CJT-80 wrote on Mar 17
th, 2011 at 3:27pm:
Quote:I can confirm that customers ringing the 0870 numbers now hear an automated message advising them that the number has changed to 0300, however, the customer will still be connected and charged at the 0300 rate for their call.
It would be interesting to know which telephone companies have authorised this statement.
There are around 200 registered providers of telephone service in the UK and each has a number of different tariffs. Whilst all providers are required to charge for 03 calls at no more than the rate for geographic calls, only one of them is subject to regulation of its rates for calls to 087x numbers, and that no longer covers 0870. This confirmation could therefore only be provided on advice from each and every one of these providers. In almost every case it would amount to special treatment for particular 0870 numbers, as an exception to published tariffs.
I suggest that the author be asked whether they are serious in offering this confirmation, or whether some necessary qualification has been omitted.
It would be most extraordinary if this statement were to be true. "I can confirm ..." is however a very bold statement for a public official to make, so to challenge it directly would represent a serious allegation of misconduct.