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True, but the problem is making this 'interesting' to Joe Public. Whether it's because they don't believe such a big scam can be pulled off that stops them from seeing it, I'm not sure.

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I agree. But, I think that it's fair to assume that this number has been in place for a while/long time for such an event. It is part of the emergency plans. The cost, which is the key point raised in the media is only the half of it as far as 0870 is concerned.

However, the fact that the people at the top of PITO and the Met didn't think about these call charges just shows how inadequate they are. They should all admit their mistakes and resign. But of course, this never happens.

If it does give 0870 some publicity, will people twig on that every day they are being ripped off when they phone one? Or will they just perceive that different 0870s are charged at different rates, and that the authorities have simply gone for the most expensive one to call?

I've just sent a email Hazel Blears as I noticed she was (don't laugh) looking into this.  The email just mentioned my discuss of such numbers along with the lack of response from PITO and other general stuff (along the same lines as we have discussed here).  I also cc'd the following:-

tessa.jowell@culture.gov.uk; charles.clarke@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk; john.gieve@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk; alan.gemmell@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk; stephen.rimmer@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
stephen.carter@ofcom.org.uk; kip.meek@ofcom.org.uk; matt.peacock@ofcom.org.uk; geoff.brighton@ofcom.org.uk; gareth.davies@ofcom.org.uk; clive.hillier@ofcom.org.uk

Does anyone know who the main people are within the mobile networks as I plan on emailing them and mentioning that C&W have decided to give the proceeds of this call centre number to charity and asking if they had any intention of doing the same.  I'll also cc the newspapers so the networks will probably be careful of their response and give in to pressure like C&W have.

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he he he, rimmer.

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Has Ms Blears not acquainted herself with the fact that most of the UK's emergency braeakdown services use 0800 numbers and they handle hundreds of calls a minute across multiple call centres.  It is precisely the same NGN system that supports both 0800 and 0870 and for that matter 0906 as well.

I have had a long discussion with one of the leading and more ethical NGN firms who have assured me there is no problem using a conventional geographic number and then rerouting it around numerous call centres to handle the load using so called "intelligent call routing" systems, its just that it costs the client money to do this.  They apparently do that very thing for a company like John Lewis who objects to the use of NGNs on principle and is also attached to old well established geographic switchboard numbers.

There is also a class of NGNs that are not located on a specific physical exchange (something some companies deem important for national presence) but that start 02 and are only charged to callers at geographic rates.  The call recipients have to pay something for the call stats etc and redirecting the calls but significantly less than 0800.  These NGN numbers charged at geographic rates would in general actually be better than 0800 because they also don't ripoff payphone, mobile and overseas callers.  They are generally not popular apparently because the scam artist call centres would have to pay money instead of receiving money while the good boys of the call centre industry prefer 0800 as it is seen to be whiter than white even though they are worse than geographic numbers from mobiles and overseas.

In short Ms Blears has no excuse.  She seems to be using her own probable complete lack of personal interest in and/or understanding of how uk telecoms works (don't wish to seem sexist here but do we even have a single female member of this forum ) to justify her telling what is in fact a quite blatant lie to try to defend the indefensible.

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Source updated version of COI better practice guidance for Govt Contact Centres see
www.coi.gov.uk/aboutcoi.php?page=58             You need to register to get the info.

It says NGN have traditionally provided advantages in terms of intelligent routing which helps to manage call flows,and can provide a better service to end customer.(although the more advanced networks can provide intelligent routing on standard geographical numbers and this should be explored as an option).

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Good idea. If you want to lobby your regions committee visit for details
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/csg/adv_cmmt_nations/#content

The Chairperson,s have recently changed see yesterdays posting on this sub forum.

There is a very good letter in the no. 1 slot in the Daily Telegraph today.

By Nicky Bird it sums up the whole shambles perfectly.

juby

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It should give Ofcom a push in our direction except that some of the bodies primarily dependent on these numbers seem to include New Labour, the BBC and all the major uk mobile phone operators.

Mr Peacock is very keen indeed for both himself and for Ofcom to be seen as good guys in all this even though their own record, and especially what goes on at Ofcom's NTS Focus Groups, does not always seem to bear this out - see www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/groups/nts_focus/

A point to remember is that if Ofcom had not already dithered and dithered for so long then the latest 0870 foul ups with the Met Police Casualty Bureau and the Red Cross could not have happened.