0870 Update- no date yet for changes

Changes to 0870 due to come into force on 1 February have been deferred due to health & safety concerns associated with pre-call announcements. Ofcom announced this in a letter sent to the NTS Focus Group on 14th November but has made no further public statement on a likely revised date. The letter can be found at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/groups/nts_focus/ntsletter.pdf

There is also an ongoing dispute between BT and CPs regarding the level of charges payable by BT for call termination on 0870 numbers. The dispute was accepted by Ofcom on 31 August 2007 and a draft determination was issued by them on 16 November. Subsequently, Ofcom has agreed to await the outcome of appeals against similar determinations, which are currently being considered by the Competition Appeal tribunal before issuing a final determination. You can find an update on the case at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/bulletins/comp_bull_index/comp_bull_ocases/open_all/cw_963/

Pre-call announcements on NTS numbers could have more adverse effects as at least one critical industry uses 0844 numbers for its essential remote telemetry- pre-call announcements could delay vital data transmissions.

0844- House of Commons debate- 21 January

Graham Stuart MP for Beverley and Holderness (Con) led a debate on concerns about the use of 0844 numbers for doctor’s surgeries

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080121/debtext/80121-0023.htm#0801223000005

The argument on behalf of the general public is that above normal BT rates for the elderly and sick to call doctor’s surgeries are considered unfair. These arguments, together with the 0870 saga, open the Pandora’s Box of mobile call charges as well and we can expect more on this theme in the newspapers and Parliament.