There is a website which you can use to find the equivalent geographical phone number (i.e the STD code and phone number) for many 0870, 0800 and 0845 numbers: www.saynoto0870.com/search.php

It has a large number of listings for HMRC and DWP's 0845 and 0800 numbers and because many mobile phone and landline packages now include free access to geographical numbers, but charges for non-geographical numbers this may be a helpful resource.

Many debt collection agencies use 0870 numbers to boost their profits and you can also find the geographical equivalents for these here.

It's pity the government does not advertise the geographical numbers alongside their non-geographical numbers. Even the 0800 numbers proposed for JCP result in charges for many mobile phone users.

Thank you for that,will come in handy

I always thought the DWP received revenue from 0845 numbers. Can someone confirm please as they've recently denied it.

certainly used to be the case ...

DWP receives more than £¼ million/year through 0845 numbers (29 September 2006)

I've been using this site for years - very good. But not all numbers are listed on it. As a general rule, you can contact a JC/DWP office on thier number was was before they switched to 0845...

Don't know how tru this is, but I heard that some offices are barring calls made to the geographical numbers so if your organisation does not automatically withold your phone number, dial 141 before the geographical number.

As for the cost - diabolical robbery of the poor! Especially as a large portion of call costs is taken up in connecting the call, and many of the offices cut you off when they're busy forcing you to redial. Totally shameful!!

Looks like a useful site - I heard from a client this morning who was on hold for 15 minutes trying to make a benefit claim from a mobile, that's a lot of dosh at 40p a minute!

The JCP refused point blank to allow her access to their phones and she ended up having to use the phone at a local shop. Totally unacceptable in my opinion.

Phil

I'm writing today with a request under the FOI Act for up to date info about these 0845 numbers. They've told me verbally and in writing they get no revenue from these numbers.

It could of course have changed since they disclosed they received >£0.25m following the Derbyshire Unemployed Workers group request.

Would you include in your request statistics about how many calls are answered and not dealt with (i.e. those that cut you off when the office is busy forcing you to redial)?

Thnx

This doesn't happen according to them (and which I have in writing - twice) as there are "systems in place".

I've already sent my email request Tony but I'll send another adding this to it.

Doesn't happen??!! It's happened to me several times when phoning on behalf of a client.

You just get a recorded message that says "all our lines are busy at the moment. Please call again later" or words to that effect.

Happened to me twice the following day - don't you just love em.

I've been doing some detective work on the 0845 nbrs and companies can chose whether to share revenue. You never know they might have been shamed into opting out of making profit from claimants after having to disclose they made over 1/4 million a couple of years ago.

It still doesn't justify these numbers though or the aborted attempts when they're busy.

Pity it's not like banks and suchlike where they give 0845 or 0870 plus geographical number to use if you're phoning from abroad and which I always use as they're included in my phone package.

"The JCP refused point blank to allow her access to their phones and she ended up having to use the phone at a local shop."

I would agree, that is totally unacceptable!!!

However our JC+ offices have "warm phones" which clients can use to make calls to any department within JC+ - i was under the impression that this type of thing was national but i take it from this that it is not?

In short - no

Milton Keynes Social Fund office 2.45pm today:

"Thank you for calling jobcentre plus. All our lines are busy...please call back later...blah...blah..." flatline.