Now the Tories want you to pay to phone Council Helpline
Trafford’s Tory Council has (August 2006) introduced a Helpline for residents to phone in to report incidents of Motorcycle Nuisance. However the phone number they are using is 0870 050 7373 and 0870 numbers can cost upto 8p/minute; much more than a local number. In addition, some of the payment is actually shared with the Council!
The Central Office of Information and the telephone regulator Ofcom both recommend that 0870 numbers should not be used by public bodies. They recognised that there is a great deal of public concern and confusion about these numbers. For example, many people believed that they were full “premium rate” numbers that cost 25 to 35p per minute to phone and were discouraged for m using them. For this reason in October 2006, Bolton Council has stopped using an 0845 number, which actually only incurred local charge cost.
Ofcom has now decided that, from January 2008, 0870 numbers will cost no more than the local rate for local calls and revenue sharing will not be permitted.
They recognise that there will be continuing public concern about 08 numbers in general and therefore propose a new range of 0300 numbers. These will be available only to Government, public sector and not-for-profit bodies who donot wish to charge customers a premium rate. The Central Office of Information advice is that public bodies should transfer any 0870 services to the new 0300 range and Trafford Council should adopt that advice as quickly as possible.
you seem to be rather perturbed that the tories are spending 10,000 on a luxury weekend, and that the public will have to pay to contact their council… i wouldnt want to be rude and insult your “ahem” intelligence, but have you conveniently forgotten about the billions of pounds that are been spent on the ILLEGAL war/s? or what about the tax that i now as a STUDENT am paying on top of the fees your labour government kindly take from me… what is the point in looking at my parents income when I pay the fees, I do the course and it is wrong to assume that as my parents earn a certain amount they would help me out. because of this i have had to move home and am now having a crap time, so not only am i skint now but i am also miserable… you are a bunch of timewasting school children who need to get there acts together and start doing the jobs that you are paid to do. because i am sure that were you in the position of the tories it would be 20,000 been spent on a luxury weekend or would it be some expensive biscuits? what happened to the old labour that stood for the true workers… regardless of whether class exists or not the values still do, but all you seem to be are thatcherites in disguise… how can the labour party who represented the workers suddenly be all middle/upper class. you make me sick
↓ Quote | Posted January 18, 2007, 11:35 pm