redant wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2007 at 12:39pm:

Here is an extract from BBC Editorial guidelines:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/edguide/interacting/telephon...

These state clearly that pemium rate numbers should only be used in very special circumstances. Why not write to the programme's producers and ask why they used the 0871 number?

And the really annoying thing is they will now be raking off even more because most people still think 0871 is the same as 0870 and 'only charged at national rate' whereas the chosen number is probably one of those in the '10p per minute at all times' range.

farci,
there are other threads, but have a look this one,

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1116870168 ;  reply#12, Q3, where they say they do not receive any money!

Dave wrote on Feb 4^th, 2007 at 12:04pm:


Interesting Dave.  I wasn't aware they had published this on their website.

But the key phrase in the document which goes out of its way to obfuscate as to who does the get revenue share is as follows:-

Quote:


Its obvious that Capita in some way derives a revenue share that either lowers the cost of the call centre equipment and phone line rental for the equipment or goes directly to Capita as money.  It seems to be the former which is how the BBC manages to consistently cynically lie that it derives no benefit from it financially.  Obviously in reality it gets the contract with Capita more cheaply than if normal 01/02 geographic numbers were used.  An interesting FOI would be to ask if as a result of 0870 number use the cost of the contract with Capital is cheaper than it would be if 01/02 numbers are used.  Also the FOI should ask if the BBC is aware that staff at Capita's call centre are still being consistently trained to say that 0870 is National Rate if the public complain, against ASA and Ofcom guidance.

The people to concentrate on in complaining about this are the members of the BBC Trust which replaced the Board of Governors as they have the power to tell the BBC that its use of 0870 number is inappropriate and must stop.  The key point to harp on about is Social Exclusion and the huge extra cost of calling these numbers from BT Payphones and Pay As You Go mobiles used by the poorest members of the community.  Its obvious digital switchover needs to target the socially excluded and yet incredibly the BBC uses an 0870 number for this service and these tv adverts too.

Its no good complaining to the BBC Information line run by Capita.  Email mark.thompson@bbc.co.uk, your MP and the BBC Trust members about this if you want to get anywhere.

using the link on Daves reply #6, do you think the following from the Q&As near the bottom of the page suggests that the BBC will not migrate from 0870 when the revenue share stops?? (I don't think so).



Also this paragragh,(relating to something 9 years old), is still saying:-" they are fairer"  and   "everyone pays the same regardless of where they live"     They do on 01/02 !

Do we have any email addresses for the BBC top brass?

kk wrote on Feb 4^th, 2007 at 9:29pm:


Thanks Heinz.

Ultimately writing to your MP and asking him if he will refer Ofcom's failure to act against the BBC and other public bodies using these numbers inappropriately (eg NEG doctors surgeries) in the public sector to the Parliamentary Ombudsman (the only body Ofcom can be called to account by) could also be highly effective.