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Number migrations to save you money
Options
Ofcom offers all users of certain number ranges the option to migrate their number to another range in order to save callers money.
0500 to 0808 5
Calls to 0500 numbers are free from landlines but not from mobiles. Mobile operators charge anything up to 40p per minute for calls to 0500 numbers.
On 3 June 2014 Ofcom announced the 0500 range will be withdrawn from use on 3 June 2017. All users of 0500 numbers have been offered the option to move to the matching 0808 5 number. The new number is one digit longer than the old number. The new number retains the final six digits of the old number.
On 1 July 2015 calls to all 0800 and 0808 numbers, including 0808 5 numbers, became free from mobile phones and remain free from landlines. Organisations that continue using 0500 numbers are causing callers using their mobile phone to incur unnecessary call charges of up to 40p per minute.
In some cases the number has already been changed but publicity material and third-party websites haven't yet caught up.
Wherever you see an 0500 number advertised always try calling the matching 0808 5 number first. If it works it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn't, there will be no charge.
Sainsbury's Bank is one of the first to change their number in this way.
084 to 034
Calls to numbers starting 084 incur an Access Charge of 2p to 12p per minute from landlines or 5p to 45p per minute from mobiles (depending on which provider is used to make the call) plus a Service Charge of up to 7p per minute (depending on the exact number called).
The Access Charge goes to the caller's landline or mobile provider and is their charge for the making of the call. The Service Charge is paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and subsidises the additional call-handling and call-forwarding costs incurred in the provision of a non-geographic number.
Where the use of a number with a Service Charge is inappropriate, users must change their number to stop imposing it. Since 13 June 2014, BIS regulations already require this for post sales helplines used by retailers, traders and passenger transport companies. FCA regulations will shortly (from 26 October 2015) require this for financial organisations including banks and insurance companies. Cabinet Office guidance (published 26 December 2013) has already suggested this for government departments, their agencies and 'other bodies across the wider public sector landscape'. While there is no similar regulation for sales and enquiry lines, on discovering the high cost of calls to 084 numbers, potential customers are free to take their business elsewhere.
Ofcom offers all users of 084 numbers the opportunity to migrate to the matching 034 number. Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers and count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and mobiles.
Very many organisations have made the switch but publicity materials and websites may have been slower to catch up.
Wherever you see an 084 number advertised always try calling the matching 034 number first. If it works it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn't, there will be no charge.
087 to 037
Calls to numbers starting 087 incur an Access Charge of 2p to 12p per minute from landlines or 5p to 45p per minute from mobiles (depending on which provider is used to make the call) plus a Service Charge of up to 13p per minute (depending on the exact number called).
Numbers where the Service Charge is more than 7p per minute or per call are further defined as Controlled Premium Rate Services and subject to additional PhonepayPlus regulation.
The Access Charge goes to the caller's landline or mobile provider and is their charge for the making of the call. The Service Charge is paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and subsidises the additional call-handling and call-forwarding costs incurred in the provision of a non-geographic number.
For the same reasons detailed in the '084 to 034' section above, Ofcom offers all users of 087 numbers the opportunity to migrate to the matching 037 number. Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers and count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and mobiles.
Very many organisations have made the switch but publicity materials and websites may have been slower to catch up.
Wherever you see an 087 number advertised always try calling the matching 037 number first. If it works it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn't, there will be no charge.
Other number migrations
In some cases, organisations have changed their number, but not in the way described here. For example, public services, charities and healthcare organisations can use numbers starting 030. Some organisations have chosen one of those numbers instead of the 034 or 037 number they were otherwise entitled to use.
Be sure to check the official website of the organisation you are calling for the correct number.
Numbers that are generally cheap to call include those starting 01, 02, 03 and 080.
Be aware that numbers in Jersey (01534), Guernsey (01481) and Isle of Man (01624) may be non-inclusive.
The expensive numbers include those starting 084, 087 and 09 as well as 0500 (from mobiles) and 070.
See also
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5219756
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5222050
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5261203
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5287218
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5292529
0500 to 0808 5
Calls to 0500 numbers are free from landlines but not from mobiles. Mobile operators charge anything up to 40p per minute for calls to 0500 numbers.
