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Anticipated Ofcom changes to 0800 Numbers

0800 freephone numbers will soon be free to call from anywhere in UK from both a landline and a mobile.

Ofcom have announced that they intend to make certain changes to 0800 and 0808 call charges. This will apply to calls made to these numbers from mobile phones which at present are not free unlike calls from a landline. Historically this has caused some confusion among the public with call charges being applied to designated free phone numbers and also with different call charges applying to different mobile networks. It is with the objective of simplifying 0800 and 0808 free phone numbers that Ofcom intends to make them free regardless of from where the inbound call originates. According to Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom:

There is clear evidence of widespread uncertainty and confusion about the cost of calling these numbers (0800, 0808 and 0500 numbers). Consumers need to have far more transparency about the price they are going to pay for calls so that they can make more informed choices and so competition can work more effectively. Making 0800 free for mobile callers and giving people clarity about what they are paying for will improve transparency, improve competition and enhance trust in these important services.

Once this change comes into effect owners of 0800 numbers will then have to pick up the cost of mobile calls connecting to their 0800. These calls are currently charged at the same rate per inbound minute as a call from a landline because the caller pays the standard mobile network rate. Consequently, the inbound per minute charges incurred for operating an 0800 free phone number are set to rise fairly steeply once this change takes place.

We are predicting that the per minute charge for calls from a mobile network may go up to as much as 11 pence per minute from the 3.75 pence per minute standard rate that currently applies to 08Uk basic 0800 packages. Even with discounts for high call volumes this represents a heavy additional burden upon the cost of operating an 0800.

Roughly 50% of all calls are made from mobiles these days and this means for those running 0800 services a significant proportion of their inbound per minute cost is going to be significantly higher. This may deter many companies from continuing to offer their customers free calls and might see a move away from 0800 to other numbers ranges such as 03. 03 numbers represent a good compromise. They offer the caller charges which cost no more than that of phoning a regular fixed landline with an 01 and 02 prefix from either a landline or mobile. What’s more they will cost much less to run than 0800 numbers.

Call 0800 692 4444 to speak to a UK business telephone number consultant. If calling from a mobile you can use 0330 30 31 444 for a local rate call, or email new@0800uk.co.uk

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