RE the call for an end to premium rate numbers for Blackburn with Darwen Council.
The matching 0344 and 0345 numbers, available since 2007, offer the same call routing and resilience features as their 0844 and 0845 counterparts.
They do so while ensuring the caller pays no more than they would had the same call been made to an ordinary 01 or 02 number. For many callers, calls to 03 numbers count towards their inclusive calls allowance and this applies whether the call is made from a landline or from a mobile phone.
Kate Hollern and David Foster are to be applauded for raising this issue. The council must now take rapid steps to fall into compliance with the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office in December 2013. A number of MPs are monitoring compliance within central government and it cannot be long before their attention turns to local government. Indeed, Valerie Vaz has recently asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about this matter.
Ian_SE (via website)
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