0870sucks wrote on Feb 7^th, 2007 at 8:18pm:

But the bizzare thing is that in a year's time, you may wished they had opted for 0870 as it will be reduced to geographical rates. So in ascending order of price from a BT landline they will be:

0870, 0845, 0844, 0871

Work that one out!

trubster wrote on Feb 7^th, 2007 at 10:54pm:
I will check and submit if necessary.

Quote:


That assumes a level of intelligence and forward thinking that I am totally confident has NEVER been forthcoming from Jobcentre staff......

0870sucks wrote on Feb 8^th, 2007 at 3:21pm:

I think that the changes will confuse even those who understand it is as it is now. Those who chose 0845 because it, a the time, it provided a genuine advantage for most, will now find themselves at a disadvantage to those who were greedy and opted for 0870.

NGMsGhost wrote on Feb 8^th, 2007 at 9:27pm:

ISPs could migrate their services to 0844 numbers (some are doing so now anyway) and put an information page on the 0845 number. So when the user connects via their 0845 number, choose which web address they type in, it displays a page telling them how to update their settings to the 0844.

Quote from Dave on Feb 7th, 2007, 8:49pm:
But the bizzare thing is that in a year's time, you may wished they had opted for 0870 as it will be reduced to geographical rates. So in ascending order of price from a BT landline they will be:

0870, 0845, 0844, 0871

Work that one out!
___________________________________________

Hi all,

I'm new to the site so please excuse my ignorance both in my understanding of what's happening to 0845 numbers and also how to neatly put a quote from one of the other posts.

My company is considering changing from an 0870 number to an 0845 number, thinking it would be in the interests of our customers. I've read enough already to realise that probably isn't the case and that many of the issues with 0870 remain although the call cost per min would probably be less.

What I'm struggling to determine is how Ofcom's changes to 0870 will pan out in early 2008. So my questions are:

- is it just the cost per minute and ability to rev share that will be changed? therefore that the calls will be cheaper per minute but still ultimately not included as inclusive calls for most tarifs?

- the Ofcom press release from April 06 talks of no changes to 0844 & 0845 other than requiring companies to publish their rates more clearly. Has there been any update since then? Does that really mean as per Dave's comment that 0845 will be more expensive for customers than 0870 in 2008? Is there any more clarity on exactly when that's likely to happen.

- finally more of an open ended question. What's the ideal solution for UK customers? A new "03" number or a regular landline number based anywhere in the UK? or something else?

Thanks in advance


James

This thread seems to have moved on from the original topic raised by 0870sucks. While local jobcentres retain normal geographical numbers the "Benefit Delivery Centres", centralised offices where benefits are worked out, are all using 0845 numbers. So for Basildon, as an example, using the jobcentreplus website, you get a different number for your postcode depending on whether you are asking about making a new claim (the call centre at Derby- 0845), phoning to say you can't make an appointment at the actual Jobcentre (the local Jobcentre number 01268 365400), or enquiring about, or reporting a change of circumstances for, your benefit claim (the benefits centre, in this case also in Basildon, now using an 0845 number).

See the discussion about JCP under the FOI section.