|
|
Post by happybunny on Dec 23, 2009 16:04:18 GMT
I see from TfL's website the travel info number has been replaced by a 0843 number: www.tfl.gov.uk/contact/13879.aspxThis is a diabolical move by TfL that could earn them £1000's of pounds, often from passengers who have already been disrupted or left out of pocket because of service problems! The current 020 number is free for many people (i,e those on mobile plans with say 600 minutes a month, those ringing from landline who get free landline calls) but the 0843 number is not included in bundles or allowances, and TfL will get shares of profits made from punters ringing the number !!! Also it seems they are cutting costs on the service as the website advertises a 'voice activated information system' and saying "No more waiting to speak to someone, Get information easily and speedily, On the phone for less time, Travel advisers have more time for you if you do need them" In other words: were shafting you by making you pay to ring us now, and also you will get to speak to a robot and probably have to press 20 buttons before you will get connected to a real person so we can get rid of a load of staff ! They say for now they will keep the 020 numbers open for a while (diverting calls to the new service) but for how long... ?? |
|
|
|
Post by Tomcakes on Dec 23, 2009 17:40:22 GMT
Saynoto0870 is your friend  . |
|
Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,310
|
Post by Colin on Dec 23, 2009 23:23:16 GMT
Although the "say no to 0870" website says it doesn't list 0843 numbers, it will work if you put in.
However....
The alternative "BT number" is, yes you've guessed it.....0207 222 1234!! And TfL say on their linked article that if you dial 0207 222 1234, you'll be diverted to the 0843 number.
You can't say they ain't clever buggers!
|
|
|
|
Post by citysig on Dec 23, 2009 23:45:11 GMT
The vast majority of companies in this land use 0843, 0845, 0870 etc. etc. More often than not, after ringing them you begin talking to someone who is sat in the sunshine while we freeze.
Speaking as a consumer, it does annoy me when free services become charged services, and often the quality reduces whilst the fees rise.
However..
Speaking from a Tfl employee point of view, why shouldn't Tfl jump on the bandwagon. And I am sure, Mr hb, that you would not be against it if we suddenly started benefitting from the profits. Unlikely I know, but never say never. The company is skint, and if it needs to do stuff like this to keep me in work then it gets my backing.
People will pay 25p to vote for some saddo on a reality show, so why not 10p to find out how we're running.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2009 0:15:26 GMT
like met control says
if this leads to LU staff getting a better pay deal/conditions, why complain?
everyone else does it
are LU not here to make money?
|
|
|
|
Post by norbitonflyer on Dec 24, 2009 0:29:04 GMT
The alternative "BT number" is, yes you've guessed it.....0207 222 1234!! And T fL say on their linked article that if you dial 0207 222 1234, you'll be diverted to the 0843 number. You can't say they ain't clever bug gers! But if you dial (020) 7222 1234 (please get the spacing right - London's dialling code has been 020 for nearly ten years now, and was never 0207) your service provider will recognise it as a geographic number and charge you accordingly (i.e. as part of your calling plan, free minutes or whatever). So they ain't that clever. |
|
|
|
Post by happybunny on Dec 24, 2009 5:01:34 GMT
People will pay 25p to vote for some saddo on a reality show, so why not 10p to find out how we're running. Good point... also the website gives the impression the 020 number will only remain active for a limited time |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2009 5:51:33 GMT
Isn't the TfL call-centre in London? Greenwich House or somewhere like that? I'm not "for" it, but at the end of the day, I can see why they're doing it. So many people now have access to the internet via their mobiles, there must be less people using the service. I'm one of the lucky few who has no need for either however! Know an ex employee who knows every bus route in London, & most of the tube transfers. His number is available at £10 per month...  |
|
Phil
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2018
Posts: 9,473
|
Post by Phil on Dec 24, 2009 8:07:48 GMT
People will pay 25p to vote for some saddo on a reality show, so why not 10p to find out how we're running. Good point... also the website gives the impression the 020 number will only remain active for a limited time NOT a good point. You pay 25p to vote because you want to. You call the 020 number because you HAVE to, having run out of all other ways of finding what's going on. I'm with happybunny on this one. Only a (contemptuous?) monopoly starts charging for supplying help when all else fails. If it really is 'just getting on the bandwagon' that in itself speaks volumes for the TfL senior management. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2009 8:46:02 GMT
An alternative if the job is completely up the wall and you have to get on a bus is the freely issued TfL Bus Service Guide.
