It has been reported, and confirmed, that some Surgery Line users are extending call durations (by a few seconds) by including a call cost information message on 0844 numbers.
The message (listen below) suggests that the pence per minute rate charged by BT before 4 January 2011 is 'typical' and offers no other specific information.
This seems to do nothing more than confirm Daisy's view that 0844 numbers are unsuitable for use by NHS surgeries. Only those BT landline users who breach the terms of their chosen Call Plan pay for calls to geographic rate numbers, so any call charge and setup fee makes the call more expensive. Whether it is 5p, 0.5p or £5 per minute makes no significant difference.
The message (listen below) suggests that the pence per minute rate charged by BT before 4 January 2011 is 'typical' and offers no other specific information.
This seems to do nothing more than confirm Daisy's view that 0844 numbers are unsuitable for use by NHS surgeries. Only those BT landline users who breach the terms of their chosen Call Plan pay for calls to geographic rate numbers, so any call charge and setup fee makes the call more expensive. Whether it is 5p, 0.5p or £5 per minute makes no significant difference.
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