SAYNOTO0870.COM - UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x

catj

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #15 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:17pm

Learn something new every day.

I hadn't ever noticed that 0800 numbers beginning 2, 4, 6, or 8, are six digit numbers and that 0800 numbers beginning 0, 1, 7, or 9, are seven digit numbers, though there are some beginning with 3, 5, 6, or 7, that are in both groups.

The majority of numbers beginning with an even number are six digits long. The majority of numbers beginning with an odd number or a zero are seven digits long.

So many complications!

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« Last Edit: Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:20pm by catj »

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catj Senior Member Offline Posts: 366	Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02 Reply #16 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 12:33pm It should now be a lot easier to spot certain types of typing errors in submitted information. For example, this one, with a digit missing, leaps off the page: Inland Revenue (Debt management/Time to Pay) : 0845 366 1204 : 020 8377 300* : London North Debt Management Office.*
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catj Senior Member Offline Posts: 366	Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02 Reply #17 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 2:52pm I found one number range not being formatted: 03002220000 and 03700100500 I am not sure if those numbers have the right amount of digits, or not.
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Dave Global Moderator Offline Posts: 9,902 Yorkshire Gender:	Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02 Reply #18 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 5:28pm catj wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 2:52pm: I found one number range not being formatted: 03002220000 and 03700100500 I see that this has been fixed. Same goes for 05 numbers. Do a search for abbey for some examples.
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catj Senior Member Offline Posts: 366	Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02 Reply #19 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 5:40pm I'm not even sure how a number like 05511430045 should be formatted.
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jgxenite Supreme Member Offline Help us to help you - read the instructions!! Posts: 1,454 Gender:	Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02 Reply #20 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 6:35pm According to the Ofcom numbering scheme (see here), it would be 05511 340045.
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Dave

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #21 - Jun 7^th, 2009 at 7:28pm

catj wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 5:40pm:

I'm not even sure how a number like 05511430045 should be formatted.

I think that all numbers should be formatted as 0### ###### unless there is a case for it to be any different. The only exceptions, therefore are the STD numbers where the code is not five digits (including leading zero). The reason for this is so that there is a space to separate code and local number.

All non-geographical numbers do not have an optional code.

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Dave

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #22 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:45am

Dave wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 7:28pm:

catj wrote on Jun 7^th, 2009 at 5:40pm:

I'm not even sure how a number like 05511430045 should be formatted.

I think that all numbers should be formatted as 0### ###### unless there is a case for it to be any different. The only exceptions, therefore are the STD numbers where the code is not five digits (including leading zero). The reason for this is so that there is a space to separate code and local number.

All non-geographical numbers do not have an optional code.

I have thought about this again. NTS non-geographical prefixes should be 0800, 0808, 0845, 0870 etc.

Mobile numbers and personal numbers should be 07789 123456, 07000 123456 etc. I think 05 numbers should be like this (ie 05511 123456).

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catj

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #23 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:02am

I agree that mobile numbers should be formatted as: 07xxx xxxxxx here.

However, for 070 'personal' numbers I always write those out as 070 xxxx xxxx so that they cannot be confused with mobile numbers (a common scam).

For the moment, you're right about 0800, 0808, 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871, etc, but I am sure that I saw something, some while ago, that was suggesting that at some point in the future it was going to be recommended that they should be written as 08x xxxx xxxx instead.

I think the same plan (0xx xxxx xxxx) is also going to be hatched for 030, 033, 034, 037, etc, numbers at some time in the future as well.

In any case, it looks like the software used to run this website is flexible enough that changes like this can be made as and when they are needed. What has been achieved in the last 24 hours has already massively improved usability.

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« Last Edit: Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:12am by catj »

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irrelevant

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #24 - Jun 8^th, 2009 at 12:45pm

catj wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:02am:

However, for 070 'personal' numbers I always write those out as 070 xxxx xxxx so that they cannot be confused with mobile numbers (a common scam).

That's a very good method!

catj wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:02am:

For the moment, you're right about 0800, 0808, 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871, etc, but I am sure that I saw something, some while ago, that was suggesting that at some point in the future it was going to be recommended that they should be written as 08x xxxx xxxx instead.

Eeks.. I hope not .. how will people be able to tell the difference between 0870 (free on some call plans) and 0871 (up to 10p/min!) Or maybe that's what the numbers' owners want...

catj wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:02am:

I think the same plan (0xx xxxx xxxx) is also going to be hatched for 030, 033, 034, 037, etc, numbers at some time in the future as well.

Hmm. Given 0370 and 0345 are there specifically for 0870 & 0845 migrations, I'd say 03xx xxxxxxx is a better format. Especially as most (all?) other numbers within 03 currently start 0300 and 0333 which fit nicely...

catj wrote on Jun 8^th, 2009 at 1:02am:

In any case, it looks like the software used to run this website is flexible enough that changes like this can be made as and when they are needed. What has been achieved in the last 24 hours has already massively improved usability.

