Beware – The true costs to call an 08XX number
It is widely know that the public’s perception of what 08 pre-fixed numbers are and what it costs to call these numbers varies widely. Here we try and unravel the intricacies of charging structures so that you may avoid the hidden costs of calling.
A useful way of remembering the costs to call the various numbers is to take the 3rd digit in the number and convert this to 0 and thereby arrive at the cost of calling from landlines.
Therefore, 0800 would be zero, 0845 would be 4p or thereabouts and so on.
A new free-phone number range was launched recently known as 0808. These are freephone numbers in much the same was as 0800 but given that lots of the 0800 number ranges were sold out by the network providers such as BT, it was felt that a new number range was necessary. The charge to call these numbers is the same as 0800.
To add a little more confusion, in 1991 Mercury Communications (now Cable & Wireless) also had a range of freephone numbers that started with 0500. These numbers have the same charging structure applicable to them as 0800 and 0808.
Presently, a large proportion of the public perceive that 0800 are free, whilst 0845 are ‘local’, and 0870/0871 are ‘national’. This was certainly true when BT’s standard rate for calling local and national standard trunk dialling numbers (i.e. 01/02) numbers was 3.35p/min and 6.73p/min.,respectively.
However, when calling “Freephone” 0800 from mobiles these numbers will no longer be free and can be charged at between 10p/min. to approx £1.50/min. depending on which network you are on.
In certain instances, the mobile operators have waived the costs of calling 08 numbers, but a good case in point was the recent swine flu helpline number in July 2009. Vodaphone were the only network operator to continue to charge 20p/min. or for a 5 minute call £1.00.
Additionally, from Payphones these numbers can be chargeable whereby the actual set up costs are 40p and a rate thereafter. Many helplines operate services on 0845 numbers that may be called from payphones by users in vulnerable situations, but at present there is no distinction in charges between calling an 0845 and an 0870 number from a BT payphone, with a 10-minute call costing £1.20. Current payphone interiors do not display charges for 0845 calls, nor are these identified in a pre-announcement.
From August 1st, 2009, the public and businesses will be charged for dialling 0870 at the same rate that they would be for dialling 01/02, thereby bringing the national rate terminology back into play, whereas for some time it was far higher than to dial national STD codes. Organisations have been encouraged where possible to move towards new number ranges either 0844 or 0333/0370.
0844 numbers still allow organisations like banks and building societies to be paid a rebate by the network operators and these migrations have been taking place over the past 18 months.
From August 1st, 2009, Ofcom have also positioned former ‘national’ rate number ranges 0871 to sit under the premium rate regulating body, Payphone Plus (formerly ICSTIS). Therefore, users of these numbers will be required advertise the cost of the call according to the regulator’s guidelines, which are provided upon request.
A new telephone number range was issued by Ofcom in 2007. This 03 number range is for organisations who want to stop using 087X numbers, but want to retain a national presence using a non-geographic number. The costs of calling these numbers is the same as calling 01/02 number so if you get inclusive minutes in your mobile bundle then calls to these numbers will also be free.
A new application for the Apple I-Phone which identifies the underlying number and automatically makes the call to this number rather than the 08 number, thereby saving users up to 80% of the call costs.
A useful way of remembering the costs to call the various numbers is to take the 3rd digit in the number and convert this to 0 and thereby arrive at the cost of calling from landlines.
Therefore, 0800 would be zero, 0845 would be 4p or thereabouts and so on.
A new free-phone number range was launched recently known as 0808. These are freephone numbers in much the same was as 0800 but given that lots of the 0800 number ranges were sold out by the network providers such as BT, it was felt that a new number range was necessary. The charge to call these numbers is the same as 0800.
To add a little more confusion, in 1991 Mercury Communications (now Cable & Wireless) also had a range of freephone numbers that started with 0500. These numbers have the same charging structure applicable to them as 0800 and 0808.
Presently, a large proportion of the public perceive that 0800 are free, whilst 0845 are ‘local’, and 0870/0871 are ‘national’. This was certainly true when BT’s standard rate for calling local and national standard trunk dialling numbers (i.e. 01/02) numbers was 3.35p/min and 6.73p/min.,respectively.
However, when calling “Freephone” 0800 from mobiles these numbers will no longer be free and can be charged at between 10p/min. to approx £1.50/min. depending on which network you are on.
In certain instances, the mobile operators have waived the costs of calling 08 numbers, but a good case in point was the recent swine flu helpline number in July 2009. Vodaphone were the only network operator to continue to charge 20p/min. or for a 5 minute call £1.00.
Additionally, from Payphones these numbers can be chargeable whereby the actual set up costs are 40p and a rate thereafter. Many helplines operate services on 0845 numbers that may be called from payphones by users in vulnerable situations, but at present there is no distinction in charges between calling an 0845 and an 0870 number from a BT payphone, with a 10-minute call costing £1.20. Current payphone interiors do not display charges for 0845 calls, nor are these identified in a pre-announcement.
From August 1st, 2009, the public and businesses will be charged for dialling 0870 at the same rate that they would be for dialling 01/02, thereby bringing the national rate terminology back into play, whereas for some time it was far higher than to dial national STD codes. Organisations have been encouraged where possible to move towards new number ranges either 0844 or 0333/0370.
0844 numbers still allow organisations like banks and building societies to be paid a rebate by the network operators and these migrations have been taking place over the past 18 months.
From August 1st, 2009, Ofcom have also positioned former ‘national’ rate number ranges 0871 to sit under the premium rate regulating body, Payphone Plus (formerly ICSTIS). Therefore, users of these numbers will be required advertise the cost of the call according to the regulator’s guidelines, which are provided upon request.
A new telephone number range was issued by Ofcom in 2007. This 03 number range is for organisations who want to stop using 087X numbers, but want to retain a national presence using a non-geographic number. The costs of calling these numbers is the same as calling 01/02 number so if you get inclusive minutes in your mobile bundle then calls to these numbers will also be free.
A new application for the Apple I-Phone which identifies the underlying number and automatically makes the call to this number rather than the 08 number, thereby saving users up to 80% of the call costs.
