The Future of 0870

Radio 4's You and Yours broadcast a feature on 0870 numbers on 29th September 2005. Matt Peacock, Director of Communications at OFCOM, was interviewed, and outlined OFCOM's proposals for the revision of non-geographical number ranges.

To listen again, click on the link below, which will be available till Sunday 9th October.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/listenagain/thursday_previous.shtml

THA are responding to OFCOM's consultation on the issue. We need your input. Read our briefing below and let us know your views.

Ofcom are now consulting on proposals for changes to UK non-geographic telephone numbers starting 084 and 087. In summary, Ofcom are proposing the following:

• Calls to 0870 numbers, currently costing up to 8p per minute from BT landlines, should cost the same as calls to 'national' geographic numbers (this will stop organisations gaining revenue from calls to their 0870 numbers)

• Calls to 0871 numbers, currently costing up to 10p per minute from BT landlines, would be re-classified as premium rate and regulated by ICSTIS 

• The cost of calling 0845 numbers will not change for the next two years 

• The cost of calling 0844 numbers (currently up to 5p per minute from BT landlines) will not change

• Providers should give consumers better information about the cost of calling numbers starting 084 and 087

• When dealing with people on low incomes or other vulnerable groups, public bodies should not use non-geographic numbers without giving equal prominence to a geographic alternative

THA recognise that these changes have significant implications for callers to helplines on 0845 and 0870 numbers and to the providers of those helplines. We welcome your views on these proposals, which will inform our own response to the consultation.

Please send your views to Mark McLean at THA (mark.mclean@helplines.org.uk) or call Mark on 0151 641 9746. We would appreciate hearing from you by Friday 4 November 2005.