UK telephone code misconceptions

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Widespread UK telephone code misconceptions, in particular relating to the 020 code for London, have been reported by regulator Ofcom since publication of a report it commissioned in 2004.[1] A further study was commissioned in 2005, which found that only 13% of respondents identified the code for London correctly without prompting: 59% incorrectly identified it as "0207" or "0208".[2]

Due to the marked increase in demand for more and more telephone numbers to be available for allocation since the 1990s, the United Kingdom's telephone numbering system has been restructured several times on both a national and regional level, resulting in several modifications to the way British telephone numbers are written. As a consequence of these changes, millions of people who did not follow them have been left with a misunderstanding of how the system of area codes and local numbers operates.

The most affected regions are London, Cardiff, Coventry, Reading, Southampton, Portsmouth and Northern Ireland.

Contents

[edit] Background

A standard United Kingdom fixed telephone number (i.e. a landline, or geographical number, as opposed to a mobile telephone number or special/lo-call rate non-geographical fixed line) is divided into two parts, an STD code (area code) and a local number. The STD code indicates the geographical area of the number, and is dialed before the local number. When dialing within the same area, the area code can be omitted. Some telephone service providers differentiate ordinary calling costs using the relevant area code(s).

The area code plus local number can have varying total and composite digit lengths, for historical and operational reasons, but as a rule they do not exceed 11 digits in combined length. For readability, and to distinguish geographic location, telephone numbers are often spoken, displayed and published with a gap between the area code and local number, and/or with the area code in brackets.

[edit] London area code

Further information: 020

The telephone area code for most of Greater London and some surrounding areas is 020. It is not "0207", "0208" or "0203". All London telephone numbers have eight digits, most clearly expressed as two sets of four. The London number (020) 7222 1234 can be dialled as 7222 1234 from any other land-line whose area code is also 020.

However, according to research by regulator Ofcom in February 2005, only 13% of respondents identified the code for London correctly without prompting: 59% incorrectly identified it as "0207" or "0208".[2] If such data were to be extrapolated, 87% of London residents, or six and a half million people, do not know their correct local number.

[edit] History of the confusion

When the UK's original STD codes were allocated, London was given the code 01, for example, (01) 222 1234. The local number comprised seven digits.

In May 1990 the single London area was split, into two areas, due to increased demand. Inner London was given the code 071, for example, (071) 222 1234, and the rest 081. Consequently, there potentially then existed two separate numbers 222 1234, because they were in different area codes. The local numbers remained as seven digits. This doubled the numbers available for London, but it also meant that a person from outer London, when calling a central London number (and vice versa), had to dial the full number including prefix.

To free up more numbers for future use, on Easter Sunday, 16 April 1995 (dubbed "PhONEday"), an extra digit "1" was inserted after the initial zero into all geographical area codes nationwide, so Inner and Outer London became 0171 and 0181 respectively (e.g. (0171) 946 0357).

[edit] Re-unification of London

Further increased demand for telephone numbers in London led to the need for more number-space: rather than again split area codes, it was decided to add an extra digit to the start of each London local number, and merge the 0171 and 0181 area codes back into one, thus increasing the available numbers fivefold.

From 1 June 1999, a new code for a re-united London was created, 020. All the old seven-digit numbers had a 7 or 8 prepended to them, depending upon whether they had been part of 0171 or 0181. Thus:

(0171) xxx xxxx became (020) 7xxx xxxx
(0181) xxx xxxx became (020) 8xxx xxxx

Direct dialling of 8-digit local numbers was not implemented until 22 April 2000. After this date, London became once more fully united and all local numbers could be connected correctly from anywhere in the area. The following diagram shows the history of London's code, starting with the original unified 01 code and ending with the reunified 020 code:

[edit] Misquoting

Although London was re-united, people still frequently quote and write London numbers as if the city were still split up into central and outer areas by saying and writing "0207" and "0208". If the number is dialled in full as 0207 222 1234, the destination will be reached, but it is incorrect to place the pause as shown above because, if a number such as 222 1234 were dialled from within London - as if it were a local number - it would not be connected because it would be missing the first digit (of eight).

