what's the code for...?
Older readers may fondly recall the days when the 01 national dialling code was introduced. While most cities just added 01, Leeds was changed from the old code 0532 to 0113, and Leeds numbers went over to the 4-3-4 format.

There was a common misconception that the new city code was 01132, which was not right, because part of the reason for the change was to allow a whole new set of numbers starting '0113 3xx'.

For most people, that's a fairly geeky and arcane point. But at the time, I was working for a Leeds firm that needed a customer database. The boss wanted an autodialler for the phone numbers in the records, and since most of the phone numbers were Leeds, wanted the area code to automatically fill in the Leeds code.

"OK, so that field will say 0113"
"No, the Leeds code is 01132"
"Actually it's 0113, the 2 is part of the local number now."
"The Leeds code is 01132."
"No, you see, eventually there'll be 0113 3 numbers added..."
"THE LEEDS CODE IS 01132!!"

...It was set up as 01132.

It's not the ignorance that was so depressing, but the dogged insistence that she was right.

I hope, I really hope, it caused a lot of trouble when the 0113 3 numbers came in.
(North Utsira South Utsira, Thu 25 Mar 2010, 9:43, 4 replies)

Uh oh...
I can see this opening the dialling codes format debate again...
( snee held his breath since, Thu 25 Mar 2010, 9:45, closed)

HE's absolutely right though...
People thought Sheffield was 01142. Most local numbers begin with 2, but the code is 0114 to allow further expansion.
( disasterprone "Pyjamas caused the Holocaust", Thu 25 Mar 2010, 9:54, closed)

Similar situation in Leicester too
and don't get me started on 0207
( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Thu 25 Mar 2010, 10:02, closed)

Ah, yes
I had my kitchen "done" in 2001 or 2002 - I was at home most of the time but had to go into the office one day, so gave the fitter my work number (0113 3xx xxxx) in case of problems.

He swore blind that I'd given him a wrong number, despite the fact that I worked for a telecoms company and really did know what I was talking about.
(Vice Admiral Sir Charles Cockbrush KCB MBE DSO, who is finding it increasingly difficult to log into b3ta.com wants to duck your aunt and kick your puppy, Thu 25 Mar 2010, 10:08, closed)