Of course they do not want to do anything about ending the scam with 0870 numbers, nor any of the other abused NGNs. The whole series of consultations with their smoke and mirrors and parrying was just a device to play for time until their real and strategic decision could be implemented.

The government, particularly with the current (and about to increase) fiscal problems, do not want an end to the stealth taxes collected from call queuing on Premium numbers, their telecoms buddies do not want an end to call queuing on Premium numbers; no one wants an end to call queuing on Premium numbers except the poor Citizen Consumer, who it is that has to pay the licensed extortion! It is now clear, as I trust you begin to see, that the announcement to move 0871 to ICSTIS with Premium call queuing allowed to continue was to "test the water" for their final master strategy: for Ofcom to get rid of the problem! That was if the Citizen Consumers did not realise what they were up to (and refuse to accept the concept of Premium numbers with call queuing permitted) to move all the problem numbers into a new category of Premium numbers with call queuing permitted, under the control of ICSTIS. Once they had announced that they were doing that with 0871, and there was no violent backlash or protest from Citizen Consumers, they saw that they could get away with their master strategy. They then agreed with ICSTIS a change of their name to PhonepayPlus so as to finally prepare for the biggest SCAM of all, and then began to prepare for even more of these rip-off numbers to be added to the existing ones in the new category of Premium numbers with call queuing permitted.

I hate to say that I did point this out some while ago when I realised what their real strategy was; and that the focus of any future campaign had to be only on call queuing! Unless campaigners realise that this is the pivotal reason for the intense resistance against taking any proper regulatory action, and target this issue only there is no hope of defeating this scandal.

Oftel originally decided that call queuing on Premium numbers was totally bad and unacceptable for Citizen Consumers, and enshrined this in the original National Telephone Numbering Plan. It was not consumers who made this decision; it was the regulators themselves! Call Queuing on Premium numbers is still just as bad and just as unacceptable as it always was. Citizen Consumers do not want it and will not accept it. (I don't believe it is allowed in any other civilized country?) ONLY IN RIP-OFF BRITAIN!

The only issue and focus of the campaign now must be CALL QUEUING ON PREMIUM NUMBERS MUST BE PROHIBITED. Ofcom's strategy to "solve" their problem is perfectly outrageous and even worse than what exists now. Citizen Consumers must not accept this outrageous further abuse by Ofcom.

Quote:


I think this is really the crux of the problem. It is rather optimistic to suggest that the average consumer will constantly redial a number. There is an understanable reluctance to hang-up and then retry the call at a later time. This is where the adopters of queued call systems recognise typical human behaviour - and act on it! In most other countries, it is not a problem. For example, in Australia where a 1300 NGN numbering scheme is used, it doesn't matter how long you have to wait (within reason) because it is a fixed price (25c) call. In the USA, it will normally be via a 1-800 number. You are prepared to wait if you know you are not being financially penalised for the delay. Indeed, it is generally in the interest of the called party to take the call as quickly as possible, because they are - probably - paying for it on a timed basis.

But in the UK, the whole perverse system has been twisted through 180 degrees. Now, it is actually in the interest of the called party to make you "hang on" (ie queue) as long as possible, thereby maximising their revenue stream. That is what is unacceptable.

I have found a way to avoid telephoning the doctor for an appointment... I go down to the surgery and make an appointment, if they ask why you have come down, just say it is quicker than joining the queue on their money making system.

I agree with what you are saying but if you are making an appointment to see the doctor, you have got to go to the surgery anyway so an extra trip would not make any difference. I accept that if you want a home visit because you are so poorly to get down there then my distardly plan would not  work.

It was just an idea anyway.

dorf wrote on Jan 7^th, 2008 at 11:34am:

I think we can take it for granted that Ofcom cannot/will not budge from its policy for whatever murky reasons and vested interests. I presume it's the conflict with these interests which has prompted European Commissioner Reding's ongoing enquiry into the adequacy of telecom regulation.

So what's the solution? My point is that when logic fails politics must step in. Can a pressure group such as ours move from exposing the rip-off ( Shock! Horror! Daily Mail headlines) to lobbying for the political impetus necessary to address the social consequences for the disadvantaged? Is that our role?

Discuss

Farci, I agree that the only possibility of getting these abuses stopped is to use political lobbying, directed both to MPs and to MEPs. Fortunately there is already some support which has been declared by certain MPs, and of course there have already been several significant questions asked in the House of Commons.

However, I do not agree with you SilentCallsVictim, when you claim that Ofcom do not have the necessary powers to end the abuses. They most certainly do have the powers to end them, but they continuously refuse to use those powers to do so, despite the fact that it is their primary duty under the Acts to ensure that Citizen Consumers' rights in telecommunications are protected and that free competition is maintained and assured in the UK Telecommunications Public network and services. Instead they indulge in continuous deception, parrying and evasion, to avoid taking the action which they well know their remit requires them to take to end these abuses of NTS.

They have also deliberately and calculatingly gradually amended the original NTNP (like the commandments on the barn wall in Animal Farm) because they well know that it specifically prohibited any revenue sharing (which is exactly the same as use as Premium numbers) within any category of number except 09 (with call queuing prohibited); the problem arose because Oftel originally did not enforce the NTNP, as one telco first and then others began to circumvent the rules. As the abuses increased, instead of enforcing the interests of the Citizen Consumer and requirements of the original NTNP they altered the plan to allow what the telcos wanted, and now what the current lying, cheating charlatan government wants, to be able to continue its stealth tax collection via public service telephone calls from Citizen Consumers.

So I am completely unable to agree that Ofcom does not have the powers to end these abuses. The problem is that they do not want to use their powers, and they do everything they can to parry, deceive and confuse the issue, so as to preserve the current status quo of abuse. I also believe that those (both present and current) responsible within Ofcom must finally be charged with mal-regulation and eventually punished in a suitable manner, on the basis of their accountability for their actions and corruption. I believe the final admission that these numbers were and are in reality Premium numbers, in moving them over to PhonepayPlus (after having formally denied that they were Premium numbers) will add to the evidence in the allegations against them.

Hands up those who are surprised that Stephen Carter, former Ofcom head, has been appointed chief spin doctor by Gordon Brown.