Ofcom imposes large fine for silent calls

Whilst this post is slightly off topic in that it is not regarding 0800 numbers or freephone numbers, it is a telecoms issue and one which we found rather interesting. We also know that many of our readers suffer from the problem of silent calls, and thought they might like this drawn to their attention as well.

Around 3 weeks ago the international home insurance company HomeServe was fined £750,000 by Ofcom for making an excessive number of silent calls or abandoned calls to UK consumers.

For those who aren’t aware of silent calls – you’re lucky! They happen because call centres use automated dialling systems which dial numbers and then connect the calls to call centre agents as soon as they are answered. The aim is to make call centres more efficient, but often the automated systems dial more numbers than can be answered by the agents, meaning you’re just left with silence when you answer the phone. This is very frustrating for companies when they receive lots of these calls, but very upsetting for elderly people living alone who don’t realise what is happening.

The fine will go to HM Treasury, and is intended to act as a deterrent. More info can be found here.

Ofcom announces plans to make 0800 numbers free from mobiles

Ok, so maybe I was wrong in previous blog post - I have no choice but to eat a bit of humble pie!

This morning, Ofcom have a large banner splashed across their front page saying “Simplified call charges: Calls to 0800 telephone numbers could be free from all phones, including mobiles, under new Ofcom proposals”. Of course it would be churlish of me to point out the use of the word “could” rather than “will”, but needless to say I have not yet been proved wrong!

Their press release says “Currently, the vast majority of 0800 phone numbers incur a charge for mobile callers of up to 21p a minute. Under today’s proposals, calls to 0800 numbers from a mobile would be free for consumers, in line with landlines”.

It goes on to say that virtually everyone uses non-geographic numbers at some point, whether it’s for HM Revenue and Customs, NHS Direct or to vote in TV shows. However, it says people don’t know what they are or how much they cost, so get confused and don’t trust them. I have certainly heard people say not to phone 0800 numbers because they’re expensive! Anyway, this is a big step forward, and we will watch what happens closely.

Article says OFCOM aims to make 0800 calls from mobiles free ... yet again!

Some of you might have seen the report in The Independent a couple of weeks ago entitled “Number may be up for costly 0800 and 084 calls” on Saturday 25th February.

Under the title was the summary saying: “Ofcom, the communications regulator, is taking forward proposals to make calls to them free from mobiles and landlines.” This was an interesting statement as it seemed to imply that currently calls to 0800 and 084 numbers from both mobiles and landlines are not free. This of course isn’t true, as calls to 0800 numbers from a landline are free, that is the point of them, they are freephone numbers. Therefore, in essence the article is saying that OFCOM is striving for 0800 numbers to be free from mobiles as well as landlines, so that they are freephone numbers from both.

Of course, it is the mobile phone companies that charge for you to call an 0800 number, and is nothing to do with the 0800 number providers. The article also mentions that the Department of Health is writing to GP surgeries to remind them not to use 084 numbers, but that does not mean that the number is up for them! At the end of the day, we have heard this about 0800 numbers being free from mobiles many times before, and although we would very much welcome it, we will believe it when we see it!

The 0800 Number Company don't tie their customers in to long term contracts

Leading freephone number provider The 0800 Number Company has published a quite interesting blog post on its website about why it doesn't tie customers in to long term contracts. The main thrust of the argument is that the circumstances of businesses ordering 0800 numbers can change dramatically in a short period of time, especially in such volatile economic conditions. It is therefore unfair to saddle businesses with rental and charges for 0800 numbers for months if they find they don't need them. They also argue that if the service is good enough then people won't leave, and you shouldn't lock people in - all good arguments and the sort of thing we expect from 0800 number providers!

Childline reaches 25 year milestone

We asked a couple of weeks ago about leading 0800 numbers, and of course one of the most famous and recognisable 0800 numbers of them all is the Childline number - 0800 1111. Last week they celebrated their 25th anniversary. They do outstanding work, and we salute the work they do.

Interesting article on 0800 freephone number calls from mobiles

Here at the 0800 Numbers buyers guide blog, we try to keep our eyes open for interesting articles about freephone numbers for you. We found a quite interesting one this week on moneymarket.com, which you can read for yourself by clicking here. It states that people spend around £1.9million per year calling non-geographical numbers (NGNs) including freephone 0800 numbers from mobile phones. The article goes on to talk about various alternatives to calling freephone 0800 numbers and other NGNs from mobiles, such as the wide range of sites out there that give you the actual number that the 0800 number is routed to. It is not, of course, the 0800 number providers that make money on calls to freephone numbers from mobile phones but the mobile phone providers themselves. Of course, if mobile providers continue to charge excessive prices then they are going to lose out because people will seek these alternatives, so they need to start considering their options.

The most popular 0800 number?

I keep wondering, what are the most popular, the most used, the most advertised 0800 numbers? Surely the Crimestoppers number has to be up there, as every time I put the phrase 0800 numbers into a Google search, it brings up something on the first page to do with Crimestoppers. Maybe that is just the most newsworthy. Anyone else got any other thoughts?