SAYNOTO0870.COM campaign group response:

---

Ofcom news release:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/04/nr_20090423

<<
Reducing the cost of calls to 0870 numbers

Ofcom today set out new rules to provide clarity about the price of calls to 0870 numbers.

These new rules will encourage communications providers:

To stop charging higher prices for calls to 0870 numbers from fixed lines and mobiles than calls to “geographic rate” numbers (01, 02 or 03 numbers); and
To include 0870 calls in call packages on the same basis as geographic calls.
These measures may significantly reduce the cost of calling 0870 numbers whilst increasing consumers’ awareness about the costs of calling them.

Clear advice on call costs
Under these new rules, communications providers that want to continue charging for 0870 calls at rates above those for geographic numbers will now be bound by strict rules about how prices are publicised on websites and in promotional material at point of sale.

Communications providers will be responsible for making sure their customers know how much they will be charged for calling an 0870 number and they will not be allowed to advertise 0870 numbers as “national rate” unless they are charging at geographic rates. If they do not comply with these rules, they could be subject to enforcement action including possible fines.

0870 numbers are used by many businesses and organisations to provide a wide range of information and advice including many customer service lines. Currently 0870 calls are priced at levels that enable businesses and organisations to share the revenue generated by per-minute call charges. Ofcom’s new rules should effectively end revenue sharing on 0870 numbers.

Ofcom welcomes steps that some fixed line companies have already taken to include calls to 0870 numbers in call packages and reduce their prices.

The new regulations will come into effect on 1 August 2009.

The statement on 0870 numbers can be found at:

www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/0870calls/0870statement/

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Advice for consumers on 08 numbers can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consumeradvice/landline/costofcalls/08faq/
>>

Ofcom has set out new rules demanding clearer information for customers on how much it will cost them to call 0870 numbers, but has stopped short of requiring a price cut.

Under the new rules, phone networks will be made responsible for ensuring that customers know how much they will be charged for calling an 0870 number. They will not be allowed to describe the numbers as 'national rate' unless the price is in line with that for calling a 01, 02 or 03 number.

The new rules, which come into effect in August 2009, follow a consultation by Ofcom, which found that consumers were often confused over the cost of calling 0870 numbers. Companies that do not comply with the new rules could be subject to fines.

According to research by price comparison website Moneysupermarket two thirds of people who call 08 numbers from a mobile phone have no idea how much they are being charged.

Ofcom said it and payphoneplus, the organisation that regulates phone-paid services in the UK, had received " many complaints" from people calling these numbers in the past few years but was unable to provide an exact figure.

"We’ve put these rules in place following a consultation last year, which found customers are often confused about how much they are charged by their mobile and land line company for calling these numbers. We hope these new rules will help protect consumers and clear up confusion," said a representative.

To view the new rules: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/0870calls/0870statement/0870statement.pd...

Have you all seen this?  http://www.flextel.com/press/news.html

catj wrote on Jul 21^st, 2009 at 2:07am:

Looks all in order to me. Incoming calls are chargeable, as we would expect, and they're allowing revenue from other 08 number(s) to be offset against these charges.

gadfly wrote on Aug 9^th, 2009 at 12:14pm:


Please see the FAQ.  The ads are provided automatically by Google,and they select the adverts based on the site content, so consequently you tend to see a larger proportion of adverts for NGN providers.  There is no direct relationship between any advertiser and this site.

irrelevant wrote on Aug 9^th, 2009 at 7:25pm:

Whilst the highlighted statement is true, that is not the point at issue. This is akin to a company saying that it does not receive any revenue directly from a 0844 or 0845 revenue sharing number. Of course it is still benefiting by allowing its telephone provider to take all the revenue, thereby reducing service costs levied directly on it.

With the advertising, the point is that it is promoting the services that the website opposes and that, as I understand it, clicks on those ads generate revenue for the site.

gadfly wrote on Aug 10^th, 2009 at 7:40am:

The first principle must be clarity of, not only charging, but a widespread understanding that certain numbers provide benefit to call recipients. It is generally accepted that services on the 09 prefix are of this nature.

However, those on 084x and 087x were previously designated as being "local rate" as "national rate" with no explanation that they were revenue sharing numbers.

I think that it's far more likely that revenue sharing will cease on 0845, as it has on 0870 and that 0844 will stay as it is.

The services you identify really should be on the 09 range. The charges would be the same and hence they would exist as they do now, just that people would be clear that they belong to a group of services that derive payment directly from telephone call charges.

gadfly wrote on Aug 10^th, 2009 at 7:40am:

As a principal member of the campaign, I have never considered that revenue sharing numbers should be banned as such. They should operate on number prefixes where everyone is clear what they are from day one.

gadfly wrote on Aug 10^th, 2009 at 7:40am:


No the services would undoubtedly continue and either be funded by the person benefiting from them paying a fee for each minute's internet use or each fax received or by the services switching to one of the PhonePayPlus controlled number ranges such as the deliberately misleading 0871 range or the more honestly extra cost advertising lower cost 09 number ranges.

Your argument that they would not continue is the same hymn sheet that your crowd have been singing from ever since these ripoff hidden extra charge 084/7 numbers were set up and tried to hoodwink people that they were only ordnarily priced "local rate" and "national rate" call.

It is also quite clearly a deliberate conspiracy by the telecoms industry since the same trick has been tried on an EU wide basis in several other countries.