Category: Ofcom Simplifying Non Geographic Numbers - the fair telecoms campaign

‘Free’ charity helplines will have to own up to their charges on calls to 084/087 numbers (from 1 July)

17/2/2015

This news release has been distributed to selected media organisations and relevant parties.

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We have long been drawing attention to the “rip off” of callers by inappropriate use of 084/087 telephone numbers in many areas. Some of these have been addressed, albeit with remaining breaches by businesses, public bodies and NHS providers.

We are aware that many helplines have significant funding issues, but we cannot accept the idea that funding be provided by service users, unless this is clearly declared. It is however unlikely that it would be deemed acceptable to declare a charge for most, if not all, of the 55 services we have listed (there are more!). We are therefore surprised that so many cases remain where declaration of the telephone Service Charge is now imminent.

After some consideration, we feel that this matter must now be brought to public attention, so that efforts in pursuit of an acceptable solution may be maximised.

We will continue to attack delinquent businesses, public bodies and NHS providers for their “rip off”, but we can no longer exclude third sector helplines.

We are reluctant to draw too much attention to specific examples; however a quick read through the list will doubtless cause the eyebrows to be raised on finding certain cases.

Telephone Tax - Dialight Robbery - to end in 12 months

15/11/2013

The rather sober 27th report of the Public Accounts Committee on "charges for customer telephone lines" is both welcomed and strongly characterised by a front page Sun headline.

Our own contributions to media coverage have to follow the formal announcement, at 00:01 on 11 November 2013, e.g.. Many entries will appear on the news feed in due course.

In the meantime, we can draw attention to the following:

The formal news release from the Committee
The complete report
The published version of our evidence (also seen here)
The Ofcom evidence - providing a useful summary of its intentions for "Simplifying Non-Geographic Numbers".

Chat with SSE over nuisance calls and expensive enquiry lines

20/8/2013

Those who are not following dh_fairtelecoms on Twitter may be interested to view a conversation with Scottish and Southern Energy over its use of expensive telephone numbers for customer enquiries and its recent decision to comply with the law regarding nuisance calls.

The primary thread of exchanges may be viewed at this link. The "branch" discussion covering the misrepresentation of the cost of calling 080 numbers may be viewed at this link.

Under the current draft BIS regulations (#39), companies will not be able to use 080 numbers for customer enquiries and complaints for the time being. They will not become "a non-geographic number to which, under the OFCOM requirements, calls must be free of charge" until the currently proposed Ofcom requirement for them to be free of charge comes into effect. This will not happen until at least 9 months after the Consumer Rights regulations.

“Customers they [SSE companies] already have a relationship with or potential customers who have previously agreed to a call” is a fair definition of those who are not covered by the provisions of PECR #21. Consent to unsolicited voice calls in person is assumed unless the number is registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

Parliament debates the ‘Telephone Tax’

30/6/2013

Following our announcement of the debate and the issuing of a briefing in this blog posting, the debate took place and the proceedings are recorded here.

We have published comments and clarifications on the points made by the various contributors to the debate.

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We have also issued a news release, anticipating the NAO report, which is expected to be published very shortly.

nao_awaited.pdf
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Parliament to debate the ‘Telephone Tax’

24/6/2013

At 11 am on Wednesday 26 June, RIchard Burden MP will introduce a debate entitled “Cost of non-geographic telephone numbers used by Government” in the Westminster Hall chamber.

We have prepared and circulated a briefing paper for members attending the debate, and others

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'Telephone Tax' to be investigated by the NAO

11/6/2013

Our news release covers the background to this issue, the result that must surely be obtained and the consequences of retention.

Given the effect of a previous NAO investigation on HMRC, and now after Ofcom announcements, we are confident that the “Telephone Tax” will be clearly seen for what it is

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Ofcom consultation response ‘Simplifying non-geographic numbers’

2/6/2013

The Ofcom consultation - Simplifying non-geographic numbers - Policy position on the introduction of the unbundled tariff and changes to 080 and 116 ranges - closed on 28 May 2013.

Our (brief) response is available to view using the link to the right.

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Comments on the response are invited using this link, or that as below every blog entry.

All non-confidential responses will (in time) be published by Ofcom on this page.

Ofcom will be making its statement on this consultation as it publishes the relevant formal legal instruments, triggering the start of a 18 month implementation period. Depending on issues that may be raised, we expect this to be within the next few months.

Up to the point of implementation there will be much to be done to ensure that only those who can truly justify the imposition of a Service Charge continue to do so. These efforts will be focussed around The Big Question.

Queens speech to include a ban on use of expensive telephone numbers

13/5/2013

This is simply a reference to the Bill which will be required to implement the provisions of the EU Consumer Rights Directive, which we first covered here.

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Another victory - the campaign continues, encouraged

27/4/2013

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

The Big Question for all 084 users

17/4/2013

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.