0870 Advice’s interpretation and comment on these proposals

0870Advice fully understands the need for change and the need for measures to increase price transparency in a marketplace that has evolved greatly over the past 10 years.

The lack of clarity surrounding 0845 and 0870 numbers which, while advertised as local and national rate are now usually charged at rates far exceeding the costs of a typical geographic local or national call, needed to be addressed.

The Ofcom Strategic Review aimed to address these issues, but in our opinion, only resulted in providing proposals that are bad news for the consumer and even worse news for UK businesses.

The regulatory changes to 0870 will result in further confusion for the consumer, with the introduction of new number ranges and further confusion over the cost of calls and, more importantly, may well result in the cost of calls increasing with the potential for businesses to simply migrate to new 0844 or 0871 numbers.

For businesses the impact could be disastrous.  Presented with a choice of continuing to use their existing 0870 numbers, but now having to pay for calls delivered or migrating to new number ranges resulting in the significant pain, effort and cost of setting up and promoting these new numbers.

How can these proposals be in the interests of the consumer or UK businesses ?

0870Advice is currently the only website trying to address this complex issue directly for UK businesses.  Many businesses will be left uninformed by their current suppliers, unaware of the various options they have going forward and the implications of any decision.

For example, any supplier that simply recommends a migration from 0870 to 0871 must ensure that businesses are fully aware of the potential implications of ICSTIS regulation and that they would not be able to receive calls from outside the UK.  Additionally, a simple transition to 0844 may not be the best option with further regulatory changes due to this range within two years.