Hello Laurie and GP-UK,

On Tuesday, January 23, 2007, at 10:23:24 AM, Dr wrote:

> This is incorrect, the cost is most definitely NOT the same. Many people have
> all inclusive packages on their mobile phones or home phones, where for a flat
> monthly fee all calls are included (or a certain amount of calls are pre-paid).
> For these 0844/0845 numbers, these packages do not apply and the user has to pay
> the full cost of the call.

http://www.downloads.bt.com/pricing/SpecialisedNos.pdf

The above includes pricing of 0844 and 0845 calls from BT Residential
Lines.

0845 numbers are charged at "Local NTS" rate. Using Daytime rate as an
example the standard rate is 3.36p per minute (all examples exclude
VAT). However, most BT customers will probably be on one of the BT
Together options in which case the rate is 2.55p per minute. The
called number pays 3.48p per minute plus a monthly rental of 10 GBP.
For heavy users of NHS Direct, 0845 numbers are eligible for Friends &
Family discounts (excluding the Auto Update option which automatically
selects the 5 highest call cost numbers for the billing period; the
'non-auto update' standard option allows 10 customer selected
numbers). Although 0845 numbers do not qualify for any of the BT
Together major discounts (e.g. BT Together Option 1 10p for one hour
call at evenings and week-ends) they are discounted to the caller in
the sense they are 'national' numbers charged at local call rates.

0844 numbers are charged at varying rates depending on the two or
three digits following the 0844. They fall into two major categories,
Internet Metered/Un-Metered Services and Special Services, the latter
covering "Calls not including Internet Services", and "Calls to Fixed
Fee Numbers" but in each category there is a range of differing rates.

As far as GP practices are concerned, assuming the majority of
patients will be calling from within the local exchange area, I
personally don't see any reason for 0845 numbers and certainly not
0844 numbers. NHS Direct is a slightly different case. For example, a
BT Residential Customer on the Basic BT Together Option 1 would pay
less calling an 0845 number during the day but would pay considerably
less calling an 01/02 number evenings and week-ends. If NHS direct
also has/had an 01/02 alternative number, where there is a price
advantage for the caller there would also be a cost saving for the NHS
i.e. they wouldn't be footing the 3.48p per minute for the 0845 call.

Please note that all the above is my personal interpretation of
various BT documents and therefore may contain errors.

For costs of providing and running 08XX/09XX numbers see
http://www.btbroadbandoffice.com/linesandcalls/telemarketing/overview

Chris

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Emile de Sousa
>> Sent: 22 January 2007 8:18 pm
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: [GP-UK] 0844 numbers for surgeries
>>
>> and, to all those
>> Luddites who object, I'd like to say that the cost to the patient is the
>> same as the BT cost. BUT I also gather that within a few months Ofcom is
>> going to insist that all organisations using 0844, 0845 and 0870 number must
>> list a geographical number as al alternative.
>>
>> We shall see
>>
>


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--
 Chris Salter mailto:[log in to unmask]
 Lincolnshire Post-Polio Network http://www.lincolnshirepostpolio.org.uk/
 Polio and Post-Polio News http://mt.lincolnshirepostpolio.org.uk/pandppnews/