They used to use 01603 22XXXX but now whenever you dial a main number you get a BT "number has changed to 0844" message.
Theres only one reason why a 'local' council has changed to 0844, to get extra income from us.

Just about to do a FOI for the geographic numbers, as a rate paying resident I do belive that I have a right to dial a number which they dont charge me extra for.

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Quote from website
Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday: 8.00 – 18:00

Adult Education Brochure Line:
0844 800 8002

Consultation helpline:
0844 800 8010

Education General Enquiries:
0844 800 8001

General Enquiries:
0844 800 8020
0844 800 8011 (Textphone)
0844 800 8012 (Fax)
information@norfolk.gov.uk (Email)

Library Renewals:
0844 800 8006

School Transport:
0844 800 8003

Social Services:
0844 800 8014

Street Lighting:
0844 800 8008

Trading Standards:
0844 800 8013

Waste Management:
0844 800 8004
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wrote on Jun 15^th, 2005 at 3:41pm:

They used to use 01603 22XXXX but now whenever you dial a main number you get a BT "number has changed to 0844" message...

Are all the numbers in the range 01603 22xxxx telling you to ring 0844?  ie. the xxxx would be an extension of someone within the council.  If so, it could be they've moved over to voip or something as the cost of changing all geo's - ie. all those beginning 01603 22xxxx - so we can't ring them directly on them, would cost an absolute fortune unless it is just a few numbers.

Was the main number 01603 222222?

Most of the numbers upto about 30 say "number changed to 0844 800 8020".

01603 222232 has a recorded answering service. Dial the extension you require, or press 0 for operator. Is this any good?

This is also on 01603 222233.

yes the old main number was 01603 222222. Trading Standards number was changed to 0844 ages ago, and all the direct 01603's into TS have been told to ring the new 0844. Some of the DDI numbers still work, but the main 'public' numbers given out have those BT new number messages

Im just surprised why they didnt choose 0845.

Anyways Ive got a 3 page FOI request to them, so should be interesting to see the response.

wrote on Jun 15^th, 2005 at 9:16pm:

....Im just surprised why they didnt choose 0845....

The 0844 numbers they are using are classed as 5ppm so no surprise there that they chose that number range.  They must gain more revenue from a 0844 as it costs 5ppm for us to ring them as opposed to 3ppm for a 0845.

In these new rules from OfCOM concerning clearer cost indications eg. "calls cost upto 4ppm from a BT landline.  Other network charges may vary", etc come into effect (could be ages when it comes to OfCOM!), do they include costs to all NGN's or just specifically 0845/0870?

had a phonecall from the "Director of Communcations" today,

She was going on about how the county council had created a new call centre for calls coming in, and that thanks to the 0844 number callers would be charged the same rate wherever they called from in the county, people in norwich would pay the same as people in great yarmouth. Also people calling the 0844 would not be kept on hold for ages while someone found out their query but the call centre would answer straight away and find the query almost as quick.

She went on to say that she was aware of some callers had special cheaper tarrifs and that she would be providing me with a full list of GN's.

wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2005 at 2:26pm:

She went on to say that she was aware of some callers had special cheaper tarrifs and that she would be providing me with a full list of GN's.

"Some..." she means most/many.
"...cheaper tariffs..." That would be BT's 'standard' tariff, BT Together. The only people who benefit are those on a BT non-discounted tariff such as the Light User Scheme.

wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2005 at 2:26pm:

had a phonecall from the "Director of Communcations" today, She was going on about how the county council had created a new call centre for calls coming in, and that thanks to the 0844 number callers would be charged the same rate wherever they called from in the county, people in norwich would pay the same as people in great yarmouth.

Are you saying she is unaware that a caller ANYWHERE IN THE UK can dial an 01603 number for 3p/min (from a BT residential line) and that these new 0844 numbers are 66% more expensive to call?

Out of curiosity could we not find out how much revenue they get from these new 0844 numbers they are using.  I'm not sure if it will be volunteered or if an FOI request would need to be done.

I did put in an FOI to norfolk county council.

So we will have to wait till the request is done. I think the deadline is 15th July.

[edit]mc661's FOI request and its response is here.[/edit]