Phone number beginning with one!?

[RichardCoulter]

After dialling 1471 on my landline, a strange number tried to call me yesterday.

It was the code 01242 and then a number beginning with 1, which i've never come across before. Could this be one of those number spoofing scams?

[Stephen]

Well that area code relates to Cheltenham, so it could be a normal UK landline or business.

Locations using 01242 numbers include:

Alderton
Andoversford
Bishop's Cleeve
Cheltenham
Coberley
Coombe Hill
Shurdington
Winchcombe
Withington

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Well that area code relates to Cheltenham, so it could be a normal UK landline or business.

I don't know who it could be, but it does look like It's from a VM customer and there are now actually numbers that begin with one; i've never come across this before!

From http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/nu...ndex.htm#geog1 -

1242	10		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	11		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	12		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	13		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	14		Allocated	Virgin Media Limited	(0)+10	16/03/2016 09:26:28
1242	15		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	16		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	17		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	18		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	19		Allocated	BT	(0)+10	17/03/1998 00:00:00

[RichardCoulter]

Maybe they are so short of numbers that they are having to release these starting with one??

You'd have thought that the pressure on landline numbers would have eased by now as mobiles take over.

[Inactive Digital]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

You'd have thought that the pressure on landline numbers would have eased by now as mobiles take over.

I can't imagine there's been a significant reduction in demand as all Openreach broadband users require line rental and most Virgin customers opt to take one - even if they have no phones connected, they still have a phone number.

When my employer used POTS telephony, direct numbers were hard to come by. But with the introduction of VOIP bringing costs down, everyone has their own direct number now. So it could be businesses that are increasing demand for numbers.

[nodrogd]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Maybe they are so short of numbers that they are having to release these starting with one??

Nope. This is not one of the areas that has no local dialling, & is not an area "at risk" of losing the facility.

https://www.area-codes.org.uk/more/a...l-dialling.php

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I don't know who it could be, but it does look like It's from a VM customer and there are now actually numbers that begin with one; i've never come across this before!

From http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/nu...ndex.htm#geog1 -

1242	10		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	11		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	12		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	13		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	14		Allocated	Virgin Media Limited	(0)+10	16/03/2016 09:26:28
1242	15		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	16		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	17		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	18		Free for National Dialing Only		(0)+10	
1242	19		Allocated	BT	(0)+10	17/03/1998 00:00:00

BT have had that range since 1998 so while you may not have had a call from those numbers they certainly aren't new.

However that last column states (0)+10 which gives a normal UK 11 digit number so generally I'd say the 0 would be at the start, but can be dialed without the 0 I guess.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by nodrogd

Nope. This is not one of the areas that has no local dialling, & is not an area "at risk" of losing the facility.

https://www.area-codes.org.uk/more/a...l-dialling.php

Beginning with 1? Maybe, the Queen...?

[RichardCoulter]