I urgently need a geographic number for the SPSO in order to ring from outside the UK and so far they have not replied to my email.

SPSO,
Edinburgh EH3 0BR

ask@spso.org.uk

The Saynoto0870 lists:

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)       0870 0115378                   0800 3777330       Fax: 0800 3777331

I assume that you cannot call the UK 0800 number.

There are two geographical numbers that UK mobile users can use to call freephone numbers (0800) at the same rate as a geographical call.

These are 020 0222 0700 and 020 02220900. Use either and then enter the 0800 number when asked.

They are London numbers (020), but because the number following the code is a 0, the code must always be dialled. They are known as "national dialling only" numbers, and the main provider in the UK, BT, does not allow these numbers to be called. See if you can call them from abroad.