actually companies have got wise to this now as well and they can make the CLI say the 0870 number.

Nah, they do it just to make money! It's not to help us, with all the ways they try to guard the local number it has to involve money!!

Alex.

Quote:

Loads of providers online. Put something like "0870 number" into Google. See also "Say no to 0870! hot topics" thread which links to some chat on getting your own 0870/1. 

Hi there guys. I was wondering if you can work some of your magic for me, it would be a huge help to someone who is in real need of it right now.

Does anyone out there know how to find the geographical equivalent for the numbers in the halls of residence at Lancaster university?

Here is what i know:

The university uses the dog and bone phone card system as provided by catalyse management limited which is based in Cheshire.

Each room in the university has a 0870 number that is unique to each room it is 0870 followed by a 7 digit code.

The phones on campus that are not student phones all have area codes with 01524 (Lancaster).

Here is what I have tried so far:

1.
There was some advice about deileing the 01524 area code and last 6 digits of the student room but that does not work, The number cam up as not in use.  (called the 0870 first to check the line and that worked) so it may be worth removing that from the uncheck numbers so it does not confuse other people.

2
Tried calling the internal extension number with the standard geographical area code (as listed on the phone) still no joy the number again came up as not in use.

3.  Searched the forums here on saynoto0870.com for things mentioning Lancaster University but only come up with something that says that some of the York extensions are valid at Lancaster. Is that any use

Can anyone out there help me the real problem is that I have family overseas and it is going to cost them money that they don’t really have just to talk to me.

Please please help if you can
Thanks

Edited:

DavidUK has PMed me in answer to the questions I asked. His answers are as follows:

Dave wrote on Oct 1^st, 2006 at 2:00pm:

The numbers are 0870 75421** and the internal one is 552**. David, are the last two digits the same on the 0870 and the internal number?

Dave wrote on Oct 1^st, 2006 at 2:00pm:

The post is here and is as follows:
elcondor wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:23pm:

I think what elcondor is referring to is that some of the 0870 numbers are similar at the two universities. That does not mean that the underlying geographical numbers are similar. It is possible that the underlying numbers have an area code different to the one where the lines are based. We have discovered that this is the case at Southampton, where they use Winchester numbers, but going by the 0870 numbers, I think that that is a different telco.

BTW, I've removed the entry from the database which said that these lines can be called using 01524 followed by the internal extension number.

Another clue that might help us is if there are any manhole covers nearby or boxes mounted on the wall (either externally or internally) with the telco's logo on. NTL, Torch Telecom and Cable & Wireless (or C&W) are three such examples. Might sound a weird suggestion, but keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you find anything.

From what we have to go on, 0870 753 and 0870 754 were allocated in May 1996, so the system could be upto 10 years old. Both are allocated to Your Communications (YC). As jrawle pointed out at the beginning of the thread, YC have three prefixes within the Lancaster code. These are (with change dates):

• 01524 50 07/2004
• 01524 51 12/2002
• 01524 52 05/1995

Going by those dates, I think that 01524 52 is worth a try. Try 01524 52 followed by the last four digits of your internal number.

DavidK wrote on Oct 2^nd, 2006 at 8:05pm:

You could try 01524 51 followed by the last four digits. Failing that, if the system's been installed within the last two years, then there's an outside chance it could be 01524 50.

The other thing you can try are different numbers following the prefix. Try 01524 520xxx, 01524 521xxx and so on upto 01524 529xxx, where xxx are the last three digits of the internal extension number.

greatgreydogs wrote on Oct 15^th, 2006 at 10:03pm:

This is part of the university, see here.

This tells us that you are getting warm. It tells us that the university's accommodation phone system uses Lancaster numbers allocated to Your Communications, as listed above.

Thanks for the information you have provided. I strongly suggest that you follow my steps above in reply #25.

Quote:

I don't think it's a case of finding the number (or range of numbers) for a particular residence. One number may be at one location and the next at another and so on.

You have proven my theory that these lines have YC numbers, so now you have a starting point, follow the steps above.

When you do find the number, please do post it (with the last two digits **ed out), along with the internal number it relates to. This is important so that others in the same boat will not have to search like you have done. It should then be a simple case of working it out.

My son just went back to discover that Lancaster have changed all student phones to a new company; Uni-tel.
Their outside line numbers are now 0844 numbers. It's very cheap for them to call out but horrific for us to ring him. I have emailed the company to see if there is a geographical number to ring from abroad. (waiting for a reply but I don't expect one).
Now the external number bears no resemblance to their internal number at all. They have to dial 1414 to ring out, plus their own pin number then the number they are calling but to ring in I have an 0844 number plus a 7 digit phone number which all start with 3084***
I don't know about the other halls of residence.