At present I am with Talk Talk for my home phone and I pay extra to recieve free anytime calls to 01,02,,0870,0845 etc, But my doctors have changed thier number to 0844 which is a chargable number. Is there anyway around this?

wc2350 wrote on Apr 11^th, 2012 at 12:07pm:

And make sure you complain to your doctor and the local Primary Care Trust because they are not allowed to do this!

wc2350 wrote on Apr 11^th, 2012 at 12:07pm:
As already stated, the surgery is in contravention of DH guidelines.

My suggestion is to seek a refund, firstly from the surgery and then, if necessary, from the PCT, of the additional out-of-pocket costs incurred caused by non compliance with the guidelines. As a patient, you have incurred costs that are prohibited and therefore have the right to have such costs reversed.

In fact, perhaps it is time to create some form of standard letter template which could be used by any patient seeking a refund of such expenses. If a significant number of patients undertook this type of action, especially in writing, the administrative burden in processing such claims would be overwhelming. Action could start with the surgery, then the PCT, then higher up the food chain as necessary until some entity is reached that is capable of enforcing the guidelines. Just a thought.

ihate0845 wrote on Apr 19^th, 2012 at 9:38am:


If its this place http://www.merridalemedicalcentre.co.uk/ContactUs.cms they advertise a 0844 number !!!!

Where PCTs' have told Surgeries to put up a Notice saying "Calls are charged at Lo-call/local rate" also "Standard local rate from BT Landline" etc. etc. You have all seen these lies on Public Notices in your Surgery.

This is surely blatent Mis-representative Advertising - What do the ASA have to say about this - we hear all the time that the ASA have made a Company remove wording from Labels and Adverts made to the Public. These Notices are all in this category and blatent Lies not just mis-advertising.

Has anyone any idea if the ASA have had any complaints regarding these Notices and if so what happened?

If none have been forwarded to ASA what about deluging them with pictures of the Offending Signs.