I recently decided to check on the latest rules and charges relating to premium numbers, One question led to another and this article is the result. It is far from comprehensive but provides information on phone call charges, premium numbers and more.

I have included a glossary of telecoms abbreviations and a list of links I found particularly helpful. If you want to jump ahead to the section you find most useful then simply click on the section heading in the contents listing below.

Geographic numbers

The definition of a geographic number is: ‘A telephone number from a range of numbers in the UK National Telephone Numbering Plan where part of the digit structure contains geographic significance.

Until 1958 all long-distance calls (‘trunk calls’) required connection by an operator. Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) codes were introduced between 1958 and, somewhat unbelievably, as late as 1979.

As an interesting aside, the original STD codes were made up of a ‘0’ (zero) and then the first two letters of the city/town’s name (as they related to the numbers on a UK phone dial) followed by an assigned number. So, for example, Sheffield’s original STD code was 0742. The ‘7’ covered the letters ‘PRS’ and the ‘4’ covered ‘GHI’. For much more on this and all things UK phone numbers go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_telephone_numbers_in_the_United_Kingdom

A list of current UK (STD) dialling codes for geographic numbers can be found at:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/telephone-area-codes-tool

There are some interesting anomalies that still remain. For example, Market Weighton, a small town in the East Riding of Yorkshire (population: 6,500) has four STD dialling codes: 014306, 014307, 014308 and 014309!

Today, all UK geographic numbers begin 01 or 02. Ofgem’s guidance as to the cost of calling an 01 or 02 (‘national rate’) number is as follows:

Calls from landlines are typically charged up to 16p per minute. Many providers charge a 23p call set-up fee (or ‘connection charge’), but this can vary. Call charges are dependent on the time of day, and most providers offer call packages that allow calls free of charge at certain times of the day.

Call costs from mobiles vary according to the calling plan chosen. Typically, they are included in free call packages. However, if you call an 01/02 number outside of any inclusive minutes, they can cost between 3p and 65p per minute.

UK-wide non-geographic numbers: 03

Freephone numbers (see below) begin 0800 and 0808. However, they are expensive for the organisation hosting the number. Consequently, some organisations, e.g. public sector bodies, have moved to 03 numbers as a lower cost alternative.

Calls charges are the same as to any geographic number (see above).

Mobile numbers: 07

As far back as 2014, seven mobile numbers had been issued for every single person in the UK.

As IoT (Internet of Things) technology becomes ever more commonplace, the demand for numbers continues to increase. Consequently, there is significant pressure on mobile phone operators to ‘recycle’ discontinued phone numbers. This includes a ‘use it or lose it’ approach to Pay As You Go (PAYG) phone numbers. Consequently, a mobile phone network provider (e.g. Vodafone, 02, EE, Three) has the authority to suspend and reassign dormant PAYG numbers.

Costs:

The costs of calling a mobile number from another mobile can vary considerably. They can be included in ‘free call packages’ but they can cost up to 65p/minute outside inclusive minutes. The advice is to check your call plan.

Personal numbers: 070

070 numbers are a type of mobile number. They are sometimes referred to as ‘personal’ or ‘follow me’ numbers. They can be used as temporary numbers e.g. to maintain anonymity if selling online, with the 070 number active for the duration of the listing. 070 numbers are also used by organisations for call forwarding i.e. an 070 number is advertised and calls are then forwarded to a different number as required.

According to the website, ‘phonenumbersfor.co.uk’ 070 numbers are not included in free minute plans or call allowances. However, Ofgem states that some phone companies may include 070 numbers in call allowances.

Costs:

Ofgem states that the cost of calling a personal number (070) can cost around 50p/minute from a landline or 86p/minute from a mobile. It really is worth checking your plan to check.

Freephone: 0800/0808

Calls to Freephone numbers, as the name implies, are free from all consumer landlines and mobile phones.

There may be a charge for calling a Freephone number from a business phone.

Until June 2017 there was a range of 0500 Freephone numbers, but they were withdrawn.

Sales or enquiry lines: 084 and 087

Buyer beware; or, more accurately, caller beware. 084 and 087 numbers are typically used by organisations for sales or enquiry lines.

Costs:
The cost of calling an 084 or 087 number is split into two elements:

• A service charge: this is set by the organisation you are calling
• An access charge: this is paid to your network provider

The service charge can be between 0p and 7p per minute. The actual charge has to be clearly displayed whenever the phone number is promoted.

The access charge element varies enormously – currently between 8p and 67p per minute – depending on your network provider. Ofgem has a table which provides guidance on access charges for 084 numbers. Some examples from the table include:

Provider	Access charge per minute
BT	Between 0p and 31.41p depending on call plan
EE	Between 11p and 67p depending on call plan
02	65p
Plusnet	9.58p
Tesco Mobile	25p
Three	65p
Vodafone	For PAYG customers, 45p; for monthly pay customers, 65p
TalkTalk	12.5p from landline; 25p from mobile

Service and access charges for 087 numbers can differ from the rates listed above for 084 numbers but tend to be similar.

Competitions, TV voting, chat lines, adult lines and more: 09

Phoning a premium 09 number can seriously damage your bank balance. You may wish to bar them from being dialled from your phone to avoid any unexpected bills!

