We have been receiving a high volume of calls on 01792 311400 for DVLA general enquiries. Callers are advising that this number has been obtained from this website. This number is not associated with the DVLA enquiry unit and is purely for administration purposes. Customers are being advised of this fact when they call the above number and are then provided with either 0870 240 0010 / 0009 to redial.
I would appreciate it if you could remove this number from the website to eliminate caller frustration at having to redial again.

Quote:

The "caller frustration" is with being ripped off by being forced to dial 0870 in the first place! Whilst I appreciate that you did not put the number in place, may I suggest that the volume of calls coming through to this number is as a direct result of the 0870s being in place, and that you point this out to the powers that be at the DVLA.

This is in the database as "Personalised Registration Enquiries". There are other alternatives to the Vehicles and Drivers 0870 you quote listed in the database, including the switchboard one Heinz mentions.

Maybe the anonymous DVLA poster can post some geographical numbers which go straight to the Vehicles and Drivers office, rather than just telling us to dial 0870.

The FOI response didn't provide the proper number.  DVLA offices are open until 8pm on weekdays and on Saturdays (some depts) so there must be another 01792 number for the actual enquiry line.

The switchboard number provided is only operational 9 - 5, Mon - Fri

And also I'd like to say that I will continue to call the other 01792 number, even if I'm not connected to the right dept, just to prove that we are not going to accept defeat and go away.  If they want the calls to stop, they should provide an 01792 number.

Excellent Idea.   

Gather a coalition, set a date to begin and we'll get dialling 8)

Ok lets all set a date and time and then phone in and over load the switch board then they will know we all will not dial 0870 numbers  

In response to you posts, i have contacted saynoto0870.com and they have removed the number from the site.

The number that was listed (01792 311400) is not associated with the DVLA. We are a contractor who work on behalf of the DVLA and the number published was for our contract administrator. I hope that this clarifies our situation.

Quote:

Ofcom will be announcing what regulatory changes they plan to make for 084x/087x numbers in June/July following on from their Consultation Document that closed in January - NTS Options for the Future.

Ofcom originally proposed that 084x/087x call prices merely needed more publicity and that there needed to be more price levels to improve competition (that is competition to charge your captive customers the highest possible exorbitant prices for calling) but BT put the cat among the pigeons on this in its response by proposing that all 0845 and 0870 revenue sharing be abolised and these numbers priced by all phone companies at the same lower prices they already charge for 01 and 02 geographic numbers.  Although rather  strangely BT proposed that revenue share could still continue on 0844 and 0871 which would amonted to something of a massive loophole.

However because Ofcom seem to live in fear of upsetting the commercial applecart that people like DVLA and Surrey Police have now signed up to it is likely that they will come up with some meely mouthed recommendation that companies with 084x/087x numbers should publish the geographic alternative and must more clearly indicate the call prices involved and that the words "local rate" and "national rate" to describe them will no longer be allowed to be used.  But as the guidance will not be binding it will be resoundingly ignored and our campaign to get rid of these numbers will continue.