Sign The Petition Against Ripoff 0844 GP Surgery Numbers
Discussion
Knowing of the general opposition of members of this website to government stealth tax charges, such as congestion charges, speed cameras and proposed nationwide road tolling, I thought some of you might also be interested in signing another petition on the 10 Downing Street website against the large number of doctors surgeries who have changed their contact phone number from an ordinary 01/02 phone number, included in landline and mobile phone fixed price call packages, to a ripoff special rate services 0844 number (BT speak for covert premium rate numbers). These are charged at £3 per hour at all times from BT landlines (even if you have an includive calls package), £8.10 per hour at all times from a BT Payphone and and up to £24 per hour from some Pay As You Go mobile phones.
The petition to sign against these ripoff numbers is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/NGN-use-by-GPs/
Basically a company called Network Europe Group (NEG) has already conned over 1,000 doctors surgeries in to changing to using these numbers so they get a free new switchboard and new phone handsets while failing to point out that this also involves changing to the new 0844 phone numbers that cost a fortune for patients to call. Although the 0844 number actually still routes through to an underlying 01/02 number in the doctor's surgery sneaky NEG orders the line in their name and doesn't even tell the doctor what the new real phone number is. This means there is even no alternative listed to these numbers at the www.saynoto0870.com, which is normally a good place to look if you want to avoid calling these ripoff 084/7 numbers.
The petition is already 50th out of 8000 on the 10 Downing Street website so with a few more signatures we should get it from Page 2 to Page 1 by size on the Petitions website and ensure it gets some more coverage in the national newspapers.
I am sure that most Pistoneheads will feel that signing this petition is worthwhile.
The petition to sign against these ripoff numbers is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/NGN-use-by-GPs/
Basically a company called Network Europe Group (NEG) has already conned over 1,000 doctors surgeries in to changing to using these numbers so they get a free new switchboard and new phone handsets while failing to point out that this also involves changing to the new 0844 phone numbers that cost a fortune for patients to call. Although the 0844 number actually still routes through to an underlying 01/02 number in the doctor's surgery sneaky NEG orders the line in their name and doesn't even tell the doctor what the new real phone number is. This means there is even no alternative listed to these numbers at the www.saynoto0870.com, which is normally a good place to look if you want to avoid calling these ripoff 084/7 numbers.
The petition is already 50th out of 8000 on the 10 Downing Street website so with a few more signatures we should get it from Page 2 to Page 1 by size on the Petitions website and ensure it gets some more coverage in the national newspapers.
I am sure that most Pistoneheads will feel that signing this petition is worthwhile.
Nope, not signed. The NHS does not have a limitless supply of funds / my taxes. If the charges stop some of the malingering timewasters who clog up doctor's surgeries from ringing up every time they have a slight sniffle then that's ok with me.
I would also prefer there to be a charge every time you visit the GP, for the same reason.
And don't even get me started with the alcohol soaked scrotes that fill A&E to capacity every Friday and Saturday night as a result of their excesses and the fact that they have fallen off the curb or started a fight while paralytically drunk. Every one of them should be charged to.
Or are you saying that this company is pocketing all the cash?
I would also prefer there to be a charge every time you visit the GP, for the same reason.
And don't even get me started with the alcohol soaked scrotes that fill A&E to capacity every Friday and Saturday night as a result of their excesses and the fact that they have fallen off the curb or started a fight while paralytically drunk. Every one of them should be charged to.
Or are you saying that this company is pocketing all the cash?
Edited by AlexKP on Sunday 12th August 16:40
I won't be signing it either.
I am sick to death of these petitions, which are a Governement con to make the gullible feel they are doing something.
What actually happens is a couple of weeks after the petition finishes you get an email from a Govt flunky which always says the same thing, ie "thanks for your opinions, we will consider them for at least 3 milliseconds before laughing and ignoring them completely. Still, at least it keeps you peasants quiet."
I am sick to death of these petitions, which are a Governement con to make the gullible feel they are doing something.
What actually happens is a couple of weeks after the petition finishes you get an email from a Govt flunky which always says the same thing, ie "thanks for your opinions, we will consider them for at least 3 milliseconds before laughing and ignoring them completely. Still, at least it keeps you peasants quiet."
WTF?!?
0844 is a lo-call telephone number, just like 0845. It is a lo-call cost, from anywhere in the country. 0800 freephone numbers cost the company, in this case, the NHS, a LOT of money. Standard numbers will cost people money. 0844 and 0845 numbers are lo-call costed.
