is there something I can back my statement with?

About asking numbers according to the FOI. It appears to me I have missed the first "episode" on this site :-))
Do you mean that public administration and private companies are supposed to provide you the geographical number according to the FOI act?

Have you maybe got a template of a letter with this request? This site does not seem to have it (or I have not spotted it)...

Thanks a lot.

Also for the hard work of this site.  

Best regards,
Stef

stef wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2009 at 9:36am:

1) "the 0845 is cheaper in the main" (?!?!?)

If everyone makes their calls with BT, then perhaps this could be claimed to be true.



stef wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2009 at 9:36am:

2) with a 0845 number you can get all digital service as automatic answering with option selection (?!?! as it was not possible with a geographical number)

Various claims are made either way on this. I tend to believe that, in general, anything's possible and that it's probably a case of money talks. That is, there's more money to pay for these extra services on the 0845 number.



stef wrote on Sep 3^rd, 2009 at 9:36am:

About asking numbers according to the FOI. It appears to me I have missed the first "episode" on this site :-)) Do you mean that public administration and private companies are supposed to provide you the geographical number according to the FOI act?

The Freedom of Information Act only applies to public bodies and not private companies. You could therefore ask a public body for its geographical number, although there's no guarantee it will be provided.

0845 numbers

With the introduction of the 03 range there shouldn't be any excuse for using any of the 08 numbers. It is about time that the GP issuse was sorted.

Now the 03 range is fully availabe and people are becomimg aware of the function can we do anything more to pursuade or encourage companies such as public service (Job Centre plus for example) to use 03 numbers.