Government's phone rip-off

Government agencies are still raking in millions of pounds from premium-rate 0870 phone numbers despite being told more than two years ago to switch to standard charges.

New figures given to Liberal Democrat peer Lord Tyler show that organisations such as the Driver and Vehicle Licence Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions have taken in more than £6m since telecoms regulator Ofcom demanded they stop charging money for calls from the public that is then split with phone operators.

Tyler has been following the issue since 2005 when as Paul Tyler MP he first questioned the Government.

'There is hypocrisy at work here,' he said. 'The Government is slamming TV companies and telecoms groups for making money from quiz shows and interactive TV. At the same time it has continued to use expensive numbers for vital public service helplines, including those connected to Jobcentre Plus.'

Calls to 0870 numbers cost up to 40p a minute if they are made from mobile phones and do not qualify for discounts usually given to fixed-line customers.

Tyler said it was impossible that departments had missed the controversy over the use of such lines when relatives were charged extra for calling the Foreign Office's tsunami hotline and the police and Home Office line used after the July 7 suicide bombings in London.

The biggest earner since the ban was introduced is the DVLA, which earned £3.7m from public information lines and almost £2m from driving test inquiries.

The DWP still has 2,299 premium-rate numbers. It was unable to tell Tyler how much it had earned since 2004.

Ofcom said: 'Government departments should follow the guidelines that were introduced after consultation following concern from the public.'

The regulator has no powers to force the Government to take action.

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