It's pocket sized - about the size of your average pocket diary - and lists every bus route in London, destination and connections.
It also has contact numbers for the Operator of the service.
I have carried one for nearly ten years (not the same one of course, they're issued yearly in January).
The only downside? Staff only!
However, I'm sure there must be an equivalent on the open market....
It can be downloaded by .pdf on the Intranet (Surface Portal) or you can find the contact details for ordering.
|
|
|
|
Post by citysig on Dec 24, 2009 9:19:55 GMT
(please get the spacing right - London's dialling code has been 020 for nearly ten years now, and was never 0207) Whilst I hear you, I don't think it generally matters in most areas of the country now. With mobile phones, you always enter both area code and number. You rarely see companies advertise without the area code anymore. Besides, if I leave a space when I dial a number on my mobile it doesn't work ;D |
|
Chris M
Global Moderator
Forum Quizmaster
Always happy to receive quiz ideas and pictures by email or PM
Posts: 19,410
|
Post by Chris M on Dec 24, 2009 9:52:35 GMT
are LU not here to make money? Without wishing to get political, LU should be providing a public service not making money. I accept though that at present the word "service" is not understood by the purse-string holders. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2009 11:07:29 GMT
Perhaps this is a "Boris" move to make money, in the same way that the withdrtawal of the Waterloo & City on Saturdays in March is a "Boris" way of saving money ?? ;D ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2009 11:12:50 GMT
Nah, its to make a start at plugging the black hole in funding of £5.2bn!
|
|
|
|
Post by norbitonflyer on Dec 24, 2009 12:05:47 GMT
(please get the spacing right - London's dialling code has been 020 for nearly ten years now, and was never 0207) Whilst I hear you, I don't think it generally matters in most areas of the country now. It matters when people don't know where the code ends and the local number starts, and then try to dial the local number on its own. If you dial 222 1234 from somewhere in London you won't get through. Similarly, people have been known to add spurious digits when dialling the code, as in this example clicky |
|
|
|
Post by citysig on Dec 24, 2009 19:27:37 GMT
It matters when people don't know where the code ends and the local number starts, and then try to dial the local number on its own. And in the vast majority of cases (that's apart from the fairly rare eventualities you linked to) the worst thing to happen is you will either fail to get through to anybody, or get a wrong number. This is normally sufficient for someone to go back and re-read the website, leaflet, or whatever and dial carefully. I can't see what all the fuss is about really. Yes we are here to provide a service, but not for free, and all those other millions of companies who also use these numbers are also meant to be providing a service and they certainly don't do it for free either. If Tfl is trying to raise some pocket money then why not? It's not like they're forcing you to ring the number. And it's not like they will keep you hanging on for a few minutes until they've made a few quid out of you, and then fail to give you any information at all - the same cannot be said for certain other companies I have rung in the past. If you're at home or en-route to our stations, then why not use the internet or interactive service on the telly or mobile internet. Those without such services now fall into a relatively small minority. If you're already at a station, then the information, often too much of it, is posted free for you there. I think, as has been hinted at above, the falling number of people using the service has probably begun to outweigh providing an ordinary phone line. It's time for the service to begin paying rent. |
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 25, 2009 0:53:09 GMT
(please get the spacing right - London's dialling code has been 020 for nearly ten years now, and was never 0207) Absolutely! I'll stop before I say another word, otherwise I'll have to move this thread to the Rants area  ;D Either way, I'd never phone TI after having worked with some of them when we were in Customer Services together  (inc one who told people to come out of the station and turn right to get to Head Office... she was totally flummoxed when I asked what if people were coming from the westbound?) And besides, how hard is 020 7222 1234 to remember? Dead easy. What's the other one? No way is it as easy to remember. Oh. It's starting to get a bit ranty already! I'll remember my Christmas spirit and reel my neck in now! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2009 0:59:21 GMT
The very time you need the number is when you are out in the sticks (read: Stanmore station) waiting for a bus to Bushey for over an hour, and not knowing when it will come. Mobile operators charge a small fortune for 08xx numbers.
