I am looking for a geographical number for 0845 330 9878 It could start 020 7227 ....?

Ive tried all the options for 020 7227 78.. but none of them worked.

I think the office is based at 55 Broadway SW1 but I can't be sure.

Their e mail is busking@tfl.gov.uk

This number takes 10,000s of connected calls every tuesday morning in a 2 hour period generating obcene profits for somebody. If this line continues to be run in this way it could generate £400,000 profit. I and others like me do not want to be contributing to this.

Any help would be great.

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~ Edited by Dave: Thread title amended

What is "LUL"?
What makes you suggest it starts with 020 7227?
If it takes as many calls as you say it does, then where is it advertised?
Why are people calling it? What is the significance of Tuesday mornings? What is its purpose?

At this moment this line is being used as London Underground's(LUL) booking hotline. Every Tuesday we have to phone number to book our slots. This is a highly competetive situation with the best slots going first. The 0845 number was introduced a few months ago and seemed to work fine. It was a little bit more expensive but it seemed to work. However a few weeks ago the people running this line decided it would be a good idea to patch us through to an answer machine saying the line was busy due to a high volume of calls. This immediately incurred a charge. Before we just got an engaged tone which cost us nothing.

A news letter from london underground stated that over 100,000 were made on the first tuesday. After complaining to London Underground about the running of this line we have got nowhere. They appear to be digging heels in. Meanwhile profits are being generated. Spending £20+ on this line just to get your weeks work is not uncommon and of course due to the competetve nature of the phone in the longer it takes to get a connection the the less you get.

Many avenues are being explored and a geographical number would be an extremely effective cost cutting tool.

After a bit of research I discovered LUL customer services numbers which started 0845 330 .... had the geographical equivelent of      020 7227 .... (the dots representing the unknown numbers) I had a hunch that the next 2 numbers were 78. Leaving two to get. However that was wrong. although they were either not recognised or appeared to connected with the telecoms company involved.

Do geographical numbers exist for every 0845 number and if not are there any legal avenues we can persue. Offcom seem to be toothless.

Any pointers would be great

The 0845 330 9878 number answers as the "Busking helpline" as the email address suggests.

The only customer services number for London Underground we have is  020 72277881.

Further TFL numbers can be found by searching the database for (tfl)

Put the brackets in to narrow down; so you don't get words that contain the letters "tfl".

Thank you

Can you let me know if there is definately going to be a geographical number for this request. I dont want to be going on a wild goose chase

gpx wrote on Dec 20^th, 2008 at 4:51pm:

Can you let me know if there is definately going to be a geographical number for this request. I dont want to be going on a wild goose chase

The purpose of the website is to assist each other in finding numbers as well as sharing those numbers we have found. Those who contribute do not have special powers to find alternatives.

Similarly, if you find that the number listed for customer services works for busking enquiries, then you should let us know so that the database can be amended accordingly.

As you are looking for the number, then perhaps you can try some 020 7227788x and 020 7227789x numbers during office hours to see if they will deal with your enquiry.

I doubt you will find one which answers with the exact same recording as is on the 0845 number because that is based on the 0845 number itself. Once you have selected the appropriate menu option (if there is a menu) on the 0845 number, and hold music plays, it is likely that you will be in a queue and when a free line becomes available on the 020 number(s), it will ring it. You may still hear music during this ringing period.

So don't expect to find an alternative which answers the same as the 0845 number, although I believe one will exist somewhere (but not on the 020 7227 range).

Before submitting for help in obtaining a geographical for this number I had tried all the numbers in the 020 7227 78xx range
It seemed the most obvious.

xx =80+ are associated with tfl or oystercard except 99
xx=20-79 are not recognized
xx=00-19 seem to be connected to the same telecoms company (The voice is annoyingly familiar). Though not in use

I appreciate you don't have special powers I am only trying to narrow my search.

It appears that these numbers work in tens. I will work around the other tfl numbers and let you know how I get on

We did have a call back feature on this number. That number was 0203 0540020(dialled 1471) Is this any help.

Thank you gpx

gpx wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2008 at 2:24am:

We did have a call back feature on this number. That number was 0203 0540020(dialled 1471) Is this any help.

020 3054 is allocated to Cable & Wireless, change date 01/2007

A Google of 020 3054 reveals quite a few numbers which relate to Transport for London (TFL).

if you want to get through to TFL/ london underground / buses or oyster just call 020 7222 1234  and request to be connected to the dept you want. They will put you through.
if you call 0845 numbers and you are a BT customer and signed up to their free 0845 plan then you can probably get the call free for the first hour after 6pm and all weekend long.

if you want to route via BT just dial 1280 and your call goes through the BT circuit but make sure you sign up to their plan first and wait 24 hours. Call is only free up to 59 mins.

