This looks to me like an excellent result for the Council and those whom it serves.

Obviously it would have been better if issues had been better understood at an earlier stage.

Dual numbering is not something to be recommended in general, for service reasons. Whilst some providers offer discounted rates on calls to 0845 numbers however, it is hard to argue against it.

Dave wrote on Jul 7^th, 2009 at 10:15am:


This is not entirely ideal, but it is an acceptable solution for all such organisations.   This is what the Dept of Health could do as a result of its recent Consultation on the banning of 084 numbers in the NHS as an interim step.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1229408403/0#0

All GPs currently using 084 numbers should be required to reveal their 01/02 numbers with immediate effect and publish them alongside their 084 numbers until their current supplier contracts expire.    This would give the choice to all their patients who could choose which number they would prefer to use.

This is a principle which the present Government has introduced into the NHS and a principle that it is enthusiastically promoting.    What an ideal solution!    Totally on message with the Governments ideas and patient choice being exercised within the NHS.    This was proposed during the Consultation so we expect that it has been given serious consideration in the options placed before the Minister.   Northumberland Council have demonstrated that issuing geographic numbers alongside 084 numbers is a feasible practical and realistic option.

Source: Northumberland Gazette

http://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/Phone-number-sparks-fury.5549393.jp

Phone number sparks fury
Published Date: 15 August 2009
By Helen Woods

A WOMAN has hit out at having to use a premium rate number to call Northumberland County Council because of increased call charges.

Dawn Barnett, of Lion Mews, Alnwick, is outraged at having to use an 0845 number to get through to the authority.

She said: "Taxpayers have got to call 0845 to get through to their local council. It costs customers more money, it's a disgrace."

She added: "It is supposed to be a local service. The council acts on behalf of the people who pay council tax.

"Enquiries need to be made, it should be a simple process. It is outrageous."

…

Dave wrote on Jul 7^th, 2009 at 10:15am:

Despite this resolution passed at a meeting on 2 June, the Council's contact page still does not display the 01670 geographical number.

It states:
Quote:


The "explanation of charging policy" only applies to calls from lines operated by the Council's own telephone provider, BT. In so doing, the message totally distorts what is the likely cost due to BT's regulatory obligation resulting in the perverse discounting of 0845 calls.

Source: New Post Leader

Freephone number for council is ‘too costly’



CALLS to set up a freephone number for residents to report faults look set to be dismissed by council officials.

A petition signed by 49 people was presented to Northumberland County Council calling for the local authority to set up an 0800 freephone number to report any issues.

The council installed a new telephone system at the end of April as the existing system was 15 years old and “not fit for purpose” in some instances.

When the new system is fully operational, residents will have the choice of ringing 0845 600 6400 or a local number to report any issues.

But some campaigners have called for an 0800 number to be established instead of residents having to pay.

[…]

---

The call is for the Council to go from one extreme to the other for fault reporting. At present those who ring up contribute towards the service by a few pence per minute. A freephone number will mean that the Council (and therefore taxpayers) will cover the cost of calls from landlines. At the present time, calls from mobiles will usually incur a premium.

As the normal incidental cost of geographic and 03 calls is nothing, then the campaign should be pressing for such a number to replace the 0845 one. This would also be better than 0800 and 0845 for mobile users to dial.

Morgan Jones wrote on May 7^th, 2012 at 2:34am:

Hello and welcome to SayNoTo0870. I have, of course, updated the listings, so thanks for providing these numbers.


However, I feel I must add that it is totally innappropriate for the Council to be imposing a Service Charge on callers and that offering an alternative to avoid it is no mitigation. It is likely that not all callers will be made aware of the alternative and have sufficient knowledge of which is cheapest for them to dial, which means that there will always be some who will pay the fee. Some may then ask the question why use the fee-charging number in the first place where there is a policy to provide an alternative?


There is a current Ofcom consultation which proposes that users of 084 numbers should openly declare the level of the Charges which they impose. The Council would therefore have to say something along the lines of "This call will cost you 2 pence per minute plus your phone company’s access charge."

As I say, clearly this is totally innappropriate, although it is the case now but with the Charge made to any particular caller being combined with the amount that his or her provider charges. This combined price means that the 0845 call will cost more than a "normal" call.

An update on the Northumberland County Council situation. Following consultations, from Monday 13th January the council are publishing several alternative delivery numbers - in fact a different number for (virtually) all the area codes in the council's catchment area. They state that the only cost to the council is line rental of under £600 a year.

The numbers published are as follows:

01670 627000 (areas covered include: Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington, Felton, Hartburn, Longhorsley, Lynemouth, Morpeth, Red Row, Scots Gap, Stannington, Ulgham and Whalton).
• 01661 520005 (areas covered include: Belsay, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Stamfordham, Stocksfield and Wylam).
• 01665 660733 (areas covered include: include Alnmouth, Alnwick, Amble, Charlton Mires, Chathill, Embleton, Longframlington, Longhoughton, Powburn, Seahouses, Shilbottle and Whittingham).
• 01668 260355 (areas covered include: Bamburgh, Belford, Chatton, Milfield, Wooler and Wooperton).
• 01669 220355 (areas covered include: Harbottle, Hepple, Netherton and Rothbury).
• 01830 570085 (areas covered include: Kirkwhelpington and Otterburn).
• 01289 540455 (areas covered include: Ancroft, Beal, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Holy Island (Lindisfarne), Lowick, Norham and Paxton.
• 01434 400388 (areas covered include: Allendale, Allenheads, Bellingham, Blanchland, Corbridge, Great Whittington, Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Humshaugh, Newbrough, Riding Mill and Slaley).
• 0191 5009044 (areas covered include: Seaton Delaval)


The 01670 number has of course been in existence since the telephony upgrade of April 2012, but not publicised.

Other useful numbers which may be of benefit to callers are:

Council Tax: 01670 624884
Benefits: 01670 624883
Business Rates: 01670 624885
Recovery: 01670 624886