Telecommunications giant BT has announced it will be scrapping call charges on 0870 and 0845 numbers for its customers.

Changes to current call charges will cost BT anything up to 24 million pounds, but will give BT’s existing 14 million customers something to cheer about in the New Year.

BT customers have often complained about BT’s exclusion of 0870 and 0845 numbers from their option packages.

BT said the changes would cost it “tens of millions” of pounds, but had decided, “to give customers what they want”.

John Petter, Managing Director of BT’s consumer business department, said: “We know that the public is frustrated by having to pay higher charges for these numbers, even though BT’s rates are cheaper than their rivals, so we worked out a way to go further and include all calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers in our call packages”.

Steve Cordingley, Director of 08 Direct, a UK based telecommunications company believes “the reduction in cost from BT landlines should go a long way to improving the image of these popular number ranges.”

These changes may be a very shrewd move by BT. Ofcom’s proposed restructuring of the way 0870 numbers work is reportedly happening in early 2009. By making this move early, BT may take the limelight for forcing a change on the 0870 number range amongst the big service providers.

Both Virgin Media and SKY have made no comment yet on whether they will be following suit.

Ministers increase pressure on GP’s to stop using 0845 and 0844 numbers in their surgeries.

Ministers have launched an England-wide consultation to ask the public whether they want GP surgeries to keep their 08 numbers.

Over 1000 surgeries across the UK are now using 0844 and 0845 numbers. These numbers generate a small amount of income for the practices, which is then spent on improving patient services.

These lo-call rate 08 numbers cost up to 5 pence a minute from a landline, and up to 20 pence a minute from a mobile.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: “We are concerned that some people are paying over the odds to contact the NHS. For people on low incomes who need to contact their local doctor or hospital regularly, these costs can soon mount up.”

Both GP’s and the British Medical Association are defending the use of 08 numbers in general practice. Dr Laurence Buckman, GPC chair, said: ‘Where 0845 numbers are used by the NHS there is good evidence that patient satisfaction has improved, with better and quicker access to services because of the additional functions within the telephone system.’

In 2005 the Department of Health put pressure on GP’s to change from 0870 numbers, which cost the caller significantly more than the 0845 range.

An official review is being conducted into whether surgeries and governing bodies should be made to use the 03 number range. These numbers cost the same as a local call but will not contribute to funding the telephone systems currently installed in surgeries across the UK.

Ministers have failed to highlight how these services can be funded if these changes do take place.

Ofcom’s long awaited 0870 changes call directive report was released in April 2009. For UK businesses currently using the 0870 prefix the impact on their business could be significant.

These changes will come into effect by August 2009

Impact on your business

Your business will incur a charge on all calls made to your 0870 number

What are your options

By being pro-active and not waiting till the last minute, your changeover can be relatively trouble free

•  We recommend registering a new (08) number, and changing your company literature and contact details as soon as possible.
• By registering either a 0871 or a 0844 number immediately, you will avoid receiving any nasty phone bills in the coming months.
• Don’t worry about any existing call management services e.g fax to email, voicemail, auto attendant services. These services can be easily setup within 24 hours.

Free eBook on how to avoid call charges

Here at 08 Direct we have made an eBook on how to avoid receiving any nasty surprises when the 0870 changes come into effect on the 1st of August 2009. Visit our resource centre to download the 0870 changes eBook.