FLEETS are facing an administrative nightmare as a rolling deadline approaches which will see many phone numbers around the country changed. It is only four years since the area codes were last changed - costing UK businesses an estimated £500million in lost calls and administrative changes.

Once again, livery on vehicles and stationery will have to be changed as the new numbers arrive - starting on June 3 - and this time not only will some area codes change but also mobile, pager and personal numbering, which will begin with 07, plus all freephone and special rate services will have to begin with 08.

The decision to make the change so soon after the last one was made by Oftel, the tindustry watchdog, which said numbers would begin to run out soon into the new millennium. Number changes are being accompanied by several different start dates followed by a period of parallel running. This has led to confusion among many companies, unsure when they should be changing livery and paperwork. To help overcome the confusion, Oftel has set up a special website - www.numberchange.org - to provide all the information and dates.