Source: Ofcom update

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Ofcom today confirmed the organisations that will run the first pan-European 116 helpline phone numbers in the UK.

The following organisations have been selected to provide their services on these 116 numbers:

•      Missing People will use 116 000 for a missing children helpline;

•      NSPCC will use 116 111 for its ChildLine service; and

•      Samaritans will use 116 123 for an emotional support helpline.

116 numbers will allow anyone travelling around Europe to access providers of similar services by calling the same six-digit memorable number, making it easier for visitors to find the right number when they need help or advice.

Further information can be found here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/10/nr_20091028
>>

Good old Ofcom once again they have decided to use 116 as another brilliant wease for BT Payphones division and the mobile operators to totally rook the calling public, even though it may not happen for these first three numbers.

See www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/116/116statement/


Quote:

Charging arrangements 1.13 Given their social importance, the Commission has stated in the Decision that ‘116’ numbers should be ‘freephone’ numbers. However, ‘freephone’ means different things in different Member Sates. In some countries, ‘freephone’ calls are always without cost to the caller. In others, including in the UK, the caller may incur charges. In the UK, there is a requirement that the caller is notified by an announcement at the start of the call before any charges apply. 1.14 Due to the common practice of charging for ‘freephone’ calls from mobile telephones, we consider that designating all of the 116 number range as ‘freephone’ would not sufficiently further the social function of some of the services that might be offered. Although mobile providers have taken the commercial decision not to charge for ‘freephone’ calls to certain services, we have concluded that the extreme social value of some services reserved ‘116’ numbers means that it would be strongly in the consumer interest to ensure that calls to those numbers were always ’free to caller’ , meaning that there is no charge irrespective of how the call is made . 1.15 We consider that the three services currently reserved ‘116’ numbers by the Commission - hotline for missing children, child helplines and emotional support helplines – are of extreme social value and, following consultation, we have decided to designate these as ‘free to caller’ in the Numbering Plan. However, there is potential for the Commission to reserve many ‘116’ numbers for different types of services of social value. Some of these services may focus on providing useful but non-urgent information or have a commercial element. Imposing a ‘free to caller’ tariff for such services may not be justified. 1.16 To enable us to determine the most appropriate charging arrangements for subsequent ‘116’ numbers on a service-by-service basis, we have developed a set of factors to inform our decision. The factors are based on the level of social value or need to be met by the service; the likely situation of callers when they need to call the service; and the market environment in which the service operates. We will also seek recommendations on charging arrangements for each ‘116’ number from the advisory committees and will consult on the charging arrangements as part of our process of making each ‘116’ number available for allocation. Next steps 1.17 To implement our decisions on ‘116’ numbers, we are modifying the Numbering Plan, General Condition 17 (‘the Numbering Conditions’) and the access code application form. The 116 Consultation followed the necessary statutory procedures to make these modifications and explained the reasoning. The final notifications of the modifications are at annexes 7 to 9 to this statement. 1.18 The first stage of the comparative selection process for allocation of the 116000, 116111 and 116123 numbers will close on 3 April 2009, following which, those service providers meeting the Service Eligibility Criteria will move on to the second stage of the selection process. Provided that suitable service provider(s) / communications provider partnerships emerge, we expect to allocate the initial three ‘116’ numbers by September 2009.

118 whatever or 116 whatever. The former is more well known about, so I think that they are going to receive a lot of wrong numbers at the cost of callers.  ::)  :'(

Dave wrote on Oct 30^th, 2009 at 4:48am:

118 whatever or 116 whatever. The former is more well known about, so I think that they are going to receive a lot of wrong numbers at the cost of callers.  ::)  :'(

It is indeed absurd to have 118 associated with premium rate directory enquiry lines and 116 as free or low cost lines.

If there are not now 118 equivalents of the three new directory enquiry services in respect of the last three numbers then I am sure there very will soon be by the usual scammer suspects.

It is an outrage that 118 numbers were ever allowed in the first place and that they were not instead created using ordinary 09 premium numbers so that the public would be alerted to their extortionate pricing. >:(

Good old Ofcom as always they look after their scammer telecoms industry chums and not the general public. >:( >:( >:(

All 116 xxx numbers should be free for the caller, and none should ever appear on any printed or online bill.

If that path is not pursued then at least have a simple system where  116 0xx and 116 1xx are free for all callers including those calling from mobile phones, and 116 8xx and 9xx are chargeable to all and with a mandatory announcement up front that the call is being charged.

Likewise, for any issued 116 xxx number, I strongly believe that the same xxx number-part but over in the 118 xxx range should NOT be issued.

In my submission to the consultation, I argued that allowing for a mix of "freephone" (i.e. not free at all from mobiles) and "free to caller" (free) would just cause confusion and dissuade people from calling them.

If just one vulnerable person fails to call a 116 helpline because they have no credit and don't realise it's really free, and subsequently suffers harm, then it'll been a massive failute.

NGMsGhost wrote on Oct 30^th, 2009 at 8:53am:

Good old Ofcom as always they look after their scammer telecoms industry chums and not the general public. >:( >:( >:(

The whole 118-prefixed directory enquiries services and 116-prefixed "helplines" are EU ideas, are they not? So I don't see what this has to do with Ofcom.  :-/

Dave wrote on Oct 30^th, 2009 at 3:06pm:

The whole 118-prefixed directory enquiries services and 116-prefixed "helplines" are EU ideas, are they not? So I don't see what this has to do with Ofcom.  :-/

But Ofcom seems to have made special rules for the UK that not all 116 numbers will be Freephone have they not?

Also Ofcom no doubt have prevented call price announcements before you are connected to a 118 number on the grounds that sombody's burglar alarm or personal attack alarm may need to call a 118 number number no doubt.

In short OfCoN seem to have everything to do with the current sorry situation in the UK.......................

Of course having a premium rate service and a Freephone service both starting 11 does seem completely mad.

Presumably the idea is to make it far easier for one's 4 year old child dial it and then leave you with a £10,000 bill on your phone line.....................

Numbers starting 1 are for special network services and shouldn't be handed out to all and sundry.

The more services you define as being "special", the less special they become. Where once they were all three-digit numbers, we now have different length numbers starting 1.

Making them longer may allow more services to operate, but it has the effect of making them less easy to remember.

This is all the sort of nonsense that is being pushed by the EU.