/ Do we really want this in the forum?
NGMsGhost wrote on Aug 15
th, 2007 at 10:03am:
look up the geographic alternatives on this website
This is a tricky one for me. I hope not to cause too much offence to those who host this posting.
If the normally published NGNs were best for most callers, whereas geographic alternatives were best only for some particular group (e.g. mobile users or those based overseas), then I would see the publication of such a list as a fully appropriate solution. I understand that this is not the case, as few or none benefit by calling an NGN rather than a geographic alternative under present tariffs.
Insofar as the list helps some to avoid being deceived, it is doing good.
If the list were not part of a vigorous and effective campaign aimed at removing deceit, then I would oppose it outright. Simply offering a choice that some may access does nothing to right the wrong being perpetrated on others. It may even be seen to diminish their grounds for complaint. The Sayno campaign does not however rely solely on this simple approach.
Attempting to compel users of 084 and 087 numbers to reveal geographic alternatives so that they may be published on this website is a different matter. I oppose this tactic. If action is to be taken against harm being done to the public interest by soliciting calls to NGNs, then this must be for the sole purpose of causing the harm to be ceased. I cannot support the idea that a limited opportunity for some to get cheaper phone calls is an appropriate way of addressing the public interest issue.
The website is open to all, it is widely publicised and I am sure that the Sayno campaign would be delighted if everyone used it regularly. There is no intention to limit its use to a select group. The sad fact of life is that it cannot be a proper solution to those cases where use of NGNs presents a problem.
NGMsGhost wrote on Aug 15
th, 2007 at 10:03am:
As you appear to find use of 0844 covert premium rate doctors numbers acceptable, perhaps you would care to indicate which 084 and 087 numbers you do not find acceptable
Whilst some complain about the number of digits, this does not cause me to find them unacceptable, and so I would raise no issue with the numbers themselves. I am not able to provide a list of the particular numbers that I would find unacceptable if used in such a manner, as covered below.
I find it unacceptable to sell a service without declaring the price, or by pretending that it is free. I find the degree of distinction presently drawn between revenue sharing numbers and premium rate numbers unacceptable. Furthermore, I find it unacceptable that the revenue split between the provider of the service and the carrier(s) is treated as an issue of commercial confidentiality. Given that telecommunications service providers are regulated in the interests of their consumers, their share should be known in all cases.
Most public sector bodies may charge for some services, or make them difficult or expensive to access on account of factors such as location, hours of operation or use of special (e.g., 0845) telephone numbers. Direct charges and notable external costs are actually two quite separate issues, although similar effects are created, enabling obfuscation.
I do not find either to be wholly unacceptable in principle, but find many particular cases to be so. I would find it unacceptable for there not to be appropriate guidance covering exceptional cost paid to third parties, in any case where this is likely to be incurred by a service user. I find it totally unacceptable for there to be any deviation from the principle that all direct charges (not matter how the money is collected) must be explicitly detailed and declared in advance in every case. (The fee collected by a public body from a revenue sharing number cannot be covered by the commercial confidentiality referred to above.)
The NHS is a special case in respect of charges. Dental services and prescriptions are subject to charge. With some difficulty, I find it acceptable for someone in my present position to be required to make a contribution in this way when using those services. I justify this because there are many exemptions (based very loosely around need and ability to pay) and they are capped and controlled.
There are however very many grey areas in respect of these and also with others, such as charging patients for parking on NHS land, which I find unacceptable in principle although I am open to persuasion in particular cases if pragmatic considerations may be sufficiently relevant.
Depending on how the issue of NHS GPs using 0844 numbers may be moved towards a resolution, I may shortly be required to apply this pragmatic approach to some individual cases of this unacceptable practice.
The principle that NHS costs are met through taxation rather than by charging for the use of services remains in force, and I would find it unacceptable if a particular opportunity to reinforce this were not to be taken.
I find it totally unacceptable for GPs to use revenue sharing numbers.
I believe that a sufficient number of others, including those in a position to do something about it, share this view so that this will start to be corrected in the near future. I hope that the Sayno campaign will take credit for its role in such action.
David