outvilespot wrote on May 14^th, 2008 at 11:54am:

It is indeed important that the wider point is not lost in pursuing the particular issue with GPs (and other parts of the NHS).

If however there is some chance of getting this addressed by the Department of Health before the many other central, national and local government departments, as well as non-departmental bodies, do the same, then this is worth focussed campaigning. There are particular issues in respect of the NHS, as pointed out by Loddon, that make this a worthy area of focus.

Some campaigners may focus on areas of particular interest to them, where they feel that their efforts could make a difference.

On the issue of the public sector in general, Ofcom does not have the necessary powers. The Cabinet Office, through the CoI and the Contact Office, has influence but no authority over other departments and public bodies. Even the response to this petition suggests (wrongly) that this is purely a matter for local NHS organisations. PCTs commonly (wrongly) suggest that this is a matter for individual GPs.

The argument is rightly made generally, however corrective action can (sadly) only be expected to occur on a piecemeal basis.

mcr wrote on Jun 10^th, 2008 at 6:58pm:


From the OP on the first page; -

"This Petition runs until Feb 15th 2008"

No wonder you could not sign it,as it closed nearly 4 months ago!

[quote author=loddon link=1185566187/105#118 date=1210852288][quote author=outvilespot link=1185566187/105#117 date=1210766058] Why not a petition to ban ALL public-sector and commercial usage, except for premium-rate services? Is there such a petition out there?

Can't see the point behind a piecemeal approach like just going after doctors. [/quote]

There was a petition which asked for all organisations to publicise equivalent geographic numbers which achieved over 43000 votes in a relatively short time. See

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/saynoto0870/

There was a great deal of discussion about the Government response on this site, see ;

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1179767154/0

Note that this Petition did not call for an outright ban of 084/7 numbers but perfectly reasonably asked only for alternative numbers to be compulsorily made available.  Note that not even Government Departments are doing this.   To get a ban would be vastly more difficult.   I would suggest that you write to the Prime Minister about this and to your MP in order to add to our general campaign.


[/quote]

I missed this petition! Just read part of the respnse though:

'You might also be re-assured to know that the Government advised two years ago all its departments and agencies against their own use of 0870 numbers.

By no means all Departments did use 0870 numbers, but where they did, they should now have been replaced with either geographical, 0845 (local rate) or 0800 numbers.'

Why then did the DVLA make over a million punds from its 0870 numbers in the last year alone?

Why the current trend towards 0844 numbers with the NHS?

And why, to park in Westminster do you now have to call an 0870 number instead of using a meter (stealth tax times two!!)

Dont worry about commercial organisations, the simple answer is to boycott those who refuse to publish geographical numbers.

What I suggest is that we petition the government to publish geo numbers for every publically funded body

Fusion wrote on Jun 18^th, 2008 at 1:32pm:

There is a thread on such a petition here.

I will summarise comments I have made on this point.

Why have alternatives? Where there is some genuine public benefit in using a non-geographic number this can now be from the 03xx range. 084x and 087x numbers should be replaced with geographic or 03xx numbers, whichever is most suitable.


On the broader issues.

In those rare cases where it is appropriate for a public body to charge users for a service delivered by telephone, the charge should be clearly declared. One could argue that the cost of accepting payment of parking fees by credit card should be borne by those who use this service, rather than others who park or council tax payers. The stealth is however unacceptable.

Whether the government has committed a technical breach of trading standards legislation is neither here nor there. This use of "local rate" was simply a stupid mistake which is made repeatedly by civil servants. All possible efforts must be made to find the most effective way of getting them out of this habit.

I complained   about   the  change  in   my  doctors  number  to  0844 to  my  local  mp  Yvette Cooper who  as  always  looked  into  it  for  me  the surgerys  reply  was  that  patients  prefered this  number rather   than  getting   the  engaged  tone this   is  not  the  case with  the  engaged tone  you  dont  get  charged  with the  0844  number  you  get  charged  for  being  in  a que  also  I  previously  got   free calls   to  my   doctors   as  it  was  classed   as   a  land  line  although  the   0844  is  still  a  land  line  because   it  is  an   0844   it  is  no  longer  classed  as  a  landline  so  i  am   now  charged for  calls everybody  is  complaining  about the  change   in  the number  even   the  recepcenists  say  its  a  waste of  time   and   its   not  only   the  doctors   numbers  thats   been   changed  its  calls  to  Hospitals as  well   this   is  causing  more  expense   on  the  most   vunrable   the  sick  and   elderly  and   it   needs   changing   back   to   the   old   fairer  system.   Thankyou  Molly

I thought you chaps might be interested to read this (I get it as a ex practice manager)

http://www.managementinpractice.com/default.asp?title=BTscrapschargesfor0845and0...

Sounds like good news?

dreamteamgirl wrote on Jan 14^th, 2009 at 1:07pm:

No, it does not mean that 0845 calls will be included in packages from other telephone providers any time soon.

0844 calls will continue to remain as they are.

I would like to express my appreciation to Forum Admin and Dave for adding the links to the latest Petition on the Home and Search pages.   Already the number of signatures have nearly doubled overnight to 233.

I am sure the Petition originator, 16 year old Guy Mayhew will also be very pleased and grateful for these links.