SAYNOTO0870.COM - TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Broken

catj

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Broken
Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:38pm

TalkTalk's 'Free Local Call Checker' is extremely broken.

First impressions went bad as soon as I was invited to "Type London or Liverpool as the area or 0208 or 01511 as the dialling code".

The code for London is 020 and for Liverpool is 0151.

Ofcom have spent a lot of money to get people to use 020 for London. London has one code. It covers all of London: 020.

Likewise, Liverpool is 0151 and has been for several decades; it is not, and never has been, 01511.

So, I typed 020 into the checker to see what areas would be free, and this is what it returned:

Quote:

If you live in this area - Using this area code
You can call these area codes for free:

Bournemouth - 01202
01202, 01258, 01425, 01725, 01929

Coldstream - 018902
01289, 01361, 01368, 01573, 01668, 01890

Colney Heath - 01727
01438, 01442, 01582, 01707, 01727, 01920, 01923, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Colney Heath - 01707
01438, 01442, 01582, 01707, 01727, 01920, 01923, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Doncaster - 01302
01302, 01405, 01427, 01709, 01777, 01909, 01977

Esher - 01932
01276, 01293, 01306, 01344, 01372, 01483, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Esher - 01372
01276, 01293, 01306, 01344, 01372, 01483, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Hoddesdon - 01992
01277, 01279, 01438, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01920, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Iver - 01895
01276, 01344, 01372, 01494, 01628, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Iver - 01753
01276, 01344, 01372, 01494, 01628, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Iver - 01784
01276, 01344, 01372, 01494, 01628, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 01932, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

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« Last Edit: Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:28pm by catj »

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Broken
Reply #1 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:43pm

Quote:

London - 0203
01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

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« Last Edit: Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:27pm by catj »

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catj

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Broken
Reply #2 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:44pm

Quote:

London - 0207
01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

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« Last Edit: Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:27pm by catj »

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catj

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Broken
Reply #3 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:44pm

Quote:

London - 0208
01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

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« Last Edit: Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:27pm by catj »

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Broken
Reply #4 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:45pm

Quote:

Lowestoft - 01502
01493, 01502, 01508, 01728, 01986

Merstham - 01883
01293, 01306, 01322, 01342, 01372, 01689, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01932, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Merstham 01737
01293, 01306, 01322, 01342, 01372, 01689, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01932, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Romford - 01708
01268, 01277, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Southend-on-Sea - 01702
01245, 01268, 01375, 01621, 01702

Swanley - 01959
01268, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Swanley - 01689
01268, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Swanley - 01322
01268, 01322, 01375, 01474, 01689, 01708, 01732, 01737, 01883, 01959, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Watford - 01923
01442, 01494, 01582, 01707, 01727, 01753, 01784, 01895, 01923, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

Wolverhampton - 01902
01212, 01213, 01214, 01215, 01216, 01217, 01384, 01543, 01562, 01746, 01785, 01902, 01922, 01952

Yes! It really did return ALL of the above.

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« Last Edit: Jun 6^th, 2009 at 11:09pm by catj »

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catj

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker is Broken
Reply #5 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:45pm

The problems are many:

1. Why is it also returning stuff as if I lived in Doncaster or Wolverhampton when I am searching for free calls dialled from London?

2. Why is London listed three times, as 0203, 0207 and 0208? London has one area code - 020 - and it covers all of Greater London.

3. For free calls dialled from 0207(sic) it returns...
Quote:

London - 0207
01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089, 01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

... which nobody is ever going to read.

Now, that's the same 45 "area codes"...
Quote:

01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089,

... repeated over and over again, a total of ten times.

So, the box for 0207(sic) contains 450 numbers in all. The same stuff is repeated verbatim for both 0203(sic) and for 0208(sic).

This means the same 45 'codes' are therefore repeated over and over again, for a total of 30 times each (1350 entries in total).

