steevie_b wrote on Sep 17^th, 2008 at 2:41pm:


From what I can tell, they must have a very small range of 0844 numbers since a quick Google for this range reveals:
1xxx - Dell Support
50xx - Birmingham Hippodrome
55xx - Europ Assistance
63xx - CheapTravelInsurance.com
7000 - Hippodrome
8000 - Hippodrome
9000 - Hippodrome
(This isn't an extensive list!)

Hi,
I tried the 01484 60****, that got me through to someone but wasn't who I wanted...

I've also tried the other four numbers you suggested, all give "number error" and the long beep.

I'm going there tonight so I'll see about if she has to register the phone to be able to make out-calls.

If I can't find an alternative number for her, is there a pre-dial for 0844 numbers?
Such as an 0800 or a regular landline number?

Thanks for all your help.

Steve

jgxenite wrote on Sep 18^th, 2008 at 8:14am:


Unfortunately not

The total capacity of all student accommodation across all sites is 2,338. I presume that they will all have the same phone system and hence will have a block of consecutive numbers of that magnitude.

We have successfully found the geographical numbers for some university accommodation systems, so it is possible. I hope that below, I won't be presenting too many things to try which will take you too long. I will understand if you decide to abandon the search for the geographical numbers and perhaps use a mobile instead.

I think that the 60 prefix is a non-starter because it is the one for BT in the Kirkburton and surrounding area.


In addition to Telewest and Your Communications, there are a number of other 01484 prefixes for other providers which are known to operate university accommodation telephone systems:

• Affiniti:
  
  • 01484 82 (07/1994)
  • 01484 83 (05/1999)
• Thus: 01484 74 (10/1999)
• NTL:
  
  • 01484 00 (06/2000)
  • 01484 30 (01/1995)
  • 01484 31 (01/1995)
  • 01484 32 (04/1997)
  • 01484 34 (03/1998)
  • 01484 35 (10/1998)
  • 01484 36 (03/2000)

It's worth noting down which ones you've tried and which ones answer and how they answer, eg fax, personal voicemail. Remember that it's likely that the block of numbers we are looking for contains student rooms for the other sites, so asking if the person is in Storthes Hall and getting the answer "no" does not necessarily mean that you aren't getting warm.

Another possibility is that the extension number has been shifted by a number of thousand. For example, ext 2345 maps to 01484 386345. You could try substituting the digit in bold with 0 through to 9. I appreciate that this increases the number of possibilities ten-fold. Again, note down which answer.

These are all suggestions which you might like to try when you have some time. As I say, I will understand if you decide to give it a miss.

I've looked on these communication providers' websites for clues as to whether they operate this service. They like to have case studies and news releases on this sort of thing, but I've found nothing. Same goes for Googling the internet in general. For that reason, I can't see any way we can narrow the list down to one provider.

I very much doubt that the geographic alternative will be in the ranges 30, 31 and 32 - these numbers are used throughout Huddersfield for people on ntl/Virgin Media.

Have you tried at all asking the University directly? It is probably unlikely they can give you an alternative but, from past experience, it is highly unlikely that the University is going to be ringing the 0844 numbers if they need to contact the students in halls.

It seems that Ashenhurst halls start with 01484 54****.
Think that'll be first one to try out...
Steve