This was me on Monday evening - the buses couldn't make it up and down Stanmore Hill in the ice, so they just weren't going past Edgware.
- No number for Arriva
- A 020 7222 1234 (hear hear, it's 020) that is constantly engaged
- No countdown
Strange that at the one bus stop you'd expect a countdown, or at the very least a paper timetable, there isn't one! But I digress...
|
|
|
|
Post by memorex on Dec 25, 2009 1:09:55 GMT
Isn't the TfL call-centre in London? Greenwich House or somewhere like that? The TfL Customer Services call centre is at 55 Broadway, St James' Park... (well it was when i visited last month ;D) |
|
|
|
Post by 21146 on Dec 25, 2009 12:55:35 GMT
Isn't there a plan to move everything (Travel Information, Customer Services, Oyster etc) to Pier Walk, Greenwich, with a single premium rate telephone number?
|
|
|
|
Post by 21146 on Dec 25, 2009 12:57:59 GMT
The very time you need the number is when you are out in the sticks (read: Stanmore station) waiting for a bus to Bushey for over an hour, and not knowing when it will come. Mobile operators charge a small fortune for 08xx numbers. This was me on Monday evening - the buses couldn't make it up and down Stanmore Hill in the ice, so they just weren't going past Edgware. - No number for Arriva - A 020 7222 1234 (hear hear, it's 020) that is constantly engaged - No countdown Strange that at the one bus stop you'd expect a countdown, or at the very least a paper timetable, there isn't one! But I digress... Isn't Countdown officially dead as a project? Not that we ever got many in east London, even the one outside Mile End on the south side was removed for some odd reason. |
|
|
|
Post by Tomcakes on Dec 25, 2009 13:20:26 GMT
It is ridiculous that passengers should be expected to pay to gain basic information about the service. As alantan says, it is often called in lieu of other information not being provided (or the information provided being incorrect, by mistake or otherwise).
I would be concerned about plans to move the Oyster service to a premium rate line, too. It's bad enough having to telephone them to correct one of their cockups without having to pay a fortune for the privilege.
|
|
|
|
Post by 21146 on Dec 25, 2009 13:44:48 GMT
One can understand that TFL should not be expected to offer a Freephone number, but it's still shocking to see them following the privatised utilities in screwing the passenger, sorry customer, for every penny they can get by using premium rate numbers. Another nail in the coffin of the public service ethos of the old London Transport.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bighat on Dec 25, 2009 16:06:18 GMT
The very time you need the number is when you are out in the sticks (read: Stanmore station) waiting for a bus to Bushey for over an hour, and not knowing when it will come. Mobile operators charge a small fortune for 08xx numbers. This was me on Monday evening - the buses couldn't make it up and down Stanmore Hill in the ice, so they just weren't going past Edgware. - No number for Arriva - A 020 7222 1234 (hear hear, it's 020) that is constantly engaged - No countdown Strange that at the one bus stop you'd expect a countdown, or at the very least a paper timetable, there isn't one! But I digress... Isn't Countdown officially dead as a project? Not that we ever got many in east London, even the one outside Mile End on the south side was removed for some odd reason. I agree, never even knew of the one at MIle End. DID see one in Ilford High Road, near Hainault Street, on the south side, and heard of another near Romford Station. Apart from that, know of zilch elsewhere in east London! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2009 21:01:49 GMT
Isn't there a plan to move everything (Travel Information, Customer Services, Oyster etc) to Pier Walk, Greenwich, with a single premium rate telephone number? That's why I thought it was in Greenwich. Can't recall where I heard it though, but I do remember that the move was put to a stop when Boris took over, due to money reasons I believe?  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2009 0:18:06 GMT
