Teletext Holidays is to ditch all its advertiser 0870 numbers following changes in the charging structure by telecoms regulator Ofcom.
Travel companies face thousands of pounds in extra charges when Ofcom’s new charging structure for 0870 numbers comes into force in February 2008.
The cost of calling 0870 numbers will fall from 7p a minute to 3p, with companies left to pick up the extra cost.
As a result Teletext has announced it will replace all 0870 numbers on its digital TV service and online with 0845 codes from November 15. It will issue advertisers with new 0845 codes in the next few weeks.
The old 0870 numbers will be kept live until Teletext is satisfied advertisers are no longer receiving calls from customers who are unaware of the changes.
Advertisers using 0800 or 0808 numbers are unaffected by Teletext’s changes, but advertisers that want to take a freephone number will need a new 0808 prefix.
The changes will not affect how much advertisers are being charged for any cost per call advertising with Teletext.