How much will that phone call cost?

We reveal the high cost of non-standard numbers, and show how to significantly cut your call costs.

It’s not fun is it? Opening your phone bill and gasping with shock/horror/despair? And all because of phone calls you had to make to some company where you hung on to sort out a problem that wasn’t even your fault. The fact is, more and more companies are forcing us all to call 0870, 0845, 0844 numbers. And most phone providers don’t include these types of numbers in their free landline calls  packages. Unfortunately call expenditure to these numbers can really start to add up.

01 & 02 NUMBERS  (These are friendly numbers to both landlines and mobiles)
If you have a landline or mobile, you may have a package included with your line rental where calls to 01 and 02 numbers are unlimited or are included as part of your minutes allowance.

03 numbers
Numbers beginning with 03 are known as UK wide numbers and were introduced in 2007. They offer an alternative to chargeable 08 numbers such as 0845 and 0870 numbers (see below). These 03 numbers allow organisations to provide a national phone number while customers pay only the standard call rates shown above. In other words, calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calls to geographic 01 and 02 numbers.
Unlike chargeable 08 numbers, calls to 03 numbers can be included in the call-inclusive or discount packages promoted by fixed-line and mobile operators. What’s more, as there is no revenue-sharing with 03 numbers, the provider doesn’t profit from your call (as happens with chargeable 08 numbers). Numbers beginning 030 are only for public-sector bodies, not-for-profit organisations and registered charities. 033, 034 and 037 numbers can be used by any organisation.

118 numbers
These six-digit numbers are directory-enquiry services. In 2003, BT’s 192 service was replaced by a whole host of rival 118 services. All market competition has done is to drive up prices — nowadays, sourcing a single telephone number can cost £1+.
There’s no need to ever call a 118 number again. Instead, use free searches such as Google and BT’s online Phone Book.

070 NUMBERS
These ‘personal’ or ‘find me anywhere’ numbers are normally used by individuals to divert calls to a UK or international mobile or international landline destination. Please don’t confuse 070 numbers with mobile numbers beginning with 07. The cost of calling an 070 number can be as high as 75p per minute. As you’d expect, we never call 070 numbers, and we’d urge you to do the same.

0800 or 0808 NUMBERS
These are all freephone calls, so it won’t cost you a penny to call them from a BT home phone or payphone (but mobile operators usually charge for these calls). These are our favourite numbers as long as you are using a land line! Orange have recently announced some of their new business tariffs include free calls to freephone 0800 & 0808 numbers.

0844 NUMBERS
These are ‘fixed rate’ numbers. They cost 5p a minute at all times from a BT landline and significantly more from mobiles, which explains why you should avoid them.

0845 NUMBERS
Calls to 0845 numbers are charged at so-called ‘local’ or ‘lo-call’ rates, as follows, from a standard BT landline:
Daytime 2p
Evenings and weekends 0.5p
Generally speaking, calls to 0845 numbers are not included in call-inclusive packages, which makes them expensive to call particularly from mobiles. The rapid spread of 0845 numbers, particularly among government agencies is frustrating, however, the good news is, these numbers are slowly being replaced by landline and mobile friendly 03 numbers.

0870 NUMBERS
And finally the disliked 0870 numbers, which are charged at the following national rates on a standard BT landline and more from a mobile.
Daytime 1.8ppm
Evenings and weekends 1.5ppm

0871 numbers
Like 0844 numbers, 0871 numbers are ‘fixed rate’ numbers. They cost a fixed 10p+ a minute at all times. Please don’t encourage companies by calling 0871 lines — use www.saynoto0870.com instead

090 numbers
Of all telephone numbers, these ‘premium rate’ calls are the worst villains. These 090 numbers are used to provide expensive information or entertainment, often of an ‘adult’ nature. Given that many of these services are billed at up to £1.50 a minute, we recommend avoiding calling them.

We’re sure you’ll agree that the above call charges are simply too high. However, by avoiding expensive and premium-rate numbers and sticking to 01,02 geographical numbers or 03 non geographic numbers, you can trim your telephone bill. In addition, by using an alternative call provider you can cut the cost of UK geographical calls

At Phoenix Communications we refuse to give our time and money to any organisation which force us to call an 0842, 0843, 0844, 0845, 0870, 0871 number. Instead, we look up geographical alternatives on www.saynoto0870.com.  Please note that this site is in no way associated with Phoenix, we just like using it and recommend it to help you save money.

We hope the above information was of use to you. If you have any questions let us know.

Regards

David