Agreed, it does look better!!

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catj

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #25 - Oct 19^th, 2009 at 11:36am

The database pages mostly look fine after all the changes a few months ago.

Ten-digit 0800 numbers are shown as 0800 xxxxxx. Those are fine.

However, do note that 0800 numbers can be either ten or eleven digits long.

Eleven digit 0800 numbers are shown as 0800 xxxxxxx but should really be shown as 0800 xxx xxxx if possible.

Eleven digit 0808 numbers are shown as 0808 xxxxxxx but should really be shown as 0808 xxx xxxx if possible. All 0808 numbers have eleven digits.

Eleven digit 055 numbers are shown as 055xxxxxxxx but should really be shown as 055 xxxx xxxx if possible.

Eleven digit 056 numbers are shown as 056xxxxxxxx but should really be shown as 056 xxxx xxxx if possible.

If you have a few minutes sometime, can you please change those too?

Additionally, would you also please consider showing eleven-digit 070 personal numbers as 070 xxxx xxxx too? Those are often associated with scams, and the alternative format makes it more clear that they are NOT a mobile number. I doubt there are many, if any, 070 personal numbers in the database, but the 070 xxxx xxxx format will make them stand out in listings making them easier to find.

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Dave

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #26 - Oct 19^th, 2009 at 11:50am

catj wrote on Oct 19^th, 2009 at 11:36am:

The database pages mostly look fine after all the changes a few months ago.

Ten-digit 0800 numbers are shown as 0800 xxxxxx. Those are fine.

However, do note that 0800 numbers can be either ten or eleven digits long.

Eleven digit 0800 numbers are shown as 0800 xxxxxxx but should really be shown as 0800 xxx xxxx if possible.

Eleven digit 0808 numbers are shown as 0808 xxxxxxx but should really be shown as 0808 xxx xxxx if possible. All 0808 numbers have eleven digits.

Eleven digit 055 numbers are shown as 055xxxxxxxx but should really be shown as 055 xxxx xxxx if possible.

Eleven digit 056 numbers are shown as 056xxxxxxxx but should really be shown as 056 xxxx xxxx if possible.

If you have a few minutes sometime, can you please change those too?

Hello catj. I note from your postings that telephone number formatting of interest to you.

Changes were made following your posting, which was the start for this thread.

Whilst it would be ideal to display 11 digit freephone numbers with a second space, site admin informs me that this causes problems because of the different length 0800 numbers where some need these extra spaces and others don't.

With regard 05 numbers, why do you think that there should be a 3-digit prefix followed by two blocks of four?

catj wrote on Oct 19^th, 2009 at 11:36am:

Additionally, would you also please consider showing eleven-digit 070 personal numbers as 070 xxxx xxxx too? Those are often associated with scams, and the alternative format makes it more clear that they are NOT a mobile number. I doubt there are many, if any, 070 personal numbers in the database, but the 070 xxxx xxxx format will make them stand out in listings making them easier to find.

This is a good idea.

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jgxenite Supreme Member Offline Help us to help you - read the instructions!! Posts: 1,454 Gender:	Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02 Reply #27 - Oct 19^th, 2009 at 11:56am As I said back in June, Ofcom actually shows 05 numbers in the format 05xxx xxxxxx, so we should really adhere to that format.
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catj

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #28 - Oct 19^th, 2009 at 6:10pm

For 055 and 056 numbers, allocations are issued in blocks at the 10k* level.

The unique digits AAAB define the 'reference number' of the block...

056AA    ABCCCC

056AAAB    CCCC

056 AAAB CCCC

Tariffing is defined in blocks at the 100k* level.

For tariffing purposes, the unique digits AAA define the tariff band; so maybe...

056AAA BCCCC
or
056 AAA BCCCC

would make more sense - but I don't think the UK public could understand yet another number format.

You've therefore got three choices...

056AA    ABCCCC

056A AAB CCCC

056 AAAB CCCC

For the latter format, a Google search for 'Tel 056' or similar would find all these VoIP numbers quite easily, rather than having to try 05611 then 05612 then 05613 etc.

*http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/groups/nvs_index/dg_250204/meeting_notes

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« Last Edit: Oct 20^th, 2009 at 1:31am by catj »

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jgxenite

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Re: UK Telephone Number Formats - 01x1 - 011x - 02
Reply #29 - Oct 21^st, 2009 at 10:49pm

While I agree that the 05x xxxx xxxxx format would be good, and make sense giving the tariffing etc., searching for "tel 055" for example brings up numbers in Italy, Morocco, Korea... while "tel 05511" (for example) appears to show more UK-based numbers at first glance.

It probably doesn't make any difference either way, but my preference would be 05xxx xxxxxx, only because I think saying it that way seems easier than 05x xxxx xxxx.

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