my doctors surgery is changing over to 0870 numbers from end of february - is there anyway of avoiding using it?
mary

The best way I can think of is to make sure you go down to the surgery and make an appointment. Write to them, explain the issues, including the fact that you choose to drive to the surgery to make an appointment.

Ask the doctor to disclose the normal geographical number under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  A request should contain your name and address.  

Also complain by letter.

Tell them about this site. They might have been misled in the first place.

Go and ask your doctor if he knows that if an OAP calls to make an appointment from a phone box it will cost him or her about £1.20.

Watch his face; if the attitude is "So what?" he does know about it.

If the face shows shock and disbelief he has been another victim of NEGs sale tactics.

J

wrote on Feb 14^th, 2005 at 4:06pm:

my doctors surgery is changing over to 0870 numbers from end of february - is there anyway of avoiding using it? mary

You could contact NEG plc, which conveniently provides a toll-free customer service number, and ask the "business consultants" why NEG is exploiting the vulnerable and extorting money from the public. Its free(*) number, according to http://www.negplc.com/contactus.htm is 0800 096 8626.

* free from BT land lines. Other providers may rip you off.

wrote on Feb 15^th, 2005 at 9:39pm:

You could contact NEG plc, which conveniently provides a toll-free customer service number...

Ring it all day long, it costs them!!  ;D

And will it cost them more from Orange or T-mobile, than from landlines? These two companies' monthly bills do not charge for 080X calls  :)

the ngn provider will have a good laugh then