4. Finally, the codes for London are listed as:
Quote:

02030, 02031, 02032, 02033, 02034, 02035, 02036, 02037, 02038, 02039, 02070, 02071, 02072, 02073, 02074, 02075, 02076, 02077, 02078, 02079, 02080, 02081, 02082, 02083, 02084, 02085, 02086, 02087, 02088, 02089

... which is another error. London has only one code. It is just '020' for all of London.

The results for London, when I type 020 should therefore be this, and only this:
Quote:

London - 020
01322, 01372, 01689, 01707, 01708, 01727, 01737, 01753, 01784, 01883, 01895, 01923, 01932, 01959, 01992, 020

... not the pages and pages of junk results that it actually returns.

That is, some 1350 items of information should really be just 16.

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« Last Edit: Jun 7^th, 2009 at 2:16pm by catj »

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jgxenite

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Re: TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Br
Reply #6 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 9:55pm

According to TalkTalk, these codes were given to them by BT. This doesn't surprise me - see BT's advice on how to format numbers here:

Quote:

The convention for writing and displaying geographic numbers (those starting 01 or 02 related to particular places) is to use a space after the first part of the complete number known as the national dialling code. For example, 01582 XXXXXX for a Luton number and 0207 XXXXXXX for a London number.

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catj

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker is Broken
Reply #7 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:43pm

The same problem also affects all of these area codes (and area codes immediately adjacent all of these), but to a much lesser extent:
Quote:

Birmingham (0121)
Bristol (0117)
Cardiff (029)
Coventry (024)
Edinburgh (0131)
Glasgow (0141)
Leeds (0113)
Leicester (0116)
Liverpool (0151)
London (020)
Manchester (0161)
Newcastle (0191)
Northern Ireland (028)
Nottingham (0115)
Portsmouth (023)
Reading (0118)
Sheffield (0114)
Southampton (023)

... They also return loads of extra unwanted information, the major city is listed multiple times, the codes have too many digits, and the information is incorrectly formatted.

In some cases (like for Northern Ireland, and for Portsmouth and Southampton), there is a need to include the first digit or two from the local number in the list. This needs to happen when callers have not got free local calls to all numbers within their area code (How confusing is that?).

In those cases do include the initial digits from the local number, but do NOT run the area code and the initial local number digits together; it makes it impossible to read.

To make things really clear, why not list the numbers in the (already used for several decades) Ofcom-approved number format like (028) 45xx xxxx instead?

This makes the whole thing completely clear without there being an enormous long list.

The checker is poorly designed, badly implemented, and confusing on many levels.

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« Last Edit: Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:40am by catj »

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Re: TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Br
Reply #8 - Jun 6^th, 2009 at 10:58pm

While I'll agree that TalkTalk really should have checked the info they got from BT, it isn't really their fault if BT isn't following Ofcom's guidance. I imagine they get a copy of the BT area code listing in some kind of database form, and they're unlikely to want to have to trawl through it and correct BT's mistakes.

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catj Senior Member Offline Posts: 366	TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker is Broken Reply #9 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 1:06am This tool is so much more clear: http://www.davros.org/phones/cg020.html It uses the right terminology and shows stuff in the right format.
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Re: TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Br
Reply #10 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:41pm

Let us not get too excited over this very tricky issue.

As explained in Clive Feather's article it began with Post Office Telephones dividing the country into over 600 charge groups. Calls within, and between "adjacent", groups were deemed "local". With the introduction of universal STD it was possible to determine membership of a group from a portion of the concatenated STD code, exchange and exchange number (i.e. the full number dialled). The portion necessary is not necessarily the same as the digits that may be omitted.

An over-simplistic understanding would lead one to think that numbers which one could dial omitting the STD (area) code were local, whereas others were not. Sadly (perhaps) this is not the case.

I believe that the lists published are those used for billing purposes, which have doubtless been assembled on the basis of historic pragmatic amendment (e.g. replacing 0181 with 0208). More care could have been taken to clean these up for presentational purposes, or the failure to do so could have been explained.

