Move from 0845 number to see BT customers charged more

Date: 20/12/2011

An investigation has revealed individuals are set to be charged significantly more money if they use their BT phone line to call Thames Valley Police on its new number.

According to the Oxford Mail, the 101 number that has been drafted in to replace the original 0845 local rate number will see residents with this service provider pay almost double the 15p flat rate.

Previously, BT customers paid 2.042p to phone the force, but this is set to increase markedly under the new number.

Robert Oxley of the Tax Payers' Alliance criticised the move, claiming there is a "danger" people will not realise they now have to pay more.

"The force should have looked carefully at all the information before making this change, it seems they had good intentions but didn't do their homework," Mr Oxley remarked.

By the end of 2012, the 101 service will be available across all areas of England and Wales, due to a drive to nationalise non-emergency numbers by the government.