After all this time they still dont get it.

"Signing up is easy, you can either do it online at www.subcriptionline.co.uk/RHN or call the Subscription Line on 0844 9916464. Payment is hassle free Direct Debit.

Once you’ve subscribed you’ll receive pre-paid vouchers in the post that you can exchange for your Ripley & Heanor News at the newsagent’s or retailer. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm.

Calls are charged at local rate from a landline."


http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/news/local/get-the-news-for-just-52p-a-week-1-5417366

bigjohn wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2013 at 3:00am:

After all this time they still dont get it. … "Calls are charged at local rate from a landline."

It is indeed a disgrace. It is now nearly 10 years since the distinction between "local" and "national" rates was removed from telephone tariffs. It has however never applied to mobiles. The term "local rate" is meaningless, indeed it is misleading.

You are however wrong to refer to time in respect of 0844 numbers. The rate charged by BT for calls to 0845 numbers was once tied to its local rate - it is no longer. This connection has never existed for 0844.

Furthermore, the rate for calling 0844 numbers is generally constant for all users of a particular provider, whereas the rate for a local call (the same as that for a national call) may vary according to their choice of call plan and the time when the call is made.

Hi bigjohn

This is indeed a disgrace, it is also an Offence under ASA Regulations, however if you google 0844 number providers you will find that 90% of them advertise 0844 as being charged at 'Local Rate'

You could try reporting this paper to the ASA, SCV and I have discussed this at length, but untill the ASA start reacting to Reported Offences with a sledge hammer and there are literally thousands of instances of this particular Offence out there, it will continue.

Have a go at reporting this Paper and please keep us updated and maybe we can start a Reporting blitz to get ASA into gear.

speedy wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2013 at 12:27pm:

… maybe we can start a Reporting blitz …

My advice would be to wait for the forthcoming Ofcom announcement, which will set out the future path for this, before launching a major campaign..

The announcement will be soon, although it has been delayed (April is the latest estimate), and the specific regulations will not come into effect immediately. It will however provide a much clearer basis for future, AND INTERIM, action by the ASA.

There is no reason why this, and other cases, could not be reported under the terms of the present requirements.