We’ve found travel firms flouting costly call rules

The most important first step is to get the new 01, 02, 03 or 080 number operational and then update the contact details on websites and social media as well as in press and media advertising.

Once that has been done, an announcement can be added for those who continue to call the old number. The announcement can be made ‘free to caller’ and simply tells the caller to hang up and re-dial the new number.

The final steps are to update posters, leaflets, forms, email templates, document templates, receipts, signage, vehicle livery, and so on. This process can take many months or longer. Third-party websites and information may never be updated.

Many organisations have new numbers operational, but haven’t yet updated all of their marketing materials. Wherever you see an 084 or 087 number advertised, always try calling the matching 034 or 037 number first. If it works, it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn’t, there will be no charge for trying.

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wavechange says:

Let’s have the free announcement NOW on the 084 and 087 numbers and leave the companies to update their websites etc at their leisure. The have made enough money from the public without dragging this out any further.

NFH says:

I like American Express’s approach on its existing 01, 084 and 087 numbers. If you dial the old numbers, Amex immediately tells you a new 0800 number, but also advises you to hold if you really want to continue using the dialled number (useful for a minority such as those calling from abroad).

NFH says:

Why did these travel firms wait until after the ban on 084 and 087 numbers took effect on 13th June 2014? They should have taken action months before these numbers were outlawed.

Travel firms are particularly significant. Regulation 41 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Payments) Regulations 2013 originates from Article 21 of Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights, so similar rules apply all over the European Union and the wider European Economic Area. The directive excluded passenger transport services from the ban on these numbers, but the UK decided to omit this exclusion (partially as a result of pressure from Which). Therefore airlines’ telephone numbers are covered by the legislation in the UK, but not in all other EU and EEA countries. This has the effect that consumers all over Europe can contact airlines via their UK telephone number in order to avoid a surcharged number in their own country.

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Ian says:

The Directive didn’t exclude passenger transport companies. It simply gave member states the option to exclude, or not exclude, based on their own criteria.

Pressure from another campaign group, and from organisations within the industry itself, persuaded the UK government to not take the option to exclude.

NFH says:

Ian, you’re mistaken. Article 3(k) of the directive (see the link above) specifically excluded from the directive “passenger transport services, with the exception of Article 8(2) and Articles 19 and 22”. Article 21 was not excepted from the exclusion. The UK chose to remove the exclusion within Article 3(k) when enacting the directive into UK legislation.

George Martin says:

Shall be keeping an eye on the Southern posters and signs to/from work over the next few months!

:large

The delays and cancellations are enough to live with.

Adam Gillett says:

During the chaos and disruption on the Liverpool Street-Stansted line a few weeks ago, my girlfriend was told by Abellio GA staff that she should phone an 0845 number, which turned out to be national rail enquiries and effectively useless.

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Ian says:

If that’s the case, then they made two mistakes. National Rail Enquiries uses an 0345 number these days.

Wherever you see, or are told, an 084 or 087 number, always try calling the matching 034 or 037 number first. If it works, it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn’t, there will be no charge for trying.

Jennifer Duffy says:

27 August 2015

Thomson Travel Shops/Agents are still using the 084 numbers.

william says:

27 August 2015

And where companies are allowed to use these numbers there are still many that AREN’T displaying the access and service charge as per Ofcom ruling that came into force 1st July 2015, 18 MONTHS after it was announced. When you complain to the ASA they then give companies another 3 weeks to change what they’ve already had 18 months to change. What a joke. We need regulators with teeth. Not the shower we have at the moment.

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dieseltaylor says:

27 August 2015

Absolutely right william.

Automatic fines per day announced at the time of the announcement would have been very useful in paying for the regulator AND getting the work done speedily.

Allan says:

Regulation 6 (1)(g) of the Consumer Contracts Regs excludes any contract “within the scope of Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours”. So a travel agent or tour operator can use an 084 or 087 number for calls about a package holiday. The regulations also only apply to calls “in relation to contracts entered (note the use of the past tense) into with the trader”, so any call made before you have entered into a contract, such as an initial enquiry, is excluded from the regulations and a trader can use an 084 or 987 number. Of course, not many will, because they want you to ring them and buy something, but if they are selling short-supply items, eg concert tickets or special offer goods, they can legally use an 084 or 087 number. The regs stop one having to pay through the nose for customer service calls where there is no option but to call a specific number.

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NFH says:

Allan, thanks for pointing out this ridiculous exclusion. I struggle to understand why any industry should be exempt from complying with Regulation 40. It should have been a blanket ban across all industries, with an exemption only for the types of contracts listed under Regulation 6(2).

Ian says:

I believe that it is intended that the Package Travel Directive deals with this issue for that sector.

william says:

And there’s me thought it was down to effective lobbying and politicians not wanting to tarnish their next gravy train.

Mick says:

Princess Cruises in Southampton use 0843 is that included

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william says:

@mick, I think the 0843 number is a sales line and therefore the only rule they’re breaking is not displaying the access and service charge. So until someone complains to the ASA about them, they’ll keep using it and breaking ofcom’s rules.

Just looking thru the old farts daily newspaper they are still several companies using 084 numbers and not displaying access and service charge, but it’s too painful to report them, so I haven’t bothered 🙁

wavechange says:

Yes, but a company cannot display the access charge since that depends on your service provider.

william says:

@wacechange they were all given a blanket statement to use “This call could cost X ppm plus your phone company’s access charge”

wavechange says:

Thanks William. Always happy to be corrected. 🙂

mikhail says: