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Oyster customer services moves to a local rate number

26/3/2013

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An announced good move is actually part of a bigger good move, which is being kept quiet.
oyster.pdf
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Open message to Jeremy Hunt

26/3/2013

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An open message has been sent to Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health, pointing out the discrepancy between the terms of the NHS GP contracts regarding telephone numbers, statements by his Minister and the published position adopted by Area Directors of the NHS Commissioning Board for Kent and Medway and Surrey and Sussex.

It presents to him the question: “Are GPs (and others) permitted to use telephone numbers that include a ‘Service Charge’ for access to NHS services?”. The message is copied to those who may be better placed to obtain a response.
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OPEN MESSAGE
to_jeremy_hunt_mp.pdf
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NHS 0844/0845 numbers — Evidence of call charges updated

22/3/2013

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Our evidence of call charges has been brought up-to-date. It’s been over three months since we last looked, and there have been a few developments.

Orange Pay as you Go 0845 calls have gone up from 12 pence per minute to 40 pence per minute, and this brings them into line with 0844 calls. Orange Pay Monthly customers now pay 35 pence per minute for 0844 and 0845 calls — both these used to be a fraction over 12 pence per minute.

All Virgin Mobile customers now pay 41 pence per minute to ring 0844 and 0845 numbers. This is the highest rate of all the mobile operators.

The call set-up fees charged by four landline providers have risen by around half a penny. The penalty rate — that’s the rate for calls made outside of a plan — on a number of providers’ packages has gone up around half a penny per minute.
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084, 0800 and 03 numbers - parliamentary briefing

18/3/2013

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As the Public Accounts Committee congratulates HMRC on its decision to withdraw its Service Charge, DWP's decision to retain the Service Charge is reported and we await details of Ofcom's measures in Simplifying Non-Geographic Numbers, this briefing aims to ensure that parliamentarians are adequately aware of the issues.

It includes a special caution for those who call for use of 0800 numbers when the significant and largely unnecessary, cost is not justified.
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mp_briefing_084_0800_03.pdf
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Response to Ofcom consultation on in-contract price increases

18/3/2013

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in-contract_price_increases_response.pdf
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A consultation by Ofcom on changes to the rules that govern price rises during fixed-term contracts has just closed. fairtelecoms has responded as part of the Consumer Forum for Communications (CFC).

At the moment, providers can increase charges and don’t have to let customers leave, without penalty, where increases aren’t of “material detriment”. The definition of this term varies by provider which results in inconsistency across the market.

Our view is that consumers should be free to leave contracts without having to pay a penalty when a provider increases the charge for the core part of a package. Where equipment, such as a mobile handset, was supplied as part of the deal, a provider should be free to charge for it for the remaining portion of the term.
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DWP to retain 0845 numbers

18/3/2013

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BBC Money Box today revealed that Iain Duncan Smith has confirmed, in a letter to John Healey MP, that DWP will be retaining 0845 numbers under the new arrangements shortly to be announced by Ofcom.
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The picture is based on an Ofcom example of how Service Charges will be advised.
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Listen to the item as broadcast
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Click to read our news release
dwp_retains_0845.pdf
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Response to Statement from "NHS Sussex"

11/3/2013

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NHS (Surrey and) Sussex has made a statement on GPs using premium rate 084 numbers in breach of their NHS contracts. This has been broadcast by BBC Sussex and Surrey and published by the West Sussex County Times. The fair telecoms campaign has responded.
Click to read
Read the response

nhs_sussex_response.pdf
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An email to NHS Sussex, MPs and local and national media draws attention to the briefing
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Copies are available on request.
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The full statement

nhs_sussex_statement.pdf
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BBC Radio Lincolnshire on GPs with 0844 numbers

10/3/2013

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Featuring David Hickson from the fair telecoms campaign Click to listen
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Featuring a contribution from campaigner John Healey MP Click to listen
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GPs in Kent Sussex and Surrey - BBC Coverage

8/3/2013

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BBC South East Today
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BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey
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BBC News Website - South East
Click on image to watch / listen / view
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BBC Radio Berkshire: GPs and others - 084 to 034

4/3/2013

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BBC Radio Berkshire today changed its number from 0845 to 0345. This broadcast discussed examples of others who should do the same, and why.
NHS GPs contractually committed to using non-geographic numbers were required to do so between April 2010 and April 2011.
Click the radio image to hear relevant excerpts from the show.
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A transcript covering the key points is available by clicking the "Info" button on the radio player, or the image to the left.

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