Has anyone else seen on the BBC News website re the flooding in St Asaph that "agencies" are appealing to those who had to leave the area to make contact, one of the numbers being given is the Scottish Power Helpline on an 0845 number!!!!!!!!!!!?   How disgraceful is that, particularly as those concerned will be forced to phone from mobiles???

Well the much-publicised Environment Agency Floodline number is an 0845 as well (0845 988 1188) - see http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1169736833/0

Yes there has been discussion about the Environment Agency Floodline being 0845 on here previously, I was going to do another post about it, particularly after we passed an Evironment Agency van near Tewkesbury on Saturday & the main number shown on it was an 03 for general contact, their website also shows 0800 numbers so why should people concerned about flooding be surcharged with an 0845 number?  There is no justification at all for this.

Northern Ireland flooding incident line 0300 200 0100.

Looks like a number of county councils are advertising 0300 numbers, but not the EA themselves.

Barbara wrote on Nov 28^th, 2012 at 4:17pm:

Yes there has been discussion about the Environment Agency Floodline being 0845 on here previously, I was going to do another post about it, particularly after we passed an Evironment Agency van near Tewkesbury on Saturday & the main number shown on it was an 03 for general contact, their website also shows 0800 numbers so why should people concerned about flooding be surcharged with an 0845 number?  There is no justification at all for this.

General Enquiries are 0370 8 (an 03 number) or 01 for outside the UK. Incident reporting is 0800, and the Floodline is 0845.  I think the Environment Agency needs some feedback about Harmonising their contact numbers.

They have made a step forward with an 03 number but more needs to be done.

The fair telecoms campaign is seeking to make contact with the Environment Agency to discuss the widely publicised "floodline" number.

There are bigger issues to be discussed in public at present, but we cannot maintain a campaign about the misuse of 084 numbers by public bodies without responding to this 0845 number being repeatedly presented as if it were a "normal" telephone number. It may be similar to a premium rate horoscope service in terms of what is offered, as well as the cost of calling it. In the latter respect, however, it should carry an appropriate warning message.

When we understand the position (in the context of the very mixed approach of the Environment Agency, as referred to above), we will make appropriate public comment.

Good Evening,

I checked on-line for details of the Environment Agency's Flood Line and was surprised to see that they STILL have the 0845 Number listed, whilst SayNoTo0870.com has the 03 alternative listed on here.

Was there ever any communication from the Fair Telecoms Campaign on this? I see the last entry here was over a year ago...

I will also make a post here: http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1169736833/0

CJT-80 wrote on Dec 7^th, 2013 at 4:38pm:

… Was there ever any communication from the Fair Telecoms Campaign on this? I see the last entry here was over a year ago...

A fair point - I should have added a further comment some time ago.

As a point of principle, I do not provide public blow-by-blow commentary on engagement with organisations. I probably broke my own rule by commenting that we were seeking to make contact with the Environment Agency.

Contact was made, and the points were established in the context of imminent (at the time) announcements by Ofcom. When the Ofcom process fell into delay, attention for the public sector had shifted to work in general on the "telephone tax" - including the NAO inquiry, adjournment debate, PAC evidence session, work by the Cabinet Office and the PAC report. We are now awaiting the report of the Cabinet Office group, which we understand will include guidance / directions to Central Government departments and may also be addressed directly to all public bodies. The Environment Agency will be covered, either directly or through its relationship with DEFRA.

Whilst there is a formal status for the Fair Telecoms Campaign, the primary purpose of its limited resources is to support the efforts of all those who share its objectives and have the time and talents to see them realised. We reacted last year when the 0845 number was all over our television screens and in other media, hoping to capitalise on the poor impression that this created. Sadly there was not sufficient pressure around at that time, nor since, to prompt the necessary action. Whilst we wait for the Cabinet Office, we will be delighted to offer all support and assistance to anyone able to apply more pressure to the EA at this time, when again the number is receiving a lot of public attention.

SCV I do understand, and it was the recent floods that brought the EA to my attention once again.

I would be interested to know where someone established that the EA has a working 03 alternative to the 0845 Flood Line?

I am happy to e-mail the EA and point out to them that as they have already changed their primary contact number to an 03 alternative, and that they have an 03 alternative for the Flood Line it would be excellent customer service to list the 03 number on their website.

I hope you or anyone else on here does not feel I am bemoaning the excellent work that SNT0870 and it's contributors make... as I can assure you I am not :-)

In Scotland its run by the SEPA and they have this site http://www.floodlinescotland.org.uk/ on which they promote the 0845 number.

