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NHS GPs using Daisy Surgery Line

28/4/2013

This briefing provides a contribution to what may be a running press story

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Another victory - the campaign continues, encouraged

27/4/2013

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NHS GPs using Surgery Line

The Daily Mail today announces that NHS England is starting to get to grips with the issue of GPs breaching their contracts by using 0844 numbers.

Click to read the news release issued prior to action by NHS England

We hope this will be the start of a long delayed effort to ensure that all GPs are swiftly moved to compliance, as well as simply preventing further breaches.

Click to read - Is this the end of premium rate lines to call your GP? NHS orders doctors to drop 40p a minute charges

Central Government

Click to view the announcement by HMRC to parliament

We are pleased to note that HMRC has begun the process of moving over from 0845 to 03 numbers by "the end of the summer".
This HMRC news release covers the first phase of this operation, which was completed on schedule.

Click to hear about the DWP statement

The DWP has declared that it will not be following what HMRC is doing. Whilst being fair to taxpayers, the government will still impose charges on pensioners, job-seekers, the disabled and other benefit claimants.

Click to read our release on the DWP situation

Ofcom and the Big Question
Ofcom has now announced the details of the "unbundled tariff". We await the reaction that will follow when this is finally confirmed (following a necessary brief period of consultation).
We are pressing "The Big Question" to see if this will lead to companies abandoning the imposition of "Service Charges" or if they will be prepared to declare them.

Click to read about "The BIg Question" and the Ofcom measures that cause it to be posed

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A New 0844 number for a group of GPs in Warrington

20/4/2013

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A Group of NHS GP practices in Warrington will be adopting a 0844 telephone number on 22 April 2013

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The Big Question for all 084 users

17/4/2013

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Following the Ofcom announcement on Monday, we have launched The Big Question,
which we suggest be posed to all users of 084 numbers.

The Big Question: In light of the Ofcom announcement of 15 April 2013, if you are to continue imposing a “Service Charge” on callers by using 084 numbers, will you be declaring it now or wait to be told to do so?

Open the link to read the detail →

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The following additional comments may be of value:
We understand that telephone companies need Ofcom to keep them honest, but believe that Government Departments, Businesses and Charities should be able to tell the truth for themselves, now that we all know what it is.

Ofcom has decided that the Service Charge component of the cost of calls to all 084 numbers will be retained. This represents between 2p and 7p per minute.

When all of the other issues surrounding the “Unbundled Tariff” have been resolved, a regulatory requirement for users to declare their Service Charge will come into effect. We ask “Why wait?”.

We urge our supporters and all customers, members, owners and shareholders of organisations using 0845, 0844 and numbers to ask them The Big Question now.

We will publish answers that are given. We invite journalists to make their own enquiries and will be pleased to provide information further to that provided in the detailed briefing.

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NHS GPs using Daisy Surgery Line

Another victory - the campaign continues, encouraged

A New 0844 number for a group of GPs in Warrington

The Big Question for all 084 users

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