RETAILER representative group the NFRN has criticised National Lottery organiser Camelot’s introduction of new 0844 payable telephone numbers for retailer support services.
The organisation said neither it or retailers who sit on a special Camelot forum had been told of the introduction of charges to what had previously been a free service ahead of then being implemented last month.
Camelot said the changes were part of a package that was designed to be more flexible and would included more web-based communication methods that would mean fewer phone calls would be required.
But NFRN said if that was the case the web services should have been in place before the new numbers took effect.
• Camelot has achieved its highest-ever interim National Lottery sales. In the six months to 26 September 2015, total ticket sales were £3,615m, an increase of £145m on the corresponding period last year. Sales were boosted by 15% year-on-year growth of its GameStore range of instant-play games.