It seems a very fair way to make a contact number available to people, and it ISN'T a money making exercise for the NHS, that's for sure.
Get off the high horse and find something constructive to complain about.
0844 is a lo-call telephone number, just like 0845. It is a lo-call cost, from anywhere in the country. 0800 freephone numbers cost the company, in this case, the NHS, a LOT of money. Standard numbers will cost people money. 0844 and 0845 numbers are lo-call costed.
It seems a very fair way to make a contact number available to people, and it ISN'T a money making exercise for the NHS, that's for sure.
Get off the high horse and find something constructive to complain about.
ThePassenger said:
Signed.
You're NHS or Private. Not both at the same time.
So I guess you're suggesting that the NHS should use taxpayers money to fund an expensive 0800 freephone number, instead? You're NHS or Private. Not both at the same time.
Forgive me for asking, but ARE YOU MAD?
eta:
Nickname: ThePassenger
Name: Sarah Hayes
Member Since: 13th September 2004
Total Posts: 5,485
Occupation: Dole Dosser :-/
Or perhaps you're just a scrounger and a dole dosser :shakeshead:
Edited by RichBurley on Sunday 12th August 16:56
for that - some common sense at last. i've heard enough of the 'we must have everything given to us for free because it's our God given right' to last me a lifetime.RichBurley said:
It seems a very fair way to make a contact number available to people, and it ISN'T a money making exercise for the NHS, that's for sure.
Maybe not, but it is yet another unnecesary expense to the taxpayer. If they aren't doing it for the money, why change it at all. I wouldn't expect an 0800 number to my doctor, a normal one will do thanks.My mother's doctor switched to an 0845 number. I thought that was charged at national, rather than local, rate. Which is a ripoff, given that most calls come from a local source.
The petition refers to non-geographic numbers, not specifically 0844, so I will be signing on the grounds that I have paid for GP services with my NI contributions and should not have to pay the doc to telephone him.
The recently negotiated GP contract has emerged as a good achievement by the GPs' negotiators and they are now on a good whack.
Why should they be allowed to gain further from incoming phone calls, particularly from hard-up pensioners?
The petition refers to non-geographic numbers, not specifically 0844, so I will be signing on the grounds that I have paid for GP services with my NI contributions and should not have to pay the doc to telephone him.
The recently negotiated GP contract has emerged as a good achievement by the GPs' negotiators and they are now on a good whack.
Why should they be allowed to gain further from incoming phone calls, particularly from hard-up pensioners?
RichBurley said:
WTF?!?
0844 is a lo-call telephone number, just like 0845. It is a lo-call cost, from anywhere in the country. 0800 freephone numbers cost the company, in this case, the NHS, a LOT of money. Standard numbers will cost people money. 0844 and 0845 numbers are lo-call costed.
It seems a very fair way to make a contact number available to people, and it ISN'T a money making exercise for the NHS, that's for sure.
Get off the high horse and find something constructive to complain about.
Thank god there's someone else with common sense.0844 is a lo-call telephone number, just like 0845. It is a lo-call cost, from anywhere in the country. 0800 freephone numbers cost the company, in this case, the NHS, a LOT of money. Standard numbers will cost people money. 0844 and 0845 numbers are lo-call costed.
It seems a very fair way to make a contact number available to people, and it ISN'T a money making exercise for the NHS, that's for sure.
Get off the high horse and find something constructive to complain about.
One of the great advantages of a non-geographical number is that it can easily and cheaply be redirected if a call center or surgery moves. Geographical numbers can be a PITA to keep if you move to an area covered by a different exchange.
joewilliams said:
One of the great advantages of a non-geographical number is that it can easily and cheaply be redirected if a call center or surgery moves. Geographical numbers can be a PITA to keep if you move to an area covered by a different exchange.
Oh really...and how many doctors' surgeries move away from their patients?RichBurley said:
WTF?!?
0844 is a lo-call telephone number, just like 0845. It is a lo-call cost, from anywhere in the country. 0800 freephone numbers cost the company, in this case, the NHS, a LOT of money. Standard numbers will cost people money. 0844 and 0845 numbers are lo-call costed.
No you are entirely wrong I'm afraid and have sadly been taken in by the ingenious con on phone call costs that BT, NEG and others have been working away to rip you off with for years.0844 is a lo-call telephone number, just like 0845. It is a lo-call cost, from anywhere in the country. 0800 freephone numbers cost the company, in this case, the NHS, a LOT of money. Standard numbers will cost people money. 0844 and 0845 numbers are lo-call costed.