CJT-80 wrote on Dec 7^th, 2013 at 7:24pm:

I am happy to e-mail the EA and point out to them that as they have already changed their primary contact number to an 03 alternative, and that they have an 03 alternative for the Flood Line it would be excellent customer service to list the 03 number on their website. I hope you or anyone else on here does not feel I am bemoaning the excellent work that SNT0870 and it's contributors make... as I can assure you I am not :-)

I have only just recognised that the 0345 equivalent for the Floodline number is apparently working. Although everyone is free to behave as they wish, I am not prepared to discuss specific campaigning tactics, or engage in uninformed speculation as to why the unannounced alternative is working, in public.

The campaigning efforts of those who also participate (or have participated) in discussion on this site must be highly commended. Those of us who have become engaged in these matters more recently must acknowledge the fact that all achievements are due in part to those efforts.

There are however limits to what can be achieved through an open public forum, where any view may be presented and discussed. A campaigning web site cannot exist, with integrity, when funded through carrying adverts from those who are being opposed. With strongly differing views being validly expressed, there is no opportunity for a specific opinion on anything but the widest of issues (e.g. people do not like paying an unjustifiable premium on telephone calls) to be expressed by "SayNoTo0870".

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 8^th, 2013 at 2:13am:

I have only just recognised that the 0345 equivalent for the Floodline number is apparently working.

I was only aware of it after searching the Database for an alternative to the 0845 number and finding it was listed with an 0345 equivalent.

I am not asking or suggesting you reveal any tactics at all.  I was merely wondering about contacting them.  However I have decided that as there is upcoming changes to NGN's and after the recent floods that it maybe best left to at least after the New Year before I engage with the EA regarding the Flood Line and the 0845 number.

CJT-80 wrote on Dec 8^th, 2013 at 3:51pm:

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 8th, 2013 at 2:13am: I have only just recognised that the 0345 equivalent for the Floodline number is apparently working. I was only aware of it after searching the Database for an alternative to the 0845 number and finding it was listed with an 0345 equivalent. I am not asking or suggesting you reveal any tactics at all.  I was merely wondering about contacting them.  However I have decided that as there is upcoming changes to NGN's and after the recent floods that it maybe best left to at least after the New Year before I engage with the EA regarding the Flood Line and the 0845 number.

recently I had the information that the number 0345 is changed again. someone knows something about this?

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 8^th, 2013 at 2:13am:

There are however limits to what can be achieved through an open public forum, where any view may be presented and discussed. A campaigning web site cannot exist, with integrity, when funded through carrying adverts from those who are being opposed. With strongly differing views being validly expressed, there is no opportunity for a specific opinion on anything but the widest of issues (e.g. people do not like paying an unjustifiable premium on telephone calls) to be expressed by "SayNoTo0870".

The BBC does not agree with this opinion as it states ;---

"The Say No To 0870 website has long campaigned against the use of higher-rate phone lines and provides "equivalent geographical numbers" as cheaper alternatives."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25523465

loddon wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 8:35am:

The BBC does not agree with this opinion …

I believe this was not "an opinion of the BBC", but a quote from a PA release.

There is no contradiction of my quoted view.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 8:52am:

loddon wrote on Dec 30th, 2013 at 8:35am: The BBC does not agree with this opinion … I believe this was not "an opinion of the BBC", but a quote from a PA release. There is no contradiction of my quoted view.

It appears that the BBC, and the PA, see the long-standing existence of this website in itself as an on-going campaign against the use of higher-rate numbers.  There is no reference specifically to the Forum.    It is indeed an open public Forum which has carried lively and informed debate on the subject over many years.  The worth of this should not be undervalued.   It has encouraged many direct campaigning efforts by many different people who often return to the Forum to report results and compare actions.   Though not formally organised it has clearly carried weight which is at least recognised by the BBC and PA.

I must say I am very appreciative of the existence of this site and the Forum and the media still attach some importance to it.

It says the sayNOto0870 site is "against higher-rate numbers" and "offers alternative numbers".

However, it fails to specify what is being campaigned FOR, and that's where the limitations of this site become apparent.

Ian G, you omitted the telling phrase "The Say No To 0870 website has long campaigned ..... " which indicates how it is viewed by the BBC and PA.   Its very existence constitutes a campaign.

It was not set up as a campaigning site but as a site containing information of value to consumers and users of phone services who don't like being exploited by a greedy industry.    The Forum I imagine was provided originally as a discursive facility which has grown to encompass a fair amount of campaigning and can be seen as something of a bonus.

There is nothing in the "Welcome" to this site which refers to campaigning and its declared aims are stated simply "This site is all about listing these numbers, saving you money, without having to pay additional charges."   I think it achieves its aims admirably and should not be criticised nor undervalued. 

If you are not happy then put your point of view or go elsewhere.