Just had to call this floodline number 0845 9881188, did a search on here but couldnt find any.

Thankyou, I havent tried that number yet but I will do when I have to call again

Hi, I wonder does anyone have a geographical alternative (or Freephone)for the Floodline NGN (0845 988 1188) of the Environment Agency?   There was quite severe flooding in neighbouring villages last night and it seems to add insult to injury that people with concerns about flooding should have to call a premium rate no in connection with this (particularly as there are credible allegations of Enviroment Agency neglect/lack of concern contributing to the problem)?   Any help would be gratefully received so I can pass it on via the local council.   Thanks.

No joy with 01786 457700 - 799

Another direct number at SEPA is 01786 455980

Not found on 01786 455900 - 999

Also: 01786 4524xx and 25xx

Not found on 452400 - 599

I recently received a letter from Floodline asking me to update some out-of-date details or they would be deleted...the number to call?  08459 881188!  Finding that you guys haven't had any luck in getting a number I have emailed them with my updated details and said that I will only call them if they provide me with an 01 or 02 number.  They're "going to get back to me" - I'll post the alternative number should I be so lucky as to receive one!

The EA got back to me after my 'complaint' - I guess this must be a fairly standard response:

The Environment Agency said on 21.02.2008:
"Part of the reason for using a non-geographical number is that we operate our Floodline contact centres over a number of sites.  By using an 0845 number we can re-route incoming calls more easily and have more flexibility when managing calls from our customers.  This is especially important during flood events when there are high call volumes. 

0845 numbers are not reliant on a geographic location and therefore not at risk or local failures.  It is also a safe guard if there is a fault on certain networks and lines. 

Floodline provides general advice to the public before, during and after a flood event.  If a caller requires specific local information the agent will attempt to transfer them to their local area office, determined by the caller’s postcode.  It is for this reason that a geographical equivalent number can not be provided as each caller would need a separate number depending on their location."

It would appear to me that they really aren't concerned about the cost incurred to service users, which is a bit disappointing.

Hi there.

Couldn't resist adding a few comments on this, as I'm one of the folk who works with one of the government agencies which operates Floodline.

The Environment Agency (EA) comments are spot on, the reason for non-geographic numbers really IS for service resilience. Neither it nor the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) receives any income from the telephone service, quite the opposite in fact. The 0845 number subsidises most landline callers, and an 0800 number would be genuinely impossible to finance from the public purse, as well as being inoperable for cellphone callers.

Floodline's Scottish service is operated by SEPA, and the Stirling area code numbers quoted in other posts are completely wrong . SEPA's HQ is in Stirling, but its contact centre is in Perth. I would not recommend calling its listed number as it will route to a local operational office, not able to handle any serious volume of calls, so urgent flooding information callers required could not be met.

Floodline calls to SEPA (and the EA's regional communication centres) are routed from a shared call centre in Bangor, Northern Ireland. This is operated by Teleperformance (previously MMT), who also provide further service back-up to both agencies during major flooding events.

The website listed is also wrong. The right ones are:
Scotland - www.sepa.org.uk/flooding
England/Wales - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning/

Hope that's helpful.
cheers

Then why not use an 03 number??

Also geo numbers CAN supply the facilities that 084/087 do, if EA do subsidy the 0845 number then shame on them, there are plenty of suppliers who would supply a number at least free of charge and keep the income generated, as it is from your response it would appear that the EA are paying the telco and the telco are keeping all the revenue share!!

No one is asking for a freephone,(0800), number!