I noticed on the TV news this morning that University Clearing are using an 0871 number. This is an absolute disgrace. They must know that 95% of students use mobile phones, thus are paying through the nose (wallet) to get a Uni place.
This disgraceful use of 0871 should be highlighted to TV companies and MP's.

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~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended

I agree absolutely, it is totally unacceptable, particularly as, when my husband saw this on the news, in the background a caller was being told they were 26th in the queue!  How much is that wait going to cost them, never mind that the ensuing conversation will also almost certainly be quite lengthy.  These are all going to be people who are extremely stressed and anxious about their futures and this is just Government-backed exploitation!

mikemundy wrote on Aug 19^th, 2010 at 5:50pm:

I noticed on the TV news this morning that University Clearing are using an 0871 number. This is an absolute disgrace. They must know that 95% of students use mobile phones, thus are paying through the nose (wallet) to get a Uni place. This disgraceful use of 0871 should be highlighted to TV companies and MP's.

This may interest you,

>:(

Those who follow these issues may be interested to subscribe to a news feed of media releases.

The latest item shown (covering UCAS) was issued early on Thursday afternoon, in time for newspaper deadlines. I have not yet spotted any copy that made it to publication and fear that the story has now gone "cold".

The precise status of the alternative number was verified openly in discussion with UCAS before the release was issued.


Other news feeds are available for viewing and subscription here.

I am happy for any of the material I cover to generate discussion in this forum, if it is of interest to members, with or without acknowledgement. I am however not keen to engage in public discussion of my personal selection of material and topics or any other aspect of specific campaigning tactics or activity. I am happy to receive, and respond to, comments directed to me privately.

(N.B. None of my campaigning activities or websites are supported by advertising. I therefore have no commercial interest in attracting viewers.)

I'm a student that applied through UCAS this year (and still awaiting the outcome),
and the 0871 is there normal day to day number - however because of my great dislike of these numbers I use 01242 545701 (and because I call from a mobile).
I saw what you meant on the news, with the display showing no of calls in queue and how long they had been in the queue.

The fact that we pay £20 to apply through them would think they could offer an 03 or 0800 number!

samwsmith1 wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2010 at 3:47am:

The fact that we pay £20 to apply through them would think they could offer an 03 or 0800 number!

I think they do.


Quote:

If you are calling from outside the UK, you can also contact us on 0044 330 333 0230 (international call rates apply).

I make that 0330 333 0230 from within the UK.

Heinz wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2010 at 7:55pm:

samwsmith1 wrote on Aug 22nd, 2010 at 3:47am: The fact that we pay £20 to apply through them would think they could offer an 03 or 0800 number! I think they do. Quote: If you are calling from outside the UK, you can also contact us on 0044 330 333 0230 (international call rates apply). I make that 0330 333 0230 from within the UK.

But that numbers says (and I have tried!):
"Thank you for calling UCAS, this number is only available to international callers.
Please redial 0871 468 0 468, thank you, goodbye."
Did you try calling the number, as I haven't called it for around a month.

Edit: Just called the 03 no and the above message is still given out.

samwsmith1 wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2010 at 9:39pm:

"Thank you for calling UCAS, this number is only available to international callers. Please redial 0871 468 0 468, thank you, goodbye."

That is the clearest indication one could wish for to show that UCAS aims to charge UK students for its telephone advice service.

The geo number referred to in my media release is confirmed by UCAS to provide access to the same service, although with the possibility of getting engaged tone, rather than being added to a queue, if there are no free incoming lines to the call centre. UCAS would not wish students to fail to be able to join the queue. It does not however advise those with PAYG mobiles to ensure that they have at least £5 in credit before dialling because waiting times can be in excess of 10 minutes. If paying 35/40p a minute there is the danger of failing to get through to speak to someone because the credit expires whilst waiting.

(The geo number is found on student message boards and in the SayNoTo0870 database.)

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2010 at 11:15pm:

samwsmith1 wrote on Aug 22nd, 2010 at 9:39pm: "Thank you for calling UCAS, this number is only available to international callers. Please redial 0871 468 0 468, thank you, goodbye." That is the clearest indication one could wish for to show that UCAS aims to charge UK students for its telephone advice service. The geo number referred to in my media release is confirmed by UCAS to provide access to the same service, although with the possibility of getting engaged tone, rather than being added to a queue, if there are no free incoming lines to the call centre. UCAS would not wish students to fail to be able to join the queue. It does not however advise those with PAYG mobiles to ensure that they have at least £5 in credit before dialling because waiting times can be in excess of 10 minutes. If paying 35/40p a minute there is the danger of failing to get through to speak to someone because the credit expires whilst waiting. (The geo number is found on student message boards and in the SayNoTo0870 database.)

I would far rather hear an engaged tone than pay 10p on a landline or 30/40p on a mobile!
I found the number in the database when I first applied in December and added it to my contacts so I had it at hand - SFE have an 0845 no as well and I also have their alternative of 0141 243 3600 in my contacts.
I suppose 0845s arn't as bad as 0871 but these companies should be providing an 03 no (or at least they should in my eyes!).

Sadly like the unemployed and sick, students are seen as another potential money making source by the Govt and it's Depts.

Welcome to RipOffBritain

UCAS has recently disabled the 01242 alternative listed by SAYNOTO0870.COM. The 0330 number is for overseas callers and does not accept calls from the UK.