Possible causes for the misunderstanding include the confusion created during the period from 1 June 1999 to 22 April 2000, where it was not possible to dial eight-digit local numbers; the fact that people had become very much accustomed to the audio rhythm of a four-digit area code (from hearing the old codes, "0171" and "0181" repeated previously); and that incorrectly formatted caller ID data was transmitted for some time after the change.

Numerous examples of incorrectly formatted telephone numbers may still be seen in and around London, including signwriting on shopfronts and commercial vehicles, and in newspaper advertisements. The incorrectly-placed pauses are also heard in speech everywhere: in radio and television advertisements, and said by office workers misquoting their office numbers as "0207 ... ...." - unaware that this simply perpetuates the confusion.

Confusion was also introduced by the UK's prime telecoms operator, BT, who explained the change with advertising showing that "0171" numbers would become "0207" and likewise "0181" would become "0208". Their directory-assistance service also quoted the codes incorrectly.

A 2005 television advertisement for the mobile telephony provider O2 promoted a service that allows a user to select two area codes they can call for a reduced price; it also showed 0207 and 0208 as different "area codes".

[edit] New London numbers

From June 2005 new local numbers in London have begun to be allocated with an initial "3" - for example, (020) 3222 1234. Due to the lingering confusion, people unaware of the correct format are beginning to erroneously assume that there is now a new London code, "0203". Even some newspapers, both local and national, have given this misinformation.[3] [4]

In addition, the geographical significance of the "7" or "8" has been lost with regard to new number issues, so that, for example, some newly allocated numbers in central London now begin with an "8".

[edit] Similar errors with other area codes

Telephone numbers in the other 02x area codes (023, 024, 028 and 029) are often similarly misquoted. For example:

  • Many are still inclined to misquote the Coventry number (024) 7612 3456 (formerly (01203) 123456) as 02476 123456.
  • In Southampton and Portsmouth, you can see many examples of 02380 and 02392 being used as the area code, instead of using the correct (023) 80xx xxxx and (023) 92xx xxxx format.
  • Cardiff: correct code 029, incorrect 02920. Until very recently, all numbers within the Cardiff area code began with 20.
  • Northern Ireland has the single code 028, but many people incorrectly include the first two digits of the local telephone number as part of the code. For example, Belfast numbers are often incorrectly presented as 02890 xxxxxx rather than the correct (028) 90xxxxxx. BT adds to the confusion by using the first two digits of the subscriber's number to determine which calls within the 028 area qualify for 'local' rates and which are charged as 'national'.

Although now less common, the mistake still sometimes occurs with the 011x codes, both those introduced in the 1995 PhONEday changes and the more recently introduced code 0118 code for Reading:

  • Reading: correct code 0118, incorrect 01189. In 2007, many years after the change, some businesses in Reading still display the incorrect 01189 dialling code on shopfronts and in advertising. One result of the confusion is that Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been receiving calls intended for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.[5]
  • Leeds: correct code 0113, incorrect 01132; and Sheffield: correct code 0114, incorrect code 01142. Both cities changed area codes during PhONEday, but even in 2008, thirteen years after the change, the incorrect dialling code can still be seen on shops, vans, taxis, letterheads, and around the web.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ofcom, Telephone Numbering Program - The London Project
  2. ^ a b Ofcom (2005-04-14). London telephone numbers: New sub-range for London: (020) Research report, February 2005. Office of Communications. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  3. ^ Sean O'Neill (2004-07-14). Coventry confusion as capital rings changes. The Times. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  4. ^ Nick Goodway (2004-07-13). 0203 to be third telephone code [SIC]. Evening Standard. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.
  5. ^ Fire bosses ward off wrong calls. Reading Chronicle (2006-05-23). Retrieved on 2007-07-18.

[edit] External links