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AIBU?

AIBU to ask people to use 020 as the dialling code for London ?

164 replies

NetworkGuy · 28/05/2015 11:55

A long while back, the code was 01, then (in preparation for expanding the number space,) Oftel split the 01 code to be 071 and 081, later on, large cities had an extra '1' inserted, so Birmingham became 0121, and London numbers 0171 (inner) and 0181 (outer).

Later on still, there was the introduction of completely new ranges of numbers such as 023, 024, 028 (NI), 029 (Wales, currently only in use in Cardiff) and for London, 020

That's 020 not 0207, 0208 (and even London's Evening Standard paper had it wrong when proclaiming "0203 is a new code for London").

Incidentally there are also 020 0xxx xxxx numbers (used for call centres and normally unknown, but reached via 0800, 0845, 0870, 03xxx dialling codes for businesses).

So the actual range of numbers for London is currently:

020 0xxx xxxx
020 3xxx xxxx
020 7xxx xxxx
020 8xxx xxxx


Initially the 7xxx and 8xxx series were still the "inner" and "outer" London areas, but later on, once the "7" and "8" were in place, it meant that 020 7123 and 020 8123 could be used, and be in completely random areas of Greater London (and while BT exchanges covered only small areas, the numbers from cable firms like Virgin Media can be spread over several miles as there's not the same geographic constraints).


Why am I bothered, you may ask?

Well, the original reason for splitting the dialling "area" code from the "local" part of the number was because anyone in the area can dial without needing to add the "area" code. So in London, you can dial a local number just dialling the last 8 digits (unless it is 020 0xxx xxxx - these are defined as "National dialling" only).

I'm bothered because it is really easy to show the number the correct way, and a matter of laziness and error (brought about by poor example in the media) which has led to most Londoners being unable to show their number in the correct form. When there's some problem overseas, the error is further promoted because the Foreign Office number shown on news broadcasts (020 7xxx xxxx) is shown as 0207 xxx xxxx so no wonder few people seem capable of getting it correct. I'm not saying they are "thick", just misinformed!

Few other places have this problem, though for a while, when some other numbers (Bristol and Reading, I think) were changed to 011x xxx xxxx there were examples with spurious digits in the wrong place (making the number, if dialled, either be unavailable, or a wrong number). That was down to residents just not following the examples (because Leicester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leeds were not affected the same way).

I understand that when the '3' series runs out, there will be '6'xxx numbers, all still using the 020 area code. Only people outside need to dial 020, or, of course, someone using a mobile phone. I believe the media are responsible for confusing the public, mostly by showing numbers as 0207 or 0208 when the "gap" should have been present. TV news and adverts have continued to show the wrong form of number (ie they show 0207 xxx etc, not 020 7xxx) and what just "did it" for me was seeing a business (which is associated with Mumsnet users trialling its service) showing 0203 xxx xxxx as their help line number.

I know many people use mobile phones, so there's no "space" shown if you see a number displayed, but given there is a standard laid down, it makes most sense if everyone follows it.

Finally, some time back I did get DCMS (which is responsible for Media) to correct their Press Releases (to show 020 xxxx xxxx rather than the wrong form of number).

After all, if a Government department most closely connected with the perpetrators of misinformation are themselves "getting it wrong" then what hope that the advertising and media firms follow their bad habits, taking their (bad) example ?

OP posts:
OTheHugeManatee · 28/05/2015 11:58

You're probably right.

You also probably need to get out more Smile

NetworkGuy · 28/05/2015 11:59

Oh, don't worry, I do get my 3 mile daily walk... :)

OP posts:
TheMoa · 28/05/2015 12:02

Grin

I have honestly never had an issue dealing with a phone number, whatever form it's given in - even by those who say 'oh' rather than 'zero'!

I always use 4 3 4 as the format for UK numbers, and no one has died yet.

WorraLiberty · 28/05/2015 12:03

I'm sorry, my eyes glazed over and a little part of me died towards the middle.

I didn't make it to the end but YANBU (probably!) Grin

mileend2bermondsey · 28/05/2015 12:03

wow, is it really bothering you enough to make that huge post? YABU find something worth your time to obsess about

Nolim · 28/05/2015 12:03

Who cares

mileend2bermondsey · 28/05/2015 12:05

just to make your skin crawl, my home town area code is 5 numbers. So we do 5 3 3.

gobbin · 28/05/2015 12:06

Oh I understand EXACTLY where you are coming from.
In Cardiff, the added complication was that we went from Code + 6 digit numbers (e.g 0222 123456 which evolved into 01222 123456) to Code + 8 digit numbers (e.g. 029 2012 3456) by adding a 20 after the 029 code.

