Freephone numbers to be free on mobile phones... but not until 2015

Ofcom is overhauling how we are charged for non-geographic numbers, but we will have to wait 18 months to see any changes.

Ofcom has announced major changes to the way we are charged for non-geographic phone numbers.

Significantly, the telecoms regulator has ordered phone companies to stop charging mobile customers for calls to freephone numbers beginning with 0800, 0808 and 116.

It also confirmed that network providers and businesses will need to make charges clearer for expensive numbers starting 08, 09 and 118, using a new system.

But none of these changes will happen until June 2015 as telecom companies and organisations using the numbers have been given 18 months to adapt to the plans.

Freephone numbers finally free

Numbers begining with 0800, 0808 and 116 that are currently free to call from a landline will finally be free on a mobile too.

These numbers are used by a variety of businesses and organisations including some helplines and charities such as Age UK and National Debtline as well as for some Government services like Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Calls from a mobile to a freephone number typically costs between 14p and 40p per minute.

How the new charging system will work

The 08, 09 and 118 numbers are non-geographic service numbers that banks, utility companies, directory enquiries and some Government services often use.

Currently, unless a caller is using a BT landline, charges for 08, 09 and 118 numbers are unclear.

Sometimes, for example if people are being encouraged to vote on a reality TV show, there will be a warning of the pending charges along the lines of:

“Calls will cost x pence per minute from a BT line. Calls may vary from other landlines and calls from mobiles may cost considerably more.”

But from 2015 charges for 08 (which includes 084, 087 and 0845), 09 and 118 numbers will have to be unbundled to make them clearer to users.

There will be an ‘access charge’ set by the phone company and a ‘service charge’ decided by the organisation the number is associated with.

Under the new structure callers will hear a message something along the lines of this instead:

“Calls will cost x pence per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.”

So callers will be able to figure out exactly how much a call will cost by adding the access and service charge together.

As well as clearer phone charges that will enable people to compare and understand costs, premium rate charges on 09 numbers will also be capped to protect people from facing huge bills.

How to save on non-geographic numbers

There are some ways to avoid paying over the odds for calls to non-geographic numbers today.

There is saynoto0870.com, a website which lists alternative cheaper or free numbers to 0845 or 0870 numbers.

Or you could try 0800wizard.co.uk, which is a free smartphone app you can use to find a landline number for any 0800, 0500 or 0808 freephone number. So those with inclusive minutes on a call package can call for free.

Or if you can try using email instead. It’s free and you’ll have a record of your communications with a company that you can refer back to if you need to later.

For more ideas on how to save on these number read How to call 0800, 0844, 0845 and 0870 numbers free from your mobile and How to call 0845 and 0870 numbers for free from your landline.

Compare mobile phones and tariffs at Recombu

More on mobile phones:

The UK's worst mobile phone provider

The UK's mobile phone theft hotspots

Mobile phone insurance almost impossible to claim on

How to make cheap mobile phone calls home from abroad