Slightly off-topic, but it does show how the quality of service from different call providers can vary.

Some people who pay their line rental to Tiscali have complained that calls to local numbers are not being connected, with a message about the number being unobtainable or similar. But it later turned out that the numbers in question are older numbers that are one digit shorter than most in the area.

i.e. most numbers are 01xxx 123456, but these numbers are 01xxx 12345.

The problem can be resolved is the area code is dialled, but they can't be dialled as local numbers with no code.

Is this a problem anyone else has encountered with Tiscali or other providers? I know dial-through operators require the # key to be pressed at the end of the number. Is it an indication of Tiscali cutting corners?

Or is it just a sign that it's time for the UK to switch to full-number dialling?