Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine has welcomed Ofcom plans to simplify number ranges and standardise charges, addressing consumer confusion.
Communications watchdog Ofcom has announced plans to standardise and simplify how a wide range of telephone numbers – such as 08, 09, 07, 0800 - are priced which will help to address consumer concern and confusion over the cost of calling businesses and other organisations on these numbers.
Under the proposals calls to 0800 numbers will be free from mobiles; it currently costs up to 40p a minute to call an 0800 number from a mobile.
They are proposing two changes to tackle consumer confusion about the cost of dialling these numbers:
1. Simpler number ranges
They propose to simplify number ranges, to make prices clearer and more transparent to consumers. This includes proposals to reduce the number of ranges. Under the proposals there would be clear categories of numbers.
01, 02 and 03 - geographic rates;
07 - mobile rates;
0800 - free from landlines and mobiles;
0843/4 and 5 and 0871/2 and 3 - business rate, lower cost; and
090/ 091/098 - premium rate, higher cost.
2. Standardising charges
They also propose to change the price structure of calls to these numbers by requiring the two elements of a call - the phone company’s charge and the charge made by the business or organisation being called - to be presented clearly and separately to consumers.
Pictured; Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries (image courtesy of http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk )
More information...
Click here to see a chart setting out the proposed simplified numbers would be advertised http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/files/2010/12/Simpler1.jpg