That's useful to know - thanks . Do you think that would be worth adding to the database?

No, it's NOT me or any relation, colleague or otherwise!! I don't really appreciate the accusasions, maybe next time facts should checked?! But why am I surprised when you have never made contact with me or NEG to get the facts on NEG and Surgery Line?!!!

A proportion of it is retained by the carrier, the remainder of it is given to the practice. However, this amount can only be enough to pay for the actual service itself, as the practice can not make a profit. I am being guarded as to how much we give back as we are not the only 0844 providers to surgeries, many other companies in the UK now mimic Surgery Line, as it has been so successful  - we are installing 30 a month - so I can't disclose too much financial info.

Yes, there are 1200 practices using Surgery Line and this number is on the increase. They do not have to use 0844, however they choose to so that the vast majority of the system is paid for.

It is classed as a lo-call rate (the 0844) as you know. We did not make this up, it's the way it is. 

I am also a patient using a 0844 surgery number; I actually have to pay for the call due to my free call package at home. This will cost me probably less than £1 a year, and for this it means that I can get through to my dr.

My father is driven potty with his dr as he can't get through, and when he does all the appts have gone. So now he gets into his car and drives to the surgery.

I know which method I, and to be fair, the majority of the public would prefer.

Of course, you are perfectly entitled to your opinion and I respect that, nor do I expect to change it.

We are aware of the arguments for and against 0844, which is why to avoid placing all our eggs in one basket we are becoming more diverse with our products, meaning 0844 is not compulsory for practices or PCTs.

KVSimons wrote on Aug 13^th, 2007 at 4:11pm:


But what they are not told is that their patients pay many times the value of their so called "free" system in extra revenue share on the calls going direct to NEG and its telecoms supplier.

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No "Lo-Call" is a very specific brand only ever used for 0845 numbers by BT and now not used even for those (as it is NOT TRUE).  As you know full well 0844 and 0871 numbers were introduced much later as further more granularly priced "revenue share" numbers by Ofcom with prices between 1p and 5p and 6p and 10p per minute at all times.  Unfortunately ue to the infiltration of the regulator with lots of former employees of companies vending these kinds of services they disgracefully then allowed the 0844 and 0871 number codes to be used to try and confuse customers that there was a connection with local and national rate - they should have mandated the use of 9 numbers.  And you and your unscrupulous and dishonest colleagues at NEG have continually sought to exploit this confusion and the weakness of Trading Standards in failing to take legal action against your company over this matter.  You also exploit the fact that the ASA does not govern the signs doctors put up in their surgeries that you give them apparently saying your 0844 number is a "low cost call".  13 times as much to call from a BT Payphone as an 01/02 number - I think not.

Remember who we are Ms Simons and that there is no point in telling us the lies you clearly habitually tell to doctors and practice managers.  Your company is ripe for investigation by the BT Whistleblower or File on Four program in terms of its selling methods.  A hidden cam from an undercover reporter accompanying you on sales visits during their training would I am sure be fascinating.

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£1 here, £1 there and before you know it 35% of all your calls are to 084/7 numbers and £150 or more a year has been  added to your phone bill that ought to have been covered by your 01/02 calls plan.  How do you sleep at nights I wonder thinking of the trail of over priced phone calling you are personally responsible for leaving in your wake.

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Of course you are which is why it drives us completely mad when you try to lie to us by telling us that 0844 is "lo-call".  You may get away with that lie with your doctor clients or the dimbo personell of NHS health trusts but you won't get away with it in this forum.

A lie remains just that - a lie!

KVSimons wrote on Aug 13^th, 2007 at 4:11pm:

That is most interesting. So the NEG salesperson explains the pros and cons of each then?

KVSimons wrote on Aug 13^th, 2007 at 4:11pm:

It is referred to, by Ofcom, as a "Special Services" number. As jgxenite points out, BT market 0844 as Contactcall. I think I have mentioned this before on this thread, so it might fall on deaf ears, but BT now refer to 0845 (when marketing it to companies) as BT0845. It used to be called 'lo-call' and this term was used on some BBC charity shows such as Comic Relief and Children in Need.

The fact of the matter is that NEG is not being forced to use the "lo-call" term, but it does so of its own choosing. In much the same way as NEG's website mentions "national rate" with regards to 0870 numbers.

We have also seen various spurious comments made by both NEG representatives and practice's management about these 5p/min 0844s being no more than a "local call" rate.