I have just published a news release on this subject:
UCAS says 'NO' to those trying to avoid rip-off 41 pence per minute charge to ring Clearing Hotline


Quote:

How stupid for UCAS to stop people calling the ordinary number to avoid up to 41 pence per minute charges in order to protect its own subsidy of 8 or 9 pence per minute!!

Anyone wishing to complain to UCAS (which they have every right to do) can contact UCAS here  ;D

CJT-80 wrote on Aug 18^th, 2011 at 5:13pm:

Anyone wishing to complain to UCAS (which they have every right to do) can contact UCAS here  ;D

Or speak directly to the management:

Mary Curnock Cook
Chief Executive
Tel: (01242) 544996
E-mail: m.curnockcook@ucas.ac.uk

Sarah Hodge
Director of Customer Strategy (interim)
Tel: (01242) 544997

Andrea Robertson
Director of Customer Operations
Tel: (01242) 544721

Paul Featonby
Director of Information Services
Tel: (01242) 544840

The format for e-mail addresses is firstinitial.lastname@ucas.ac.uk

CJT-80 wrote on Aug 18^th, 2011 at 5:13pm:

Anyone wishing to complain to UCAS (which they have every right to do) can contact UCAS here  ;D

Thanks for the details, seen as I'm in this years application cycle I might send them a complaint about the use of the 0871 number & deactivation of the old geo number - especially seen as I've already paid them £21!

samwsmith1 wrote on Aug 21^st, 2011 at 3:12am:

CJT-80 wrote on Aug 18th, 2011 at 5:13pm: Anyone wishing to complain to UCAS (which they have every right to do) can contact UCAS here  ;D Thanks for the details, seen as I'm in this years application cycle I might send them a complaint about the use of the 0871 number & deactivation of the old geo number - especially seen as I've already paid them £21!

Hello there Sam,

Welcome to SayNoTo0870.

I would agree that they deserve a LARGE complaint. They had an article in the Times I think, commenting on the fact the website crashed due to the sheer number of people trying to access it!!

The use of what is CLEARLY a premium rated number, is in this current climate a discrace! Especially as it's for students who are already on limited finances and are more likely to use mobile phones to contact them!

:(

CJT-80 wrote on Aug 21^st, 2011 at 12:06pm:

I would agree that they deserve a LARGE complaint. They had an article in the Times I think, commenting on the fact the website crashed due to the sheer number of people trying to access it!! The use of what is CLEARLY a premium rated number, is in this current climate a discrace! Especially as it's for students who are already on limited finances and are more likely to use mobile phones to contact them!

samwsmith1 has pointed out that UCAS charges £21. Perhaps it should loose the service charge through its Premium Rate number and put it onto the fee.

Dave I agree totally!

Perhaps it's a good idea for Sam to rally up some support from some other students and maybe the NUS over this outragoeous charging scheme!

Edit: It seems NUS are almost as bad with an 0845 number used to contact them!

http://www.nus.org.uk/en/Contact-Us/

Whatever UCAS does, it must do it openly and honestly.

Stating that:
Quote:

UK BT landline calls will cost no more than 9p per minute

... is simply untrue. (See http://www.ucas.com/about_us/contact_us/#csu.)

With a call setup fee of 12.5p, a rate of 9.19p per minute and call charges rounded up to the nearest penny, even those pursuing arts courses should be able to work out that the rate will always be more than 9p per minute.

It may only be the scientists who will know that the rate will approach 9.19p per minute as the duration of the call increases. A seven minute call costs exactly 11p per minute (half the rate of a 1 minute call), but the rate is still more than 9.2p per minute after a 12 hour call (£66.30 / 720 minutes = 9.2083333 pence per minute) and it will never fall below 9.19.

CJT-80 wrote on Aug 21^st, 2011 at 1:22pm:

Edit: It seems NUS are almost as bad with an 0845 number used to contact them! http://www.nus.org.uk/en/Contact-Us/

NUS introduced the 0845 521 0262 number as its main number on 1st August 2011 as part of a wider strategy.

The number is intended for:

• Staff members and elected officers from HE and FE institutions
  
• Students and parents seeking information
  
• Anyone looking for information on general queries

Previously NUS used 0871 221 8221 which is now answered with a recording which says that as of that date the 0845 number which is given will be the number for NUS and that calls to the called number will not be answered.

The exact same recording is on the two alternatives we had listed, 020 7380 6600 and 020 7388 2300. I tried a few numbers at random in the 020 7380 6600 range and they all have the same redirection message on.

It appears that the new 0845 number, which identifies itself as "The NUS Customer Services Team", is answered at the NUS Services office in Macclesfield as its alternative is 01625 413288.

UCAS publishes the number 0330 333 0230 in international format for callers outside the UK.

What it doesn't say is that callers with a UK mobile and in the UK can call it. There is no need for the caller's number to be withheld either.

So it is only blocked for UK landline callers, irrespective of whether they withhold their number.

I have updated the database accordingly.  ;)

Of course, those calling UCAS aren't likely to wait to get to a landline before doing so. Therefore UCAS is telling them to call the 0871 number when the 0330 number can be used!

Ucas premium rate 0871 phone number piles on the pain for students
Roll on the day when premium-rate phone numbers are banned,

http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2013/aug/17/ucas-premium-rate-phone-number

bigjohn wrote on Aug 19^th, 2013 at 4:23am:

… Roll on the day when premium-rate phone numbers are banned,

It arrived on 13 June 2014, for UCAS.

Given the contractual relationship with registered students, the helpline switched to 0371 468 0 468 from that date.

Preparations for the annual attack on A-level results day (next week) have had to be abandoned!