Most of the BBC has moved away from 084/087 numbers and rightly so. However I discovered a bit of very poor work here, especially as it relates to disabled people:

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio/promsinthepark/2018/relaxe-prom-2018-guide-for-parents-guardians-carers.pdf

This contains at least 2 references to 0845 numbers for the Albert Hall box office. No mention of call charges. It' not the fault of the Albert Hall who have an 020 number for their box office: https://www.royalalberthall.com/ Scroll to bottom of page.

The main BBC Proms site gives 020 numbers: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3K8zlfLQBHNmVSxR5ccfgz6/how-to-book

The wooden spoon (if appropriate - there are far worse cases) belongs to both the RAH and the BBC.

This is a classic case where the booking number, which was previously 0845, has been switched to a geographic number, but implementation of the change has not been fully completed.

The significant point is that the old 0845 number is still working, rather than having been replaced by a free-to-caller changed number announcement. For an institution like the RAH this step must be considered essential.

Whilst most publicity shows the correct (new 020) number, there are a number of cases (including that referred to above) where the old number is shown - both by the BBC and the RAH.


The fair telecoms campaign is currently trying to get the RAH to implement the necessary step of applying a changed number announcement. Secondly, the RAH must ensure that incorrect current references to the old number are corrected. Thirdly, steps may need to be taken to ensure that the BBC gets it right when promoting Proms 2019.

We come across many cases such as this, where an organisation is genuinely trying to do the right thing but inevitable errors inhibit its implementation. Our efforts in response are based on the extent of likely damage and the degree of potential embarrassment that would result if the errors are not corrected.

The issue of out of date websites is huge.

Samaritans changed their number from 0845 790 9090 to 116123 around three years ago. There are still more than a million online mentions of the old 0845 number, most of which will never be updated. Indeed, there are still many mentions of their older 0345 909090 number that they used until 2001 when all 0345 numbers became 0845 7 numbers.

There are still thousands of websites mentioning 01 (ended 1990), 071 and 081 (ended 1995), and 0171 and 0181(ended 2001) numbers for businesses in London!

As it is impossible to ensure that all mentions of an old phone number are corrected - and it is impossible to go back and amend paperwork that has already been distributed or cause an update to entries already stored in telephone handsets or written on post-it notes - the most essential step of a number change is to place a free-to-caller pre-call announcement on the old number telling callers to hang up and re-dial the new number.