Perhaps this thread will help explain what is "local" - http://www.talktalkmembers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16629

Their list of codes that are local to your local exchange at www.talktalk.co.uk/pricing/uk is woefully inadequate and incomplete.  It doesn't show Leatherhead, Dorking, Slough (a very large exchange) or Farnham Common (same exchange code but different two digit prefix code after 01753) as just a few of the phone exchanges I am interested in.

London 01 used to be local to Farnham Common in BT's local area code days and the Farnham Common exchange is TalkTalk LLU enabled.  Hence why it is a pretty relevant question as my relative there makes a lot of daytime calls to the London 020 area (but are not currently with TalkTalk).

This is another typical TalkTalk major launch cockup with the marketing tail completely wagging the whole corporate dog and not caring at all about any of the apparently boring but in reality absolutely crucial technical details for this kind of offer.  Still if their marketing people weren't complete and utter morons they wouldn't have considered trying to bring back the "local call" in 2009.  The sales guy I spoke to there (reasonably intelligent for a change by TalkTalk standards as he had apparently been made redundant from some IT Consultant job or other) said 0845 calls were now to be included in the free daytime calls package but that 0870 and 03 were not.  If they include 0845 then how can they not also cover 03 calls, given how many local organisations (Police and Councils etc) are now beginning to use them.  But this of course is why their whole local calls offer is completely and utterly mad.

All of this chaos is the end consequence of Ofcom's cretinosity in failing to establish a National Telephone Number Plan that anyone can understand or make any sense of in terms of which calls are charged at which rates.  Not to mention mobile phone users not knowing if an 0800 call is free or not before they dial it or even after they have dialled it.

Dave wrote on May 3^rd, 2009 at 1:52pm:


Indeed doesn't Ofcom's General Condition that introduced 03 numbers actually insist on this being so.  Including that they are included in any free call packages that cover 01/02 numbers.

I think if this is pointed out to Ofcom they may be able to force TalkTalk to include all 03 numbers in the "free local calls" allowance.  As there are still so few 03 numbers in existence I can't see how it would have a very major cost implication for TalkTalk.

Someone from BT reading this thread might like to lodge the appropriate complaint with Ofcom or the ASA about 03 numbers not being included in "local calls", seeing as how having them included will cost TalkTalk more money.  On the other hand I suppose inclusive 03 daytime calls on the base plan would give TalkTalk a further marketing edge over BT........................

What an exciting world we live in, when free competition is allowed.

The TalkTalk definition of "local" is found here.

The absence of distinct local rates was a key premise behind the regulation regarding charging for 03 numbers. The key phrases are "the rate to call a UK Geographic Number" and "inclusive minutes to UK Geographic Numbers".

I would suggest that the formal TalkTalk interpretation of these regulations be sought before raising the issue. If "local" calls are deemed to be to the "UK", then TalkTalk is open to public attack for this perverse interpretation of regulations as well as its role as the provider of most rip-off GP 0844 numbers. This is perhaps likely to be a more effective way of resolving the issue than inviting Ofcom to consider the possibility of facing a legal challenge over an attempt to enforce the regulation.

I think that the stipulation that 03 calls must be part of inclusive minutes where they otherwise apply is so that telcos don't exclude them.

From a regulatory point of view, I continue to be of the view that TalkTalk does not have to include 03 numbers in its inclusive local calls offering. That is not to say that they might not include them of their own free will.

loddon wrote on May 4^th, 2009 at 9:25am:

Yes. So if, for example, national calls cost 4 pence per minute and local calls are inclusive (zero fee), then 03 calls must cost no more than 4ppm.

Some of BT's tariffs differentiate between local and national call rate and 03 calls are charged at just below the half way mark between the two.

KC's Talk packages have different local and national call rates. Only KC Talk 4, the all inclusive package has 03 calls at zero fee because KC classes 03 numbers as national rate. Other tariffs which include local calls don't include 03 calls.

Further investigation has confirmed that Talk Talk does not regard calls to 03 numbers as "local calls".

This does indeed reflect the thinking of Ofcom as shown in the relevant sections starting on page of 18 of its statement on introduction of the 03 range. Circumstances have however overtaken this thinking.

Many public sector bodies have adopted 03 numbers for local services. Perhaps the most notable example is the Metropolitan Police. Its announcement of the new number includes the statement "Calls from any network will cost no more than those to 01 or 02 numbers, and also count as part of any bundled minutes". This is rendered untrue by the Talk Talk move, as apparently Talk Talk does not regard Londoners calling the Met Police as being a local call.

It is most important that this be addressed swiftly as the re-introduction of distinct local rates undermines attempts to persuade local public sector providers to move from 08 to 03 numbers. As suggested by others, attempts must be made to persuade Talk Talk to simply add 03 to the group of numbers treated as local rate for all callers. In the light of adoption of 03 numbers by local public service providers, Ofcom should be encouraged to either treat 030 and 034 differently (the later was proposed at one stage) or find some other way of avoiding this damage to the standing of 03. As the whole purpose of 03 was to provide confidence to callers, it cannot allow this to be undermined in this way. Ofcom must either actively discourage local public service providers from using 03 or ensure that this does not create problems.

It is not my habit to publish private correspondence in this forum, but members can be assured that all possible steps will be taken following the bank holiday.