I may be “one of those people who do not understand the area code system” (‘Some people do not understand’, Your Views, July 24), but isn’t Mr Shillibeer being unnecessarily pedantic?

When the system was brought in, as he says, around 30 years ago, I recall it as being explained thus: inner London numbers would be given the additional prefix 0207, and outer London boroughs would be given the prefix 0208, followed by the usual seven digit number which we were all accustomed to using at the time.

Which is exactly what Barnet Borough Council customer services told him during his telephone conversation with them, only to be told by Mr Shillibeer that they did not know the London telephone code.

But there is no practical difference that I can see; 020 7234 5678 has 11 digits: 0207 234 5678 also has 11 digits. So what is the point?

Perhaps the crucial thing here is the ‘pause’ to which Mr Shillibeer alludes? I often pause (a cough, a sip of coffee) whilst dialling a number. It has never affected the speed or efficiency of the connection. Am I missing something?

Dorothy Lindsay

Cavendish Avenue, Finchley