My local GP surgery (elias and partners, bexhill) has installed 0844 numbers, which for 4p+ per minute listening to automated dialogue is pretty disgraceful.
I note however that the 'overseas tel' number looks suspiciously similar at
+44 840112 7553.
Does anybody know what rate that will be charged at?

Hmm, I could not find 0840 in the BT Price List and so suspect a misprint - and many other practices actively discourage calls from abroad... >:(

No such code as 0840 .Have you got a link to where you saw number.

jmb wrote on Jul 18^th, 2006 at 12:12pm:

I note however that the 'overseas tel' number looks suspiciously similar at +44 840112 7553. Does anybody know what rate that will be charged at?

Are you sure that wasn't (or shouldn't have been) +44 844 112 7553?

It would depend on what the overseas telco decided to charge (I have heard some treat 0870 numbers as Premium Rate so it's likely to be very costly - if it's even possible - to call into the UK on such a number).

Heinz wrote on Jul 18^th, 2006 at 4:12pm:

jmb wrote on Jul 18th, 2006 at 12:12pm: I note however that the 'overseas tel' number looks suspiciously similar at +44 840112 7553. Does anybody know what rate that will be charged at? Are you sure that wasn't (or shouldn't have been) +44 844 112 7553? It would depend on what the overseas telco decided to charge (I have heard some treat 0870 numbers as Premium Rate so it's likely to be very costly - if it's even possible - to call into the UK on such a number).

Heinz is correct about the high cost of calling 08xx from overseas. As an example, I have an account with Lingo in the US so customers can call me from there at local rates. When my phone rings here it costs me $0.03/min for that call to be forwarded to my 0141 number. If calls are forwarded to an 08xx UK number the cost is $0.28/min!

From some networks +44845 and +44870 are not possible. Rather more do not recognise +44844 and +44871. If it is essential to call them then use a UK based callback service like Voipfone (5p and 10p)