On balance, I see it as useful that the billing mechanism has been revealed so that it may be checked for material errors.

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« Last Edit: Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:42pm by SilentCallsVictim »

@fairtelecoms (tweets)

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catj

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TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker is Broken
Reply #11 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 10:59pm

Even the graphic on that page is misleading and has several obvious errors:

It says...
Quote:

Belfast 028

902

can ring: 028

97

- 028

94

- 028

93

Cardiff 029

20

can ring: 01443 - 01633 - 029

20

Glasgow 014

0

1 can ring: 01236 - 01355 - 01698

Manchester 016

0

1 can ring: 01204 - 01595 - 01457

London 020

8

can ring: 020

7

- 020

8

- 01322

It is obviously going to be incomplete, as it only ever mentions three areas per code, however for something supposedly so simple, it is full of inaccuracies:

- It lists being able to ring within own area for both Cardiff and London, but does not include own area in the list for the other three. Some people would be confused by that.

- Shows Glasgow as 014

0

1 when the correct code is 0141. Where did that extra zero come from?

- Shows Manchester as 016

0

1 when the correct code is 0161. Where did that extra zero come from?

- Shows London as 020

8

when the correct code is 020.

- Runs the area code and the number start together as shown in 029

20

, however there is no need with either 020 or 029 to mention the start of the number part at all.

- Could have listed perhaps five or six codes for each area, not just three.

- For London, mentions 020

7

(sic) and 020

8

(sic) but does not mention 020

3

(sic). In any case, should be just listing 020 as one area.

- Should make the N.I. stuff a lot more clear: Belfast 028 902x can ring: 028 97xx - 028 94xx - 028 93xx - i.e. separate the number part away from the area code; don't run them both together.

- Could show several other N.I. examples in rotation for extra clarity.

- Could do a much better job with London by listing 020 plus several adjacent 01 codes, not just the single 01 code that it does. In fact, it completely wasted the entry for London by saying that 0208(sic) can ring numbers in 0207(sic) and 0208(sic). All London 020 numbers can ring all London 020 numbers as a local call; and have been able to do so for over a decade! The point is that this graphic was supposed to be conveying the adjacent area codes that can also be rung for free. It totally failed to do that for London.

- Local codes are usually those that 'surround' an area, but the graphic does not convey that at all. The 'home' code should be in the centre of the image.

- Failed to convey the scope of the free calls by limiting the number of items in the list to three (five or six would have been better).

- Wasted space by repeating the area code the caller is already in as a place that could be called. Should show the 'other' areas that can be called, not own code repeated again.

I'd say that most people looking at the graphic, would be confused by it once they noticed the actual numbers that are shown.

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« Last Edit: Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:32am by catj »

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Re: TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Br
Reply #12 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 11:30pm

The only way to get this sorted will be to take it up with TalkTalk directly or speak to BT (who TalkTalk claim gave them the data). If that fails, Ofcom might be the way to go, although I don't know how much control they can exert over the format of telephone numbers (I expect it is more of an advisory capacity, not an influential one).

You're preaching (for the most part) to the converted here - we're not the ones you need to convince.

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Dave

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Re: TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Br
Reply #13 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 11:40pm

jgxenite wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 11:30pm:

The only way to get this sorted will be to take it up with TalkTalk directly or speak to BT (who TalkTalk claim gave them the data). …

It is surely an issue with Talk Talk. What has it got to do with BT how Talk Talk conducts its business?

Is it defined in legislation what telephone providers consider "local" calls?

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jgxenite Supreme Member Offline Help us to help you - read the instructions!! Posts: 1,454 Gender:	Re: TalkTalk Free Local Calls Checker Extremely Br Reply #14 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 11:46pm If BT is handing out incorrect information about the calling groups, then it is BT who need to be corrected. You can't really expect TalkTalk to (manually or automatically) correct the calling group information it has been handed by the BT.
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