GRO - Change of Telephone Number

[notanotherminer]

The following is an extract from an email sent by the Federation of Family History Societies which is self explanatory:

The main public facing telephone number for the General Register Office (GRO) will be changing from 5 January 2012. From that date, GRO will cease to publish the current 0845 603 7788 telephone number for customers who wish to make an enquiry about, or place an order, for certificates.

Customers who previously contacted GRO via the 0845 number will be asked to contact 0300 123 1837. This aims to be a particularly memorable number for customers as civil registration was introduced in England and Wales in the year 1837.

Telephone numbers beginning with 0300 are non-geographic numbers, specially designated for use by public bodies and not-for-profit organisations. Calls to 0300 numbers are not free and should not be confused with 0800 numbers.

[Peter Goodey]

Telephone numbers beginning with 0300 are non-geographic numbers, specially designated for use by public bodies and not-for-profit organisations. Calls to 0300 numbers are not free and should not be confused with 0800 numbers.

Well, yes but it's a rather negative way to put it.

0800 and 084 numbers are completely different animals.

OFCOM's explanation of 03 numbers is "Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and must count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls".

Most people will find that calling an 03 is cheaper than calling an 084 number. I can't imagine that anyone would find it more expensive.

I think this change is to be welcomed.

[David Benson]

I understood that 0845 numbers were charged at a 'local' call rate and not a national rate which was more expensive. Some phone co's charge for 'free' 0800 numbers, especially mobile phone co's.

[Peter Goodey]

I was particularly thinking about the inclusive element.

AIUI some companies' "inclusive" tariffs may include 0845 numbers along with 01, 02 and 03 numbers. In this case, calls to 03 numbers won't cost any more than calls to 0845 numbers.

On the other hand many tariffs do not include 0845 numbers in the inclusive portion of the tariff along with 01, 02 and 03. In this case calls to 03 numbers will be cheaper than 0845.

On my tariff for example 03 numbers are inclusive (therefore "free", in a sense). On the other hand, a 5 minute 0845 call costs 43.15p.

I take your point that some people on tariffs without an inclusive element may not be better off.