It's a bit galling that 12 years after the Big Number Change they still can't get their own London phone numbers right.

The correct numbers are  020  3441 5550  and  020  3441 5555.

This signifies that from within London you only need to dial  3441 5550  or  3441 5555.

catj wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2012 at 6:35pm:

True, but, their disappointing error is irrelevant to those contacting them from a mobile phone.

CJT-80 wrote on Jul 24^th, 2012 at 12:06pm:

No, but sadly this is only marginally more useful than 020X XXX XXXX.

The only real significance of the difference is to enable local callers to omit the unnecessary part of the number. This is signified by the use of parentheses, i.e. (020) XXXX XXXX.

The 3+4+4 format is nearer to correct than 4+3+4, but if the number is being presented purely as a national number, alongside an alternative (cheaper for some) non-geographic number, then the punctuation may as well be given as best suits the number itself.

One suspects that very few London callers are now misled into dialling XXX XXXX when the first four digits coincide with those of their own number (in national format). The fact that London had been re-united with 4+4 local numbers did not catch on at the time, and it may now be a little late to hope to change a general failure to recognise this.

I suggest that local services be encouraged to use the (020) XXXX XXXX format. London callers who wish to dial only 8 digits are by now probably well aware of how to convert a 020X XXX XXXX number.

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On the general point, I am generally not in favour of the confusion caused by publication of alternative numbers.

If however Talk Talk and AOL wish to publish cheap 0845 alternatives for the benefit of certain callers, then that is how they should present them. Why then not publish a number homed to each of the mobile networks for the benefit of those who enjoy such calls without charge? A local KCOM number would also be useful to callers in Hull.

The list of potential special discount alternative numbers is endless. Unless there is proper guidance, then the classic problem of "choice" rears its ugly head. If you are offered a choice, you are offered the opportunity to make a mistake and to thereby carry the responsibility for the consequences. In the absence of any guidance whatsoever, then this responsibility is total.

The SayNoTo0870 database is a specialised service for the benefit of those who know what they are doing. The general public ignorance of relative call costs, which has often been propagated by those who now publish alternative numbers, makes general publication of alternative numbers dangerous - in addition to its general undesirability.