MOST of us already know that 0800 phone numbers are free and many of us have package deals with phone companies whereby all local calls are also free of charge.

I am personally a very light user of the telephone and stick rigidly to local calls, but recently when checking with my phone company they pointed out a certain number I had used on four occasions where I had been charged approximately 40p per call. This turned out to be my local doctors surgery (an 0844 number).

In this particular surgery one is not able to call in personally to make an appointment but can only make them by phone and from past experience if there is no vacancy on that particular day you are not permitted to book in advance but must phone again next day.

I am told again (off the record) that the surgery also gets a cut of the call cost so patients beware your calls for doctors if they are anything other than 023 80 numbers.

L A O’BEE, Lordswood, Southampton.