NGMsGhost wrote on May 9
th, 2012 at 4:51pm:
The fact that a totally misleading network message is played saying the number is changed rather than an honest message saying that the call recipient refuses to accept calls to this number from UK callers is surely a regulatory matter of the highest concern.
I don't regard it as being of the "highest" concern; there are things much higher than this.
For example, (I know that it was certainly the case at one time) that some of the smaller telcos that have blocks of numbers that haven't been issued to customers, were classed as connected and therefore metered. They usually play a message saying something like "You've called a non-working «such and such telco» number. The big telcos do not do this and do as they should do: that is return not recognised, unobtainable or similar. If this is still going off, then I regard it as a higher concern. This one sprung to mind when you talked about this telco returning the "misleading" message of state.
Then there's the case of calls to a supermarket chain that are being overcharged by one large landline provider to which the regulator isn't bothered about.
These are two examples. I'm sure we could think of more pressing issues if we put our minds to it.
NGMsGhost wrote on May 9
th, 2012 at 4:51pm:
This is the kind of thing the OFT ought to be getting very stirred up about since it is a blatant attempt to prevent a consumer in the UK using the lowest cost possible method of reaching a still in existence 020 number that they want to call. …
By the same token, a withheld CLI to a number where anonymous calls are rejected does not permit onward connection to a subscriber.
Then what has "lowest cost possible method" got to do with it? There can only be one cost for calling one particular number from one particular telephone call provider.
NGMsGhost wrote on May 9
th, 2012 at 4:51pm:
I don't agree with you that the alternative number should not be in the database with notes. Fact is that I got through with it today and that I had to use Google to find the number because you had removed it. Also the fact the number exists but is being rejected by Ticketmaster for UK callers with a misleading network message needs publicising and not hiding. Since the 020 number that sometimes works costs you nothing if it doesn't work then I see no harm in it continuing to be listed with the right notes of explanation and/or encouragements to email sebastian.coe@london2012.com about the matter.
I did not say that it "should not" be in the database, I said "I am not sure that it is really worthwhile to add it".
There are two reasons for my position:
1. It has been demonstrated to work only with a particular call provider at some times (and not others).
2. Refer to my comment below. I think that it would be more worthwhile to try and find a number that works more reliably. If such a number cannot be found; for example the generic 0161 numbers don't go to agents who will help, then the possibility of listing the 020 number, with suitable note, can be reassessed.
NGMsGhost wrote on May 9
th, 2012 at 4:51pm:
Can somebody also tell me which telco the 020 range this number is in belongs to so we can then make a complaint about the deliberate misleading network message that "the number has changed".
As I said in my posting, the network announcement is a TalkTalk (formerly Opal) one, so that is the provider. It is the same provider as the 0844 number. It is also perhaps worth noting that other TicketMaster 0844 numbers are on the same TalkTalk block.
I suggest that the 020 number is a single number that has been set-up specially for this purpose (one of the requirements being that it is a London number). I suggest that it is essentially a virtual number that directs to another location, much like the 0844 numbers do.
If I was looking for an alternative for this one, I would be looking in the area of the company's numbers. My undertstanding of TicketMaster is that it is based within the 0161 area code and that it has lots of these for each 0844 number to point to. Some answer with a generic TicketMaster message and this would surely be worth a shot as if it does go through to someone who can help with London 2012 enquiries (perhaps the 0844 and 020 both go through to the same place) then it will be a much more reliable alternative than the 020 "overseas" number.
This thread has been running for over a year, and someone has yet to explore this avenue and share with us their findings.
If no one has been that interested to carry out such a simple step, then maybe people aren't that bothered about finding an alternative.