The change was made about 17 years ago. How many people still recite the number 02920 123456 or print it on vans etc. like this?! Argh!

Ok, so to have to 'relearn' your phone number as 2012 3456 when saying it out loud was wierd at first, it didn't take long to adjust. Sadly, my DH still 'says it wrong' and it irks me mildly!

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/05/2015 12:06

ffs

Naoko · 28/05/2015 12:07

YAprobablyNU because for some reason it completely winds me up when people dial a local number yet use the area code anyway. Maybe we should both get out more :o

However 020 is the Dutch area code for Amsterdam. So in my foreign-bred living-nowhere-near-London head it's nothing to do with calling people in London.

FarFromAnyRoad · 28/05/2015 12:07

I'm afraid I had to stop reading once my brains began seeping out of the hole that developed in the back of my head.

Is this shizz really important to you? Have you genuinely ever met another person who gives a mouse sized shit?

WhetherOrNot · 28/05/2015 12:09

Ooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkaaaaaayyyyyy! Lost me after the first paragraph I'm afraid.

Feminine · 28/05/2015 12:10

Fascinating!

I'm trying to remember if it bothers me too.

I left London 10 years ago.

Feminine · 28/05/2015 12:11

Actually, l'm a bit fed up my mum has an 0203 number.
It's Battersea... It should be 0207 still.

Charis1 · 28/05/2015 12:11

well, as far as I'm concerned, my number is 0207..... always!

Fatstacks · 28/05/2015 12:14

Victor meldrew's number is 4291.

Was that the question?

OrangeVase · 28/05/2015 12:15

Didn't it used to be that the area code was an abbreviation of a a name and the letters were dialled. My Grandmother was Elgar exchange - it is now somewhere in Harlesden and I have no idea what the area code might be but she gave her number as "Elgar 1234" - and I think that is what was dialled.

(Whitehall 1212 was the one of the most famous)

Then it was 01 for London + 123 for area code then 1234 for the number.
Area codes represented a specific geographical area and were known to Londoners - and indeed carried some status. (Still do in some places)

So although you are right of course I still think of my number as:

123 1234 - because it always used to be and I identify with my 123 area code. ( I need to get out as much as you do OP!! Smile

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 28/05/2015 12:16

Grin @networkguy

Isn't the standard 4,3,4? If London is an outlier in its numbering system maybe people just automatically used the 4,3,4 as that is what they are used to?

SodiumReindeer · 28/05/2015 12:17

OP, how long is it since you last went out? May I respectfully suggest that it was, perhaps, too long? Grin

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/05/2015 12:18

OP do you know the order of the London postcodes as well? Grin

NetworkGuy · 28/05/2015 12:18

ME2B So we do 5 3 3

It doesn't make my skin crawl - it's very common (in fact the majority of UK numbers were 5 + 6 digits (and there were a very few 5 + 5 numbers).

The number of digits in the "local" part is all down to the population, which is why the biggest cities are generally 4 + 3 + 4 such as 0151 345 xxxx (one of my numbers) while smaller towns get the 5 + 6 treatment like 01273 xxxxxx (Brighton) or 01234 5xxxxx (another of my numbers).


gobbin - I think part of that confusion over 02920 xxxxxx was that Caller Display didn't show the number as 029-20xx-xxxx as the software in the telephone kit needed to be reprogrammed to understand the multitude of formats...

01x1 xxx xxxx had been defined, along with 01xxx xxxxxx but not 011x xxx xxxx or 02x xxxx xxxx (at least, not before the big number change when 02x numbers were used to replace 01xx)

I suspect that you may still find an old shop /van with 02920 on it...
Maybe the problems would have been absent if signwriters in the major areas had been given examples by Oftel, so they could get it right even if the business owner didn't know!

PS I once chose the number 029 2000 6543 :)

OP posts:
CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 28/05/2015 12:19

YANBU Smile

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LaurieMarlow · 28/05/2015 12:23

I'm astonished that you care so much. But each to his own.

MaidOfStars · 28/05/2015 12:24

Golly.

SurelyNotEh · 28/05/2015 12:24

Oh OP I know just what you mean.

It used to drive me nuts when the 020 7/8 was first introduced. You'd be living in London, swapping numbers with someone else from London, and they'd give their number as "020X xxx blahdeblah".

I'd always think, why not throw +44 in there at the start too?

Not such a big deal now that we all use mobiles. But I understand your frustration.

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