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BBC - Sunday Morning Live - struggling to get it right

24/7/2015

1 Comment

 
We first drew the attention of the BBC to its continuing use of 084 telephone numbers, by Sunday Morning Live, on 21 June (Episode 1 of Series 6) - see
Oh Dear BBC ! - still hung up on 0845 numbers? We thought you had hung up on them!
We highlighted the revised call cost announcement which would be required if the number remained in use past 1 July.
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Episode 3
Sadly, on 5 July, nothing had changed, neither the number nor the, now illegal, call cost statement - see this clip:
We highlighted the problem, including a specification of the relevant regulations and requirement, see BBC using 084 telephone number -and breaching the Broadcasting Code.
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Episode 4
Although the number remained in use, new, inaccurate and highly misleading call cost information was provided for the broadcast on 12 July - see this clip:
The message seriously undermines the clarity required by "Clear Call Rates for Everyone".
The Service Charge is invariably 2p per minute for this number - not "up to" something and varying according to the provider.
The basis for charging for calls from mobiles is exactly the same as for landlines, not something wholly different, as suggested.
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Episode 5
Some progress was seen on 19 July, but still the call cost declaration is missing - see the clip.
Still no new number, still no specific Service Charge, but the simple form of the cost message is now being used - although not on the caption run throughout the programme.

Most dangerous and false is the statement that the level of the Service Charge varies - leaving callers to make the wholly false assumption that this is at the discretion of their provider, rather than being a rate chosen by the BBC in conjunction with its provider Vodafone (formerly Cable & Wireless).
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Episode 6
HURRAH! At last the correct information is given to cover the 0845 number!
The next step, to complete the process of “getting it right”, is for the number to be changed to 03459 555 678 and the nonsense of premium call charge rates to be removed.
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3 August
Intervention from the Belfast Telegraph - focussed on the fact that this show simply uses the same call centre for listener/viewer contact as that used by other BBC Northern Ireland shows.
See this blogging -
"Shocking" news about BBC NI phone-ins.
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VICTORY
A new 03 number from Vodafone (ignoring the option to simply switch the second digit).
We now await confirmation that the other BBC Northern Ireland shows are using the new number.
1 Comment

Sky Sports TV Ad - 0844 number - no Service Charge

23/7/2015

0 Comments

 
The clip to view below is of an advert for Sky Sports, broadcast on "Challenge TV" on the morning of 21 July.
The final frame is frozen and annotated to highlight promotion of a 0844 telephone number without the Service Charge. Declaration of the Service Charge has been a regulatory requirement since 1 July 2015. Sky TV has already been notified of a similar recent case - although the offer being advertised there has now lapsed.
This case has been reported to the ASA, which enforces the BCAP code, in partnership with Ofcom. We hope to see exemplary action, so that the need to declare Service Charges becomes widely recognised and understood - primarily so that those who cannot justify them cease using numbers that impose them on callers.
Let us hope that Sky can perhaps do a little better than Mr Townshend! (Further references to Who titles and lyrics may have to be edited in comments, as I can sense what may be coming.)
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