New Phone Number - But given wrong area code?

WookieeM · 24-04-2008, 00:17

Hi, I'm moving house soon, staying in the same village, (Silsden near Keighley)

As part of this I am getting a new phone number, but the area code I'm given seems wrong. I currently have 01535, the new code will be 01274.

The area code 01274 is Bradford. I called Virgin back to check and they said its the right number.

Can you have an area code for the 'wrong' area? Its got to confuse people.

Cheers.

cimt · 24-04-2008, 00:20

Nope... I don't think so?

Do you live close to Bradford?

WookieeM · 24-04-2008, 00:29

Hi, I live approx 15 miles away - Close - ish.

Everyone else in the area is on 01535 code, also people in the same village would have to dial the full area code to get me!

BenMcr · 24-04-2008, 01:16

Yeah you can in very rare circumstances. I've only ever seen it once.

If you know who to speak to though is easy to fix. There is an office called Central Housefile Admin which deal with identify what area codes and phone numbers can be assigned to an address

They should be able to correct the address so the right prefix is assigned

Best bet is to speak to House Moves and get them to speak to Housefile Admin

Or if you get no luck, PM one of the Mods on here who would be able to get it corrected through their contacts

Tali · 24-04-2008, 08:44

It happens where I live on the outskirts of Birmingham. All my family, who live very close, and neighbors all have a 01384 (Dudley/Cradley Heath) number because they're with BT, I have a Birmingham 0121 number.

WookieeM · 24-04-2008, 10:45

Cheers all

I phoned Virgin again, to double check. They stuck to the wrong area code story. Asked if they had a central housefile admin department, they do but he refused to put me through.

I said the area code was wrong and against Ofcom guidelines - 'National Telephone Numbering Plan'.

He checked another phone number on the same street, then decided my area code would be 01535. - Success!

In the end he said I should never have been given my new number as they can change.

Happy bunny now, thanks for the advice.

m419 · 27-04-2008, 15:41

I think that Ofcom as well as phone companies are relaxing the regulations on area codes.

In London it was 0171 and 0181 pre-2000. It Changed to 020 and for those whose number begins 0171 would be given 020 7XXX-XXXX and someone using 0181 would be given 020 8XXX-XXXX. Well now these numbers are given out anywhere in London and theres now even 020 3.

Furthermore 020 numbers go out as far as Borehamewood and Elstree in Hertfordshire.

Furthermore, if you want to use Voip such as Vonage then you have the choice of any code you want to use.

I wonder what is happening to codes such as 01272? That would have been Bristol's new number if it wasn't running out of numbers, pre-1995 it was 0272.