Any suggestions for numbers to try for Halls at Nottingham? 0870012xxxx

The operator is NTL and for an outgoing call, a number of the form 0115910xxxx was the CLI, but constantly engaged. (xxxx did not match with 0870 number, but substitution didn't help.)

Found the Hall reception number and explained the problems with dialling 0870 from abroad but they were unable to put me through. The suggested the main University switchboard with extension 5xxxx but no luck.

Adjusting the end of the Hall number seemed to go through to academic staff.

I know BT often block the geographic numbers, but what about CPS carriers? And how can parents of overseas students get round the 0870 problem - surely University staff need a "put through" facility themselves?

ntl have lots of numbers in Nottingham:


0115 823
0115 835
0115 840 to 0115 849 inclusive
0115 854
0115 859
0115 875 to 0115 878 inclusive

0115 905
0115 910 to 0115 919 inclusive
0115 952
0115 953
0115 955
0115 956
0115 974
0115 993

0115 000
0115 003
0115 005
0115 013

That's 35 normal numbers, and 4 national dialling ones.

As usual, if it's one of the last four, you are probably out of luck.

That's identical to the situation in Leicester! (Even the number is the same: 005!)

I can dial numbers in the Leicester halls from my office, but not from home. It too is a switchboard system, with '9' for an outside line.

Some people reported that they can call these numbers from NTL phones, and from Orange mobiles (which use the NTL network). They suggested my office (which is in the university) has an NTL phone, but I don't believe it is. It predates NTL by a long time. They then suggested that the university might have some sort of link to the halls, but I don't believe that either. As far as I know, the systems are entirely separate (there's no way for students to dial university numbers for free either).

Presumably you don't work at the University of Nottingham. In that case, who provides your work phone network? If we can figure out why these exchange system allow us to dial these 005 numbers, we could be on to something!

Update: I've just tried a Nottingham number on 0115 005 (chosen at random  ) and got through to some poor chap who sounded like I'd got him out of bed! So it's definitely not a link between Leicester University and Leicester halls. I'll see if I can find out who provides the campus phone network.

Quote:

It may be that was the case with jmg's call from work to his/her daughter (see 3 posts up).

My Mum has just tried from her NTL landline and managed to get through . So, it does seem that the problem is with a BT line.

Thanks for the suggestion that this could be the reason why I can get through from my office which is , indeed, an NTL line.

My daughter is at Nottingham University and the telephone in her room has an 0870 number. Is there any way of getting cheaper calls-



[edit]by bbb_uk:
[i]This is the first post of a new thread which has been joined to the existing one on Nottingham University Halls[/i][/edit]

Thank you . it worked for me from an NTL phon but not BT- - Tom

nottingham_uni wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2006 at 10:11pm:

Discussion about these national-dialling only numbers is here. I see no reason why BT should not connect to these numbers as it has to allow all numbers to be dialled (where other telcos don't have to).

I think that it's another instance of the regulator sitting on the fence and not enforcing the rules.