There’s usually nothing I enjoy more than listening to the radio as I drive and as a news writer, I find it interesting to listen to different radio stations and their portrayal of the news. However, this morning I was quite dismayed to hear an old issue dragged up once more – I figured it was either a slow news day or some people just couldn’t let a complaint go. The news story was referring to the 0844 phone numbers used by the NHS and of course, people were incensed to be paying any money at all for ringing the NHS.
Now, for all those radio news readers out there, 0844 is not, and I repeat NOT, a premium rate number, and describing it as such is just misleading. The 0844 prefix is a local rate number so calls cost exactly what they would should you decide to give your Aunt Flo a call.
Another problem I have with the 0844 story is describing the NHS as like an emergency service. If your illness is that bad, ring an ambulance and not the NHS, because the freephone 999 number IS for emergencies.
Now for the good stuff – having an 0844 phone number for the NHS will, as I have said before on countless occasions, protect you as well as the NHS. 0844 phone numbers allow network level services to be placed on the number. So should the NHS line be busy, telecoms companies can re-route your call to a line that’s open. Should the phone line be down, we can direct your call to a different call centre. And should you get bad advice and wish to pursue a legal avenue, call recording placed on the 0844 number will provide you with the evidence you need. A few pence per call for all that? Sounds more than fair to me.
We must get our facts right. 0844 numbers are not classified as being used for what is described in the Communications Act 2003 as “Premium Rate Services”.
The fact that the cost of calling them causes a premium to be added to the rate that would be charged were it not for the revenue share may cause some to refer to them as “premium rate”, which is valid, but potentially misleading.
There are indeed some of us who would call Auntie Flo (on a geographic number) from a BT landline during the weekday daytime, when this is outside the period covered by our call inclusive package. This would not cost us the same, but slightly more than calling a 0844 number at any time. At other times and with service from any other other provider (mobile or landline) at any time, I mean no respect to the lady when saying that, Auntie Flo is invariably cheaper.
A few pence per call does indeed sound a fair price to pay, for anyone who needs the features providing by a non-geographic number. If you can get your callers to pay you, then use a 0844 number, if you provide a service that is free at the point of need then you will have to pay it yourself, on a 03 number.
You could not be more wrong!! The NHS must stop using 0844 and all other higher cost numbers. The NHS should not be imposing a “premium” on patients trying to call their local doctor or hospital. 0844 numbers cost more and therefore impose a “premium” over the cost of normal geographic numbers. We normal people are fed up with being ripped-off by the likes of you via “revenue sharing” numbers which should be taken out immediately. If companies and the NHS want “network level services” then they should pay for them and not the patient nor the caller who has no choice. The receiver of the benefit should pay the cost involved, while the caller should pay only the standard call cost for a normal number.
“The 0844 prefix is a local rate number so calls cost exactly what they would should you decide to give your Aunt Flo a call”
One wonders how your company can continually peddle lies such as this. You know full well that 0844 has never been designated “local rate”. Whilst not a premium rate number, regulated by PhonePayPlus, it is a number that attracts a premium charge from many originating providers, often billed at 40p per minute. I would not describe such a charge as ‘a few pence per call’.
“The 0844 prefix is a local rate number so calls cost exactly what they would should you decide to give your Aunt Flo a call.”
That statement is absolute rubbish in every single respect. Totally incorrect. And you are a telecoms company. Unbelievable!
What a load of rubbish, my Doctor changed to an 0844 number and now finally I can get through, if you’ve ever tried calling in the morning you’ll know what I mean..yes I need to listen to a few options and that bloody music drives me mad (worse than Aunt Flo!), but hay ho, I get through without pressing the call back button (does anyone know what that costs?) come on get a life, if it costs 5p I think thats good value