As with 084 and 087 numbers, the cost of calling an 09 number is made up of two elements:

• A service charge: set by the organisation you are calling
• An access charge: paid to your network provider

The most alarming aspect of 09 numbers is the enormous range of charges that could apply. For example, Ofgem states that the service charge for 09 numbers can range from 1p to £3.60 per minute and you may be charged a one-off call cost ranging from 5p to £6; the access charge could range from 8p to 67p per minute. Consequently, for a ten-minute call to the most expensive 09 number, you could rack up a bill of £48.70!

09 numbers are one of a series of premium rate phone-paid services regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA).

• You can access the PSA’s code of practice at: https://psauthority.org.uk/For-Business/Code-15
• The PSA also has an excellent system on phone-paid services and how they work: https://psauthority.org.uk/For-Consumers/Why-Have-I-Been-Charged

Director enquiry numbers – 118

Stepping slightly out of numerical sequence (see 0116 numbers below), 118 numbers are used by organisations providing directory enquiry services.

Back in 2018, there was a massive public outcry at the charges levied by 118 numbers. For example, the most popular provider of 118 director enquiry numbers, 118 118, charged £11.23 for a 90-second call! Part of the reason for the disquiet at the rates charged is that 118 numbers were far more likely to be used by the elderly. The result of the outcry was that in April 2019 the service charge element of 118 numbers was capped at a maximum of £3.65 for 90 seconds. This remains the case to this day.

Since 2018, the number of calls to 118 numbers has continued to decline, although specific figures are hard to come by. At one time, call volumes were declining at 40% per annum.

Despite the cap, calls to 118 numbers remain expensive. In addition to the service charge, you may also be charged a one-off connection fee which could be as much as £2.50. You also have to pay an access charge to your network provider and this can range from 8p to 67p per minute.

Ofgem encourages callers to 118 numbers to not use the service for onward connection to the number they have asked for as the charges are often far higher than simply hanging up and calling directly.

Services of social value – 116

Calls to 116 numbers are free of charge.

116 numbers have been reserved in many European countries’ national telephone numbering plans for ‘harmonised services of social value’. This means that you can call the same number is each country and get through to the specific 116 services you need.

There are four 116 numbers in use in the UK

116 000 – Missing people (formerly the National Missing Persons Helpline)

116 111 – Childline

116 117 – NHS 111

116 123 – Samaritans

UK call charges, Summary

As can be seen from the information in this blog article, the cost of a call can vary enormously depending on the category of number and the network provider.

Premium numbers can be particularly expensive. The sheer range of potential charges you could incur makes them difficult to categorise from a cost perspective.

The Phone-paid Services Authority regulates premium numbers including five-digit mobile short codes used for competitions, mobile content, charitable donations and similar. All new phone-paid services have to be registered with them.

Ofcom is the UK’s communications regulator. Ofcom’s website – www.ofcom.org.uk – is a good starting point if you are researching phone numbers and call charges.

Glossary of Abbreviations

I found the following abbreviations cropped up on a frequent basis in articles about telecoms:

VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol

ICCS – Information, Connection and/or Signposting Services

PSA – Phone-paid Services Authority

Ofcom – Office of Communications

NSN – National Significant Number

PBX – Private Branch eXchange

ISDN – Integrated Services Digital Network

ADSL – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line

DECT – Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications

NGN – Non Geographic Number

PSTN – Public Switched Telephone Network

SIP – Session Initiation Protocol

CTI – Computer Telephony Integration

DDI – Direct Dialling Inwards

Weblinks

The following links provide further background information on telephone numbers, call costs and other aspects of telecommunications.

General

Ofcom – www.ofcom.org.uk

Phone-paid Services Authority – https://psauthority.org.uk

SayNoTo0870.com – https://www.saynoto0870.com

Guides to tariffs

Uswitch – https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/guide-to-mobile-phone-tariffs/

Ofcom – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/avoiding-bill-shock-when-using-your-mobile-phone-in-the-uk

Fair Telecoms Campaign – http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/uk-calling-clear-call-rates.html

Virgin Media (service numbers) – https://my.virginmedia.com/customer-news/articles/servicenumbers.html

BT (service numbers) – https://www.bt.com/help/i-don-t-understand-charges-on-my-bt-bill/how-are-calls-to-08–09-and-118-numbers-charged-

Premium Numbers

SayNoTo0870 (finding alternatives to premium numbers) – https://saynoto0870.com/search.php

MoneyHelper – https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/blog/everyday-money/say-no-to-0800-numbers-how-to-avoid-making-expensive-calls

Citizens Advice (how to complain about a premium rate charge) – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/complain-about-a-premium-rate-phone-charge-or-text-message/

ASDA (example of how to bar premium numbers) – https://mobile.asda.com/help/managing-your-account/my-asda-mobile-premium

PSA – https://psauthority.org.uk/For-Consumers/Why-Have-I-Been-Charged

VOIP

Money Supermarket – https://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/voip/

Nextiva – https://www.nextiva.com/blog/how-does-voip-work.html

Broadband Choices – https://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/

Structured Communications – https://www.structuredcommunications.co.uk/how-do-voip-phones-work-a-step-by-step-guide/

Ooma – https://www.ooma.com/home-phone/voip-to-landline/

WPBeginner – https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/beginners-guide-what-is-voip-and-how-does-it-work-explained/

Glossaries

Bytes Digital – https://www.bytesdigital.co.uk/telecom-jargon-glossary

PureComms – https://www.purecomms.co.uk/telecoms-glossary-telecoms-terminology-explained/

List of UK Dialling Codes

Ofcom – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/telephone-area-codes-tool

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