So the EU consumer rights directive comes in on the 13th and from then firms helplines can only be charged at standard rate. "Businesses who provide consumers with a telephone line for the purposes of contacting them in connection with their contracts will not be able to charge the consumer more than the applicable basic rate for that call. For those businesses who operate one telephone line for all enquiries (whether pre-contract or post-contract), steps will need to be taken to ensure that the number being used complies with these requirements."
The resulting UK law means companies have to give up their 0844, 0845 and 0871 phone numbers for customer enquiries and helplines including complaints. They have until 13th June 2014 to move into compliance.
SRA have announced theirs, do we want to list others as they do them?
The resulting UK law means companies have to give up their 0844, 0845 and 0871 phone numbers for customer enquiries and helplines including complaints. They have until 13th June 2014 to move into compliance.
SRA have announced theirs, do we want to list others as they do them?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will be changing some key telephone numbers on Thursday 5 June.
Details for the Contact Centre, Professional Ethics and confidential reporting line Red Alert will change, dropping the "08" at the start and instead using "03". Anyone using the "08" numbers will hear a message advising them to redial using the "03" prefix. This message will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The new numbers will therefore be:
Contact Centre: 0370 606 2555
Professional Ethics helpline: 0370 606 2577
Red Alert: 0345 850 0999
Firms that have the SRA's contact details on their website should ensure the new versions are displayed. Firms that have existing printed materials carrying the SRA's contact details can continue to use them as the re-direct message will be in place. However, any new printing should use the new numbers.
The change is being made so that the SRA complies with European Union Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EC. Under the Directive, calls to customer helplines must be charged at no more than the basic rate.
Charges for calling "03" numbers are the same as for calls made to standard UK landline phone numbers. Calls to "03" numbers are also included in mobile phone call packages in the same way regular landline numbers are.
Details for the Contact Centre, Professional Ethics and confidential reporting line Red Alert will change, dropping the "08" at the start and instead using "03". Anyone using the "08" numbers will hear a message advising them to redial using the "03" prefix. This message will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The new numbers will therefore be:
Contact Centre: 0370 606 2555
Professional Ethics helpline: 0370 606 2577
Red Alert: 0345 850 0999
Firms that have the SRA's contact details on their website should ensure the new versions are displayed. Firms that have existing printed materials carrying the SRA's contact details can continue to use them as the re-direct message will be in place. However, any new printing should use the new numbers.
The change is being made so that the SRA complies with European Union Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EC. Under the Directive, calls to customer helplines must be charged at no more than the basic rate.
Charges for calling "03" numbers are the same as for calls made to standard UK landline phone numbers. Calls to "03" numbers are also included in mobile phone call packages in the same way regular landline numbers are.
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