Isn't Countdown officially dead as a project? Not that we ever got many in east London, even the one outside Mile End on the south side was removed for some odd reason. I thought it was being upgraded so that it would work using GPS instead of roadside beacons. At least that was what was on the cards about 3-4 years ago... |
|
|
|
Post by rayb on Dec 26, 2009 8:00:00 GMT
Isn't there a plan to move everything (Travel Information, Customer Services, Oyster etc) to Pier Walk, Greenwich, with a single premium rate telephone number? That's why I thought it was in Greenwich. Can't recall where I heard it though, but I do remember that the move was put to a stop when Boris took over, due to money reasons I believe? TfL have apparently put their name down for a chunk of space in the "Shard" building that is undergoing construction near London Bridge - perhaps the plan is to move in there in 2012 when it completes? |
|
|
|
Post by flippyff on Dec 26, 2009 10:33:28 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by railtechnician on Dec 26, 2009 13:14:03 GMT
The vast majority of companies in this land use 0843, 0845, 0870 etc. etc. More often than not, after ringing them you begin talking to someone who is sat in the sunshine while we freeze. Speaking as a consumer, it does annoy me when free services become charged services, and often the quality reduces whilst the fees rise. However.. Speaking from a Tfl employee point of view, why shouldn't Tfl jump on the bandwagon. And I am sure, Mr hb, that you would not be against it if we suddenly started benefitting from the profits. Unlikely I know, but never say never. The company is skint, and if it needs to do stuff like this to keep me in work then it gets my backing. People will pay 25p to vote for some saddo on a reality show, so why not 10p to find out how we're running. I find 0843, 0845, 0870, 0871 etc just as offensive as the other premium rate telephone services, worst of all is the 0702 service which charges hospital inpatients and their relatives fortunes to call from and to! One can vote with one's feet so to speak wherever possible but sometimes using such services is unavoidable. As for being transferred from 020 7222 1234 Colin is correct in that you can only be charged for the number that you dialled. I absolutely hate auto attended (IVR) services which all big companies seem to use these days just as I hate the data protection act. Companies use these together with the insidious 08XX numbers to charge one a fortune while generally being extremely unhelpful. Edited to add! I don't vote for anyone on reality TV shows just as I don't enter any of the TV prize competitions by phone. The cost of the call is one thing but I also object to the cost being bumped by an automatic contribution to charity in the case of reality TV. I think it wrong for TV companies to make amends for their sins by donating other people's money to charity! Again this is a trend that seems to be filtering through industry, even share dealers are doing it with investors money now if it is less than a certain amount! |
|
|
|
Post by railtechnician on Dec 26, 2009 13:26:56 GMT
(please get the spacing right - London's dialling code has been 020 for nearly ten years now, and was never 0207) Absolutely! I'll stop before I say another word, otherwise I'll have to move this thread to the Rants area ;D Either way, I'd never phone TI after having worked with some of them when we were in Customer Services together (inc one who told people to come out of the station and turn right to get to Head Office... she was totally flummoxed when I asked what if people were coming from the westbound?) And besides, how hard is 020 7222 1234 to remember? Dead easy. What's the other one? No way is it as easy to remember. Oh. It's starting to get a bit ranty already! I'll remember my Christmas spirit and reel my neck in now! Ha! As a dyed-in-the-wool telephone engineer of almost 40 years I have to say that regardless it will forever remain ABBey 1234 to me from the pre-AFN 1960s. Actually I don't think I've called it since 1968 and I can't think why I ever would! |
|
.
;D
(inc one who told people to come out of the station and turn right to get to Head Office... she was totally flummoxed when I asked what if people were coming from the westbound?)