There seem to be a few options here:-

1. Sign up for BT's Anytime Calls Plan which includes 0845 numbers 24/7 but does have a monthly cap on the number of included 0845 minutes (not sure what that is offhand)

2. Dave seems to have missed suggesting that you submit a request for the geographic alternative to this number under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 200 as TfL is a public body and so subject to it.  See www.tfl.gov.uk/foi/

3. You might want to consider complaining to your local member of the Greater London Authority and complain to them that this is unfair to buskers trying to earn a modest living, many of whom may only have a mobile phone and not a landline.  See www.london.gov.uk/assembly/constituencies.jsp

4. Have you written by email to all the board members and senior management of TfL about this?  See www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/1434.aspx and www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/boardandchiefofficers/1432.aspx  Senior management email addresses are FirstnameLastname@tfl.gov.uk (note there is no dot between the Firstname and Lastname and if you get this wrong emails to Firstname.Lastname@tfl.gov.uk are not bounced but simply fall in to an electronic black hole).  Note that Boris Johnson is Chairman of TfL  You can also email him at mayor@london.gov.uk

You really need to kick up a fuss making clear that 0845 numbers are always excluded form bundled minutes on mobile and cost 20p per minute instead of 1p per minute from a BT Payphone and it is unacceptable to charge a covert premium rate in this way when TfLs main swithboard is still the geographic 020 7222 5600.  You may also need to refer to the ASA adjudications that 0845 is not "local rate" and the advice of the Central Office of Information and Sire David Varney that government contact centres should not use 084/7 numbers as they make it unaffordable for the public to get in touch.

Hi there!

I was trying to get through to the Oyster helpline the other day and found out that the number provided here (02072277891 - a non-geographical alternative to 08453309881) now just redirects to a message telling me to "please put down the handset and call 08453309876". I also tried 02072221234, but it's just an automatic reply telling me the new number. Does anybody have a non-geographical alternative to 08453309876? I hate the Oyster system - first they mistakenly fine you ('maximum fare deduction' due to a faulty barrier), and then they expect you to spend a stupid amount of money on an 0845 number to phone them and get your money refunded - what a scam!

I hope someone can help - thanks in advance. ;)

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~ Edited by Dave: Threads joined

HateExpN wrote on Dec 28^th, 2009 at 9:05am:

Does anybody have a non-geographical alternative to 08453309876?

Surley you mean a geographical alternative? ::)


Anyway from their web site......

If you call 020 7222 1234
In the meantime, you'll be transferred to the new number at no extra charge.

HateExpN wrote on Dec 28^th, 2009 at 9:05am:

I was trying to get through to the Oyster helpline the other day and found out that the number provided here (02072277891 - a non-geographical alternative to 08453309881) now just redirects to a message telling me to "please put down the handset and call 08453309876". I also tried 02072221234, but it's just an automatic reply telling me the new number. Does anybody have a non-geographical alternative to 08453309876? I hate the Oyster system - first they mistakenly fine you ('maximum fare deduction' due to a faulty barrier), and then they expect you to spend a stupid amount of money on an 0845 number to phone them and get your money refunded - what a scam! I hope someone can help - thanks in advance. ;)

You could always email the Commissioner of Transport For London, Peter Hendy (see www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/1434.aspx) at PeterHendy@tfl.gov.uk or Vernon Everitt, Managing Director of Marketing and Communications at VernonEveritt@tfl.gov.uk to let them know your views on them only using a customer unfriendly 0845 phone number. :o >:( [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

A reference to the conclusions of the Central Office Of Information's Contact Centre Guide Third Edition and their conclusions on 0845 numbers (see P.36 of http://coi.gov.uk/documents/gcc-third-edition.pdf) and Sir David Varney's Report on Transforming Government Services and his thoughts on the 084/7 numbers (see P.65 of www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr06_varney_review.pdf) might not go amiss though, given that TFL is a public sector organisation...............

Hi and welcome to SAYNOTO0870.COM.

Transport for London is coming in for alot of criticism from members of this site because of its recent change of the travel information line to a 0843 number. This discussion thread for this is here.

I have been through the TfL alternative numbers we have and removed those which no longer work:

Oystercard 0845 330 9876/81 : 020 7227 7891
Underground Customer Services 0845 330 9880 : 020 7227 7881

For the time being, at least, I have replaced the alternatives for these entries with TfL's main switchboard number, (020) 7222 5600, which is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. They may or may not be able to (or will not) put callers through; try it and see.