On 3 June 2014 Ofcom announced the 0500 range will be withdrawn from use on 3 June 2017. All users of 0500 numbers have been offered the option to move to the matching 0808 5 number. The new number is one digit longer than the old number. The new number retains the final six digits of the old number.
On 1 July 2015 calls to all 0800 and 0808 numbers, including 0808 5 numbers, became free from mobile phones and remain free from landlines. Organisations that continue using 0500 numbers are causing callers using their mobile phone to incur unnecessary call charges of up to 40p per minute.
In some cases the number has already been changed but publicity material and third-party websites haven't yet caught up.
Wherever you see an 0500 number advertised always try calling the matching 0808 5 number first. If it works it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn't, there will be no charge.
Sainsbury's Bank is one of the first to change their number in this way.
084 to 034
Calls to numbers starting 084 incur an Access Charge of 2p to 12p per minute from landlines or 5p to 45p per minute from mobiles (depending on which provider is used to make the call) plus a Service Charge of up to 7p per minute (depending on the exact number called).
The Access Charge goes to the caller's landline or mobile provider and is their charge for the making of the call. The Service Charge is paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and subsidises the additional call-handling and call-forwarding costs incurred in the provision of a non-geographic number.
Where the use of a number with a Service Charge is inappropriate, users must change their number to stop imposing it. Since 13 June 2014, BIS regulations already require this for post sales helplines used by retailers, traders and passenger transport companies. FCA regulations will shortly (from 26 October 2015) require this for financial organisations including banks and insurance companies. Cabinet Office guidance (published 26 December 2013) has already suggested this for government departments, their agencies and 'other bodies across the wider public sector landscape'. While there is no similar regulation for sales and enquiry lines, on discovering the high cost of calls to 084 numbers, potential customers are free to take their business elsewhere.
Ofcom offers all users of 084 numbers the opportunity to migrate to the matching 034 number. Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers and count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and mobiles.
Very many organisations have made the switch but publicity materials and websites may have been slower to catch up.
Wherever you see an 084 number advertised always try calling the matching 034 number first. If it works it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn't, there will be no charge.
087 to 037
Calls to numbers starting 087 incur an Access Charge of 2p to 12p per minute from landlines or 5p to 45p per minute from mobiles (depending on which provider is used to make the call) plus a Service Charge of up to 13p per minute (depending on the exact number called).
Numbers where the Service Charge is more than 7p per minute or per call are further defined as Controlled Premium Rate Services and subject to additional PhonepayPlus regulation.
The Access Charge goes to the caller's landline or mobile provider and is their charge for the making of the call. The Service Charge is paid to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider and subsidises the additional call-handling and call-forwarding costs incurred in the provision of a non-geographic number.
For the same reasons detailed in the '084 to 034' section above, Ofcom offers all users of 087 numbers the opportunity to migrate to the matching 037 number. Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers and count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and mobiles.
Very many organisations have made the switch but publicity materials and websites may have been slower to catch up.
Wherever you see an 087 number advertised always try calling the matching 037 number first. If it works it will be a cheaper call. If it doesn't, there will be no charge.
Other number migrations
In some cases, organisations have changed their number, but not in the way described here. For example, public services, charities and healthcare organisations can use numbers starting 030. Some organisations have chosen one of those numbers instead of the 034 or 037 number they were otherwise entitled to use.
Be sure to check the official website of the organisation you are calling for the correct number.
Numbers that are generally cheap to call include those starting 01, 02, 03 and 080.
Be aware that numbers in Jersey (01534), Guernsey (01481) and Isle of Man (01624) may be non-inclusive.
The expensive numbers include those starting 084, 087 and 09 as well as 0500 (from mobiles) and 070.
See also
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5219756
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5222050
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5261203
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5287218
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5292529
0
Comments
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Maybe you should specify those 01 numbers that aren't cheap to call, e. g. the Isle of Man one.0
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Note added. Calling a non-inclusive Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man 01 landline number will, in most cases, cost roughly the same as the Access Charge for calling 084, 087 and 09 non-geographic numbers and there will be no Service Charge to pay on the 01 call.
Further information on the various types of numbers can be found here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/52925290
This discussion has been closed.
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