I read in the 'This Is Lancashire' online website that very shortly you will be implementing a new 0844 contact number.  The news article website in question is below:

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1261631.0.hospital_...

I'm outraged that a government body such as yourselves would utilise a 08x number (0844, 0845 or 0870, etc).  These numbers vary in cost from one provider to another.

For example, your new contact number (0844) will upto cost 5p/min from a BT Landline but other landline providers may charge more.  The cost of ringing an 0844 from public payphones are in excess of 10p/min and calling from a mobile can actually cost upto 35p/min from some mobile networks.

In addition to the extra cost associated with the 0844 number range (most importantly it costing upto 35p/min from some mobile networks) that these numbers from most networks are EXCLUDED from any inclusive minutes/tariffs that we may have.  The main reason for this is that the cost of these calls can cost significantly higher than a geographical (01 or 02) number.

I would like to point out that the Central Office of Information (COI) and Ofcom advise public bodies to avoid using these numbers due to the high costs that can be involved.  In fact Ofcom (The telephone regulator) advises that public bodies should also provide a geographical number alongside any 08x number.

Other issues associated with having an 08x number apart from the added cost is that these numbers may not be dialable from outside the UK and in fact as far as I'm aware most providers outside the UK will not allow calls to UK numbers beginning 0844 due to the high cost of carrying the call.

I believe as public body that you have a duty to provide access at more affordable rates rather than utilising an 08x number.

I'm fully aware that these numbers carry advantages that may not be available using existing geographical (01 or 02) numbers and due to this Ofcom will very shortly release a new number range beginning 03x.

The new 03x range will offer the same advantages as current 08x numbers but are charged at geographical rates (i.e. cheap) by ALL network providers and will be included in any inclusive minutes/price plans that we may have.

Due to the proposed introduction of the new 03x range shortly, Sir David Varney whom was asked by the Chancellor to review and recommend things concerning public authorities such as yourselves.  In Sir David Varney's recommendation (paragraph 7 - most notably 7.27), Sir David Varney recommends that public authorities implement the new 03x range (available shortly as I mentioned) so as not to add extra financial burden on us citizens.

For your information, below is the website address concerned which is published on the HM Treasury's website:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pre_budget_report/prebud_pbr06/other_docs/prebud_p...

Sir David Varney's recommendations/review is published in a .PDF (acrobat format) file and can be accessed directly from the link below (or via HM Treasury's website above):

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/53D/F2/pbr06_varney_review.pdf

For your confirmation on the excessive charges of 08x numbers (especially 0844/0871), please visit the following website link from Vodafone:-

http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&...

I hope the above will convince you to hold off on your new 0844 number and take advantage of the new 03x cheaper range (for the public) as recommended by Ofcom and Sir David Varney's review of public services.

As mentioned, I'm outraged and surprised at your decision to introduce a more expensive number especially one that can cost upto 35p/min from some mobile networks despite the recommendation of COI, Ofcom and Sir David Varney's review and if you intend to continue with an 0844 number, I will right to the government and express my concerns at the use of such an expensive number.

In my initial email to yourselves, I mentioned about 0844 because it was an 0844 that was mentioned in the article which I quoted a link to.

The COI guidelines states that 0845, etc should be avoided where possible and ideally that an 03x be used (although I'm aware 03x numbers aren't available just yet) however it also states that 0845 can be used but is obviously not what the COI recommends.

I note you mention 'lo-call' rate to describe 0845.  I feel I should point out that the term 'lo-call' is classed as misleading along with local/national rate by ASA and Ofcom.  I'm sure you understand that the term 'lo-call' implies that the cost is 'low' and because the cost of 08x numbers can be anywhere upto 35p/min then this is misleading and this is why ASA and Ofcom advise against such descriptions.

Also, the use of the word 'lo-call' is potentially misleading under Part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and for your ease of reference, below is a link to a consultation response by Leicester City Council Trading Standards which states that as well as local/national rate being misleading it is also potentially misleading to refer them as 'lo-call':-

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/oftel_0845/responses/leicester_cc.pdf

I would also like to refer to the following link from Ofcom and under the heading, "misleading advertising" (point 20), it states that local/national (including lo-call) descriptions are basically misleading due to the different prices charged by all the networks.

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:yFuLjknEKBQJ:www.ofcom.org.uk/accessibility/r...

Also, the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) maintains that lo-call and local/national rate descriptions are misleading and that you should state the cost of calls from a BT landline (ie upto 4p/min for an 0845) and that other networks may charge more.  For more information please contact the ASA or see the following links:-

http://www.cap.org.uk/cap/advice_online/advice_online_database/Show+Entry.htm?ad...

http://www.cap.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/Hanging+on+the+telephone+on+and+...


On a personal note, I fully appreciate that 08x numbers offer services that are either not possible on normal geographical numbers or really expensive to implement and I'm also aware that 08x numbers are used by other government departments but the main reason for this is that they generally operate two or more call centres and 08x numbers can route to any call centre most able to help the caller (ie the one with less of a queue).

Some other government departments are using 08x numbers to earn revenue and this includes surgeries, police stations, DVLA, etc.  In my correspondence with the DoH, they have said they have received numerous complaints concerning the cost of these calls to surgeries and how the surgery itself can sometimes earn money from each caller.  All this was the reason why Sir David Varney has recommended that once available, government departments should start using 03x number ranges which will cost no extra than geographical numbers and will be included in any inclusive call allowances unlike 08x numbers now.

Ofcom is of the opinion that where possible government departments should avoid using 08x numbers or if this isn't currently possible then they should provide a geographical number alongside their 08x number.  This is mainly for those calling from payphones and mobile networks and to ensure that they are fully accessible from outside the UK.

I ask that with regard to thinking ahead, you don't commit to a long-term minimum term contract for your 0845 number if, as discussed in the Sir Varney's report, that the government decide that 03x numbers should be used to ensure that those on low incomes don't pay over the odds to call a government department which is currently the case now and I do ask that you consider also releasing a geographical number alongside your 0845 as recommended by Ofcom but more importantly to ensure that those ringing from a network other than BT, don't get charged any extra than they normally would do for calling a geographical number and especially don't get charged upto 35p/min to call yourselves.

I do appreciate you taking the time to reply and thank you for your time.