As for finding more suitable alternatives, I tried all 020 7227 7xxx numbers and found the following:

• 800 to 819 "Number is no longer in use" recording
  
• 820 through to 879 are not recognised
  
• 880 through to 899 with the exception of 897 all answer with a recording saying that either the particular number is not in use or that the number for Oyster is now 0845 330 9876.
  
• 897 rings no answer.

The TfL contact page gives 55 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BD as the contact address for Oystercard (1st Floor, Albany House) and London Underground only. Other parts of TfL have other addresses.

020 7918 4093 is a fax number for Oyster and LU customer services. 020 7918 1000 and 3000 both answer as the TfL switchboard, identical to 020 7222 5600.

The prefix 020 7918 is allocated to the communications provider Cable & Wireless. 020 7222 and 7227 are BT prefixes, so perhaps TfL's numbers are being moved from those provided by BT to C&W ones, and that's the reason the old numbers are going.  :-/


Anyway, digging around finds the number for Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer of London Underground, which is 020 7918 4036.

I suspect that there are many TfL numbers in the 020 7918 xxxx range. The 020 alternatives we have for other services such as Dial-a-Ride and Low Emission Zone are in various C&W ranges, so the others are needles in a very large haystack.

Thanks for the numbers. I'll try them and hopefully get the problem sorted out! Thanks again and happy new year!  ;D

HateExpN wrote on Dec 31^st, 2009 at 5:48pm:

Thanks for the numbers. I'll try them and hopefully get the problem sorted out! Thanks again and happy new year!  ;D

It doesn't sound like you plan to email their top brass to complain about the policy decisions which have led to the current situation though?  If people don't complain to senior management at a company about the adoption of these erroneous policies then they are unlikely to be changed.

Transport for London Oyster number listed now drops out after one ring.

The Tfl 1234 number will connect you to an operator eventually, after three goes around requiring button pressing, but you do get all the daft messages about "customer care" and "agents" and guess what "your call is important". Currently I am holding out of sheer bloody mindedness. The longer you hold the longer the wait—it started at a four minute wait, then a six minutes.

Now they have answered so tell them you don't have a touch tone phone! Guess what, I got a human being

As you say, they should be ashamed of themselves

Mike

mike_gordon wrote on Mar 17^th, 2010 at 3:56pm:

Transport for London Oyster number listed now drops out after one ring.

Which number are you referring to? It would help if you put it in your posting so as to avoid the requirement for second guessing.  ::)

There is one entry whose alternative is the number for the main TfL switchboard which works fine:

Transport for London (TfL) - Oyster Card             0845 330 9876       020 7222 5600             Main TfL Switchboard - ask for Oystercard  Ticketing & Refunds  Available Monday-Friday 8am to 6pm only  Also for: 0845 330 9881

London Underground appear to have changed their alternatives to 0845 numbers sometime in the last few days. I'm searching for an alternative to 08453309878. It was 02032836555 but this now leads you to an answering machine which tells you to call 08453309878.

I wanted to get hold of TfL.   I tried 020 3283 6550 and got the answering machine message referring me to 0843.    However, I then rang 020 7222 5600 (switchboard) and she put me straight through to the Oystercard department (which is what I wanted).

8usk3r wrote on May 3^rd, 2011 at 11:08am:

London Underground appear to have changed their alternatives to 0845 numbers sometime in the last few days. I'm searching for an alternative to 08453309878. It was 02032836555 but this now leads you to an answering machine which tells you to call 08453309878.

Hello and welcome to SAYNOTO0870.COM.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I have been through numbers for TfL and 020 3283 6550/6553/6555 now have redirection messages. They were for Underground Customer Services, Charity Collections and Busking respectively and each now redirects to its rip-off 0845 counterpart. I have replaced each with the number for the main switchboard, 7222 6500, with a note to this effect.


I have spent considerable time in the past digging through TfL numbers to find the alternatives to its premium numbers. I must point out that I have no personal requirement for such alternatives and possess no special skills. The only tool I use is a telephone, which I assume all those who come here looking for alternative numbers are also in the possession of.

Over the last few weeks I have had to change the number listed for travel information (alternative to 0843 222 1234) once every day or so. TfL chooses to chop any number listed here to force the public to use the premium rate numbers.

If anyone does find a new alternative(s), then please post and I will put them in the listings in place of switchboard.

Thanks For that. I'll do some trial and erroring myself when I get the chance and will let you know if I come up with anything.

8usk3r