The only numbers ever called Lo-Call were 0845 numbers at at time up to 1st July 2005 when they cost no more than 01/02 calls for BT's Option 1 customers. But since 1st July 2005 0845 numbers cost £1.80 per hour off peak. An 01/02 number costs 5.5p for 1 hour. Thus they are not Lo-Call anymore. BT have dropped the brand rather than face action from the ASA, Ofom or Trading Standards.
0844 numbers are 5p per minute or £3 per hour compared to 3p per minute and £1.80 per hour for 0845. As stated before many people now have BT Option 3 where their 01/02 calls are free in return for £7.99 per month or less with other companies like TalkTalk. 0844 calls go on being charged at £3.00 per hour even if you have BT Option 3. Check the dictionary - this is a premium over the price of normal calls (starting 01/02).
If you don't believe me check the views of the CEO of BT Retail, Ian Livingston, and the various other references which demonstrate that these calls definititely are not Lo-Call and do cost a premium (with a small p) price:-
See
the view of the CEO of BT Retail, Ian Livingston
http://business.scotsman.com/banking.cfm?id=764772...
and
the current Parliamentary Early Day Motion protesting against the cost of these 0844 doctors numbers
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDM...
and
The view of a county council trading standards department
Para 1.3 Page 1 of http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/oftel_0845...
two guidances from the Advertising Standards Authority
www.asa.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/Hanging+o...
www.asa.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/Stop+the+...
and
Another guidance from the Committee of Advertising Practice of the Advertising Standards Authority
www.cap.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/CAP+rings...
and Pages 5 and 6 of the below minutes from my own district council where it agreed policy to stop the future use of 0845 and 0870 numbers.
www.molevalley.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/s/Council_Minute...
And the most recent ASA guidance saying that Inclusive call packages must not fail to disclose that 084/7 calls are excluded from them.
www.cap.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2006/Ringing+t...
Edited by NGMsGhost on Sunday 12th August 17:50
RichBurley said:
So I guess you're suggesting that the NHS should use taxpayers money to fund an expensive 0800 freephone number, instead?
No. He and I are suggesting doctors continue to use normal priced normal call rate 01/02 numbers that are included in bundled minutes on landlines and mobiles and not sneaky covert premium rate 0844 numbers that people in their 80s have to pay 13p per minute to call from a BT Payphone compared to 1p per minute for 01/02 prefixed standard rate numbers.Of course perhaps you drive a Ferrari and are so well off you don't mind how much you pay for your phone calls? Or perhaps you have a company provided mobile and your company pays for all your personal calls?????
Edited by NGMsGhost on Sunday 12th August 17:55
Edited by NGMsGhost on Sunday 12th August 17:56
foreright said:
£3 per hour = 5p per minute? I.e. the same as 0845?? That's hardly a ripoff unless you're in the habit of ringing your GP for hours at a time.
No 0845 are 3p per minute or £1.80 per hour so not the same as 0844 at 5p per minute and £3 per hour is it!More to the point they are excluded from inclusive calling packages like BT Option 3 that cover all your 01/02 calls and instead of being included in bundled mobile minutes they are usually charged as a premium rate mobile call at between 20p and 40p per minute.
Anyhow 0845 aren't normal rate either anymore. 0845 costs 60p per hour off peak. 01/02 calls cost 5.5p per hour off peak. Not the same rate is it?
Don't you evere check your phone bill? If you ever did you would find about two thirds of the call charges on only one sixth or eighth of the minutes now go on these stealth premium rate 084 and 087 numbers.
FURTHERMORE: I have a calling package with Talktalk. No doubt others do too. I pay £9.99 a month (soon to be £7,99) and get free unlimited calls, anytime, to 'normal' numbers. Hence while 01/02 is free, 0845, 0870 and antyhing else abnbormal, whatever they are described as, cost me extra money to call.
elise2000 said:
0844 numbers are charged at between 1p and 4p per minute. Unless you're planning on being on the phone to your doctor for hours on end, it's not gonna cost you a fortune!
Its not just your doctor is it? Its all the other ripoff services who use these numbers instead of an 01/02 number and in total cost many UK households another £10 to £15 per month in phone call charges that they need not be paying extra for.And your doctor is not a business so what is their excuse.
Most of them already earn over £100,000 per annum each. Even a good headmaster of a large school doesn't earn that much for a probably much more stressful job.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff