http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/ukparl_hl?DB=ukparl&STEMMER=en&WOR...

Feb 6, 2003

The Department for Transport has 134 helplines of which 66 are charged at national rate, three at premium rate and five at local rate. The details are in the following table:

Telephone numbers Rates 
DfT central   
South East Regional Airports Study (SERAS) 0845 100 5554 Local 
   
DfT executive agencies 
Driving Standards Agency 
Booking Enquiries 0870 010 1372 National 
Theory Test, Enquiries and Complaints 0870 241 0204 National 
   
Vehicle Inspectorate 
National Enquiry Line 0870 606 0440 National 
MOT Enquiry Line 0845 600 5977 Local 
Police Enquiry Line 0845 600 5978 Local 
   
Maritime and Coastguard 0870 600 6505 National 
Highways Agency 0845 750 4030 Local 
   
DVLA—local offices   
Wimbledon 0870 600 6767 National 
Stanmore 0870 241 1269 National 
Chelmsford 0870 241 2147 National 
Manchester 0870 241 2146 National 
Reading 0870 241 5161 National 
Leeds 0870 240 3514 National 
Nottingham 0870 241 1876 National 
Luton 0870 240 3515 National 
Sidcup 0870 240 3516 National 
Maidstone 0870 240 3517 National 
Birmingham 0870 240 3518 National 
Portsmouth 0870 240 4730 National 
Bournemouth 0870 240 4731 National 
Brighton 0870 240 4732 National 
Exeter 0870 240 4734 National 
Truro 0870 240 6278 National 
Aberdeen 0870 240 6279 National 
Northampton 0870 240 8228 National 
Edinburgh 0870 240 6281 National 
Dundee 0870 240 6280 National 
Inverness 0870 240 6283 National 
Peterborough 0870 240 8229 National 
Oxford 0870 240 8230 National 
Ipswich 0870 240 8231 National 
Norwich 0870 240 8232 National 
Carlisle 0870 240 0691 National 
Sheffield 0870 240 1315 National 
Preston 0870 240 0692 National 
Stockton 0870 240 0695 National 
Newcastle 0870 240 0669 National 
Lincoln 0870 240 0671 National 
Beverley 0870 240 1316 National 
Bristol 0870 240 1317 National 
Chester 0870 240 1318 National 
Shrewsbury 0870 240 1223 National 
Cardiff 0870 240 1224 National 
Bangor 0870 240 1225 National 
Swansea 0870 240 1320 National 
Worcester 0870 240 1319 National 
   
DVLA—general 
Drivers 0870 240 0009 National 
Vehicles 0870 240 0010 National 
Car Hire 0906 139 3837 Premium 
Telephone Relicensing 0870 240 2288 National 
Date of Liability 0906 165 7585 Premium 
Dealerline 0906 185 8585 Premium 
DSA 0870 241 2415 National 
Post Office Line 0870 600 0301 National 
Photo On Line 0870 600 6661 National 
Motorcycle Vehicle Excise Duty 0870 241 2145 National 
Small Islands 0870 241 5674 National 
Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) 0870 241 1878 National 
Heavy Goods Vehicle Rebate Line 0870 607 6688 National 
Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty Rebate 0870 241 2449 National 
Mandatory V5 0870 240 6415 National 
Local Office address system 0870 243 0444 National 
Web Vault 0870 241 5803 National 
Registration Number Plate Supplied form filler 0870 240 6424 National 
V5 form filler 0870 240 6426 National 
Registration Number Plate Supplied form filler documentation 0870 240 6425 National 
Driver Medical (DM) Ordinary Drivers Licence 0870 600 0301 National 
DM Diabetes line 0870 241 5450 National 
DM Vocational Drivers 0870 241 1879 National 
DM General Practitioner 0870 241 1875 National 
Motor Cycle Consultation 0870 600 1016 National 
Test Reminders 0870 240 3052 National 
 
London Regional Transport 
Customer Service Centre (Underground) 0845 330 9880 Local 

Following is from Hilary Benn MP - three years ago, the rip-off number generated 0.75 million GBP. The government even wants to fleece those that wish to come here.

The use of 0870 by government really is legalized extortion.

>>>

July 22, 2002

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/ukparl_hl?DB=ukparl&STEMMER=en&WOR...

Decisions in all cases were taken on the basis of estimates of the cost to the Department, the cost to the customer, the likely volume of calls that might be generated if 0800, 0845 or 0870 numbers were used, and the impact that volume of calls might have on the levels of service provided.

Additionally, for the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau number, the use of an 0870 number was agreed on the grounds that the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) would reinvest any money earned back into improving the telephone bureau operation and thereby customer service. This has been done and £0.75 million was invested this spring in the purchase of a new switchboard with increased functionality.

Yep, that's about the size of it!

And don't forget the programmed drop-out after you have been waiting 10 to 20 minutes!