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Telephone Tax - Dialight Robbery - to end in 12 months

15/11/2013

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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.
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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".
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Interview on Sky News

11/11/2013

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David Hickson was interviewed on Sky News to cover the Public Accounts Committee report into Government use of expensive telephone numbers.
Supporters and others are invited to refer to what was said, in context.
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← Play here or download →
sky_news_11_nov_2013.mp3
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Click on the TV image
to view this video clip
FOR REFERENCE ONLY

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Parliament to debate the ‘Telephone Tax’

24/6/2013

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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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wh130626.pdf
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File Type: pdf
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'Telephone Tax' to be investigated by the NAO

11/6/2013

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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
tt_investigated.pdf
File Size: 454 kb
File Type: pdf
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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
File Size: 565 kb
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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
File Size: 490 kb
File Type: pdf
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Public bodies - telephone numbers (parliamentary briefing)

11/2/2013

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public_bodies_-_parliamentary_breifing.pdf
File Size: 426 kb
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This briefing is issued to MPs and others, to provide an update on the position with public bodies using 084 telephone numbers.
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The scale of the DWP telephone rip-off is revealed

19/10/2012

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Click image to view release
John Healey MP has secured a written answer from a DWP Minister confirming that the DWP uses 130 different 0845 telephone numbers to benefit from Service Charges paid by those making enquiries. The release gives a breakdown and lists the services subject to a charge for enquiries. These include: The Pensions Service, Jobcentre Plus and all of the Allowances paid to those in need - Attendance, Disability Living, Maternity, Winter Fuel.

This is no longstanding legacy situation, as also included are the newly introduced Benefits Cap and the Employment and Support Allowance, which replaces Invalidity Benefit.

This comes at a time when a government consultation on plans to prohibit businesses from using customer enquiries phone numbers which include a Service Charge to the benefit of the person called is coming to a close. See - Consultation … closes on 1 November.

When these two items are taken together, they show a “re-balancing of the economy” that some may find distasteful. Consumers of private sector services are to be protected from being subjected to Service Charges, whereas those requiring the services of the state continue to be subjected to fees.

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