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So the axe you were grinding was actually for the merits of Ofcomwatch rather than the merits of Ofcom.

Apologies for this.  Clearly my misunderstanding.

Yes but to get back on topic - what will Ofcom actually do? Will it solve the current problems from the consumer point of view. Doubtful I still think because the government control Ofcom, Ofcom seem to have some unseverable (sorry about the spelling) alleigance (or obligation?) to BT, and the government do not want to lose the effective "additional stealth taxes" which they are making from revenue-sharing NGNs.

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Due to all the crap that Ofcom produces about being a light touch regulator I can't see them banning these numbers. I don't think that Ofcom would be prepared to face the wraith of all the companies that use 08 numbers having to change their stationary, signage, advertising etc... unless their was some sort of compensation from the Government but we all know that won't happen.

I think the best way forward is to raise the stigma attached to these numbers especially by public bodies. We have already seen the numbers banned from Dr's so just keep up the pressure on the other public sector organisations.

Indeed a number of operators are nervous about Ofcom's continuing researches and enquiries alerting their customers to the level of (lack of, in some cases) revenue share; they cite the high level of service offered, "ignoring" what might be available on 01/02 and VoIP.

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In mid August Matt Peacock told BBC Radio 4's You & Yours program that their next NTS consultation (which will probably last another year)  would be published in early September.  Now it is late September...................and only a few weeks before that Mr Peacock was quoting an end August date.  Soon the Xmas season will be upon us rulling anything out before January....................

I would bet there is an almighty row going on between those at Ofcom who want to be seen to be tough by implementing the full BT recommendation (namely that all 0870 and 0845 numbers are charged at geographic rates and thus no longer revenue share) and those who say Ofcom must remain "light touch" and not upset any business contracts beween telecoms companies and call centres.  There may also be government ministers involved now as the government must be well aware just how politically sensitive an issue this has become.  They might have a business instinct to let the scamming continue but at a certain point they will have to yield if the public and media outcry becomes too much.

Ofcom know that if they are seen to be too weak they will be challenged on fulfilling their basic remit to protect citizens and consumers and there may be demands for the resignation of the CEO of Ofcom.  On the other hand they don't want to be too tough because then various people at Ofcom may not be thanked by their former business colleagues in the telecoms industry when they need to apply for another job there.  And don't forget how important it often is to be Thanked in many parts of life (as for instance if you are a poster over in the MonseySavingExpert forums ).

It is however an utter disgrace that Ofcom should still allow BT to get away with using the terms Lo-Call and Local Rate to describe 0845 and the terms National Call and/or National Rate to describe 0870 calls.  Unlike changing the actual revenue share arrangements banning the description of these numbers as Local and National rate this could easily have been done with immediate effect back on 1st July 2004 (when BT abolished Standard Line Rental and made BT Option 1 a compulsory minimum).

But then Ofcom have almost never in their entire history been reknowned for any form of bold or consumer friendly direct action.

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But nearly a year later; it's almost as though Ofcom's just putting it off hoping it will go away.

It has severely underestimated the time it needed to decide. Why?

NGM, I notice that the subject line in your email to Geoff Brighton is to do with the removal of Leicester County Council's TS response to a consultation on 0845/0870 numbers.

The link to it doesn't work, but as seems to be the case with Ofcom, it moves things around on the website and can't come up with a way of leaving the URLs for documents alone. It's rather like coming up with a telephone numbering plan and then changing it because the plan doesn't suit.

The document you refer to can be found here.