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NHS GPs using Surgery Line
Central Government
Following the Ofcom announcement on Monday, we have launched The Big Question, which we suggest be posed to all users of 084 numbers.
The following additional comments may be of value:
We understand that telephone companies need Ofcom to keep them honest, but believe that Government Departments, Businesses and Charities should be able to tell the truth for themselves, now that we all know what it is. Ofcom has decided that the Service Charge component of the cost of calls to all 084 numbers will be retained. This represents between 2p and 7p per minute. When all of the other issues surrounding the “Unbundled Tariff” have been resolved, a regulatory requirement for users to declare their Service Charge will come into effect. We ask “Why wait?”. We urge our supporters and all customers, members, owners and shareholders of organisations using 0845, 0844 and numbers to ask them The Big Question now. We will publish answers that are given. We invite journalists to make their own enquiries and will be pleased to provide information further to that provided in the detailed briefing.
Our evidence of call charges has been brought up-to-date. It’s been over three months since we last looked, and there have been a few developments.
Orange Pay as you Go 0845 calls have gone up from 12 pence per minute to 40 pence per minute, and this brings them into line with 0844 calls. Orange Pay Monthly customers now pay 35 pence per minute for 0844 and 0845 calls — both these used to be a fraction over 12 pence per minute. All Virgin Mobile customers now pay 41 pence per minute to ring 0844 and 0845 numbers. This is the highest rate of all the mobile operators. The call set-up fees charged by four landline providers have risen by around half a penny. The penalty rate — that’s the rate for calls made outside of a plan — on a number of providers’ packages has gone up around half a penny per minute.
A consultation by Ofcom on changes to the rules that govern price rises during fixed-term contracts has just closed. fairtelecoms has responded as part of the Consumer Forum for Communications (CFC).
At the moment, providers can increase charges and don’t have to let customers leave, without penalty, where increases aren’t of “material detriment”. The definition of this term varies by provider which results in inconsistency across the market. Our view is that consumers should be free to leave contracts without having to pay a penalty when a provider increases the charge for the core part of a package. Where equipment, such as a mobile handset, was supplied as part of the deal, a provider should be free to charge for it for the remaining portion of the term. 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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