As of Spring 2008, Ofcom will change the regulatory guidelines of Non-Geographic Numbers (NGN’s). Such adjustments will substantially affect UK businesses, particularly those who use 0870 & 0871 lines. It’s crucial that you have the knowledge to make the right business decisions in accordance with the new rulings.
The main changes you will be faced with are that of 0871 regulation and 0870 revenue share. Both may impinge on your business, yet even if you don’t already use a type of NGN it’s worth ensuring that you’re aware of your options for the future.
Ofcom’s modifications are being made in order to address public concerns of call centre waiting times, deceptive marketing and ambiguous pricing.
The proposed Ofcom changes fundamentally are:
0870 Numbers
-
You will lose your revenue share payments if you were getting them before.
-
You
will start receiving a pence-per-min bill for incoming traffic. This is
expected to be anywhere between 1.5 p – 2.5p per minute. For some companies
this will mean you will be up to 5p per minute worse off than you are now.
-
Your
numbers will remain the same
What should I do as a business so that this does not have an adverse impact on me? View our advice page:
0870 Business advice centre.
0871 Numbers
- Increased call cost (up to 10ppm). This
allows for a larger ongoing revenue share than 0870 numbers
- 0871’s will be regulated by PhonePay Plus – it is quite possible that advertising rights will be restricted
- What should I do as a business so that this does not have an adverse impact on me? View our advice page:
0871 Business advice centre.
0845 Numbers
- You will lose your revenue share
payments if you were getting them before.
- You will start receiving a
pence-per-min bill for incoming traffic. This is expected to be anywhere
between 1.5 p – 2.5p per minute.
- Your numbers will remain the same
What should I do as a business so that this does not have an adverse impact on me? View our advice page:
0845 Business
advice centre
0800 / 0808 / 0500 Free Phone Numbers
- These are widely known to be free
of charge to callers and the recipient pays for the calls. Ofcom are
not expected to make any changes to these numbers
0844 / 03 Number Ranges
- Ofcom have introduced new ranges to
act as alternatives to national, lo-call and free phone numbering
services. Whilst these ranges offer you more choice, each one also
has specific strengths and weaknesses.
What should I do as a business so that this does not have an adverse impact on me? View our advice page:
0844 / 0845 / 03 Number Range Business advice centre.
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