Calling Portsmouth number with the STD 02393

[Anonymous]

Hi
Can someone help, I am trying to get o2 to rectify this problem. 02393 is the STD code for Portsmouth however for some reason o2 phones can't call numbers with this STD. Other networks are fine Orange and Vodafone.
So please can someone either give me the department to contact or resolve the issue?
Many thanks
Mike

[Anonymous]

The point is the area code for Portsmouth and Southampton is simply 023. If you say it is '02392' or '02393' you confuse people and they will misdial.

There are big problems where people are misdialling (023) 93xx xxxx numbers as (02392) 93xx xxxx or (02392) xxxxxx and getting the wrong number because they think the 'code' should be 02392.

And what happens when Portsmouth has numbers starting (023) 94xx xxxx or (023) 95xx xxxx ?!

Not wanting to argue, just making the point that it's helpful for everybody to get things right. After all, doesn't take any more effort.

[perksie]

As I said before seeing this was posted in April 2009, I rather imagine they've got through by now!

[jonsie]

Rather glad I don't have to call anyone in Portsmouth

[perksie]

Better write down everything JanJones has written just in case!

[Anonymous]

As a Portsmouth resident all my life I have never known anyone to have an 02393 number, only 02392. I know that these numbers have only been around for a few years but I mean since they have been in use. If you're dialling Portsmouth, 02392 as far as I'm concerned!!!

[Anonymous]

Portsmouth has run out of 92xx xxxx numbers. New numbers begin 93xx xxxx.

Southampton has run out of 80xx xxxx numbers. New numbers begin 81xx xxxx.

That was the whole point of moving to the new 023 area code in 2000.

Southampton and Portsmouth have a huge amount of spare number ranges for future expansion.

When calling any landline number anywhere in Portsmouth or Southampton, from any other landline number anywhere in Portsmouth or Southampton, you can simply omit the 023 area code and dial only the final eight-digits.

This works exactly the same way as the eight-digit local numbering scheme used in the single London 020 area code.

[Anonymous]

Better write down everything JanJones has written just in case!

I did exactly as Jan said but it seems the xxx's don't do anything. 😐

[perksie]

Better write down everything JanJones has written just in case!

I did exactly as Jan said but it seems the xxx's don't do anything. 😐

I've booked a trip to Portsmouth to investigate this, now I'll have to go to Southampton as well!

[Anonymous]

As a Portsmouth resident all my life I have never known anyone to have an 02393 number, only 02392. I know that these numbers have only been around for a few years but I mean since they have been in use. If you're dialling Portsmouth, 02392 as far as I'm concerned!!!

Heheh, hope nobody with a Portsmouth number starting 93 ever wants you to call them, then! They do exist now!

Anyway, point is, back when the codes changed in 2000, everybody's number started 023 92. Now, every number from (023) 92000000 to 92999999 has been given out, so they have to tick over to using (023) 93000000, 93000001, etc. If people are clear about the area code being 023, followed by an eight digit number, that makes perfect sense and there's no room to get muddled!

However, if people have it stuck in their mind that Portsmouth = 02392 and that all Portsmouth phone numbers must start with that 'code' things get confusing. It leads to people dialling the new 93xxxxxx numbers as 02392 93xxxxxx or 'correcting' them to 02392 xxxxxx in their heads, which will end up as a wrong number or a failed call. Indeed, it's already caught some people out: http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/biz/Phone-w ... mentPage=1

Of course, spacing the number as (023) xxxx xxxx also helps people see that it's the '023' bit that is optional and that they can dial ANY Portsmouth or Southampton number locally using just the local eight-digit number after that 023 code.

Not worthing sleep over or anything. Just something to be aware of. Any bets on what they'll be giving out after the (023) 93... numbers run out? Will they go for local numbers starting 94, or give out something totally random to test us all?!

[perksie]

We don't really have to read that do we?

Perhaps BT should write to everyone in Portsmouth and Southampton to remind them what their numbers are!