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UK calls via various providers.
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Ian011
Posts: 2,432 Forumite
Calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers
Most landline and mobile providers offer deals with inclusive calls to geographic numbers starting 01 and 02 and non-geographic numbers starting 03.
From landlines, an "anytime" deal is nearly always better value than a "weekend" or "evening and weekend" deal. Taking an "anytime" deal avoids call charges of around 18p to 20p per call plus around 10p to 12p per minute for calls made during the week. You only need to make a couple of short calls (just over five mins per call) per week for the "anytime" deal to be cheaper option.
An alternative is to take a "weekend" deal and then use an override provider such as 18185 for calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers, but I sense this is becoming less popular these days.
Mobile providers offer contracts (with or without a handset) and various pay as you go bundles, add-ons or bolt-ons with an allowance of inclusive calls. All of these include, or have options that include, calls to geographic numbers starting 01 and 02 and non-geographic numbers starting 03.
When calling from a mobile phone, the most important point is to make sure you have enough inclusive minutes to avoid paying a per-minute for calls made outside of the allowance. The rates for out-of-allowance calls can vary from 3p per minute to 55p per minute.
Calls to 071-075 and 077-079 numbers
Some landline providers and all mobile providers offer deals with inclusive calls to mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079.
Plusnet, Sky and Virgin Media include calls to mobile numbers in their "anytime" call plans as standard. TalkTalk have an inexpensive "boost" that can be added at any time.
BT does not have inclusive calls to mobile numbers. BT charges 7.5p per minute (in place of 13.6p per min) if you have their "BT Anytime" deal or the "BT Home Phone Saver" plan.
Deals with inclusive calls to mobile numbers from landlines are becoming more common and this trend will continue.
Where calls from landlines to mobile numbers aren't included, using a dial through provider can be useful. There are many options.
Some provide an 03 number for access. Using this means that calls can be made to mobile numbers with no further charges incurred as long as your deal has inclusive calls to 03 numbers.
Various firms such as 18185, 1899, 18866 offer cheap calls from landlines to mobile numbers. Where the 1xx access number is not available, they also offer an 03 or 080 number for access. In all such cases they then send a separate monthly bill for carrying the 'to-mobile number' leg of the call.
There are also various dial-through providers offering calls from landlines to mobile numbers by first calling a premium rate 084 or 087 number. These numbers are usually more expensive than calling mobile numbers but if you have an allowance of inclusive calls to 0845 or 0870 numbers you can use this type of dial-through provider to call mobile numbers effectively free of charge.
Most mobile providers offer inclusive calls to mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079 as standard. Some mobile providers offer free calls to mobile numbers registered with the same provider.
Numbers in Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man
On landlines and mobiles, inclusive allowances usually exclude calls to landline and mobile numbers allocated in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man.
From a landline, avoiding these charges is relatively easy.
There are numerous dial-through providers offering 03 access numbers where these calls can be made without further charge.
Using an override provider such as 18185 from a landline can be cheap, either using their 1xx number or their 03 or 080 access number.
Dial-through providers with 0845 or 0870 access numbers also exist. Where the caller has inclusive calls to these numbers, calls can be made at no extra charge.
If calling from mobile, the options are limited.
The most useful may be dial-through providers with an 03 or 080 access number. You'll be sent a separate bill for the final leg of the call.
Some dial-through providers offer calls to Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man landlines through an 03 access number, with no additional charge for the final leg of the call.
Calling 080 numbers
Calls to numbers starting 080 are free-to-caller on landlines and on mobiles.
There is no charge for these calls and no time limit.
Calling 084 and 087 numbers
Calling premium rate 084 and 087 numbers can be expensive. The call charge consists of an Access Charge to the benefit of the caller's landline or mobile provider and a Service Charge to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider.
Usage of these numbers is banned for customer services, financial services and public services. Most organisations no longer use these numbers, but very many third party websites continue to list out of date numbers.
Always look on the official website of whoever you intended to call as in many cases you will find the numbers have changed in the past few years. In some cases, the sayNOto0870 website may divulge an alternative 01, 02, 03 or 080 number that can be called.
If searching on Google for a number, beware of various "call connection service" websites promoting premium rate numbers that charge extortionate rates for simply forwarding calls onwards. These websites are little more than a scam to catch the unwary.
If you really do have to call an 084 or 087 number, there are multiple ways of lowering or avoiding the charges.
There are a number of dial-through providers offering calls to 084 and 087 numbers (but only those where Service Charge is less than 10p per minute) by first calling an 0870 number. These services are designed for those who have inclusive calls to 0870 numbers such that the call will be effectively free of charge.
If you have to call an 084 or 087 number, but have no way of avoiding the charges, choose the phone provider with lowest Access Charge. The Access Charge is usually around 10p to 12p per minute on calls made from landlines or around 45p to 55p per minute on calls made from mobiles.
Using an override provider such as 18185 could save a few pence per minute on these calls.
Non-geographic numbers starting 09 and 118
Calling 09 and 118 numbers is always expensive.
The call charge consists of an Access Charge set by the caller's phone provider and a Service Charge set by the called party and their telecoms provider.
The Access Charge is up to 12p per minute from landlines or up to 55p per minute from mobiles. If you have to call these numbers, choose the phone provider with lowest Access Charge.
For 09 numbers, the Service Charge can be up to £6 per call and/or up to £3.60 per minute.
Some services (e.g. voting on a TV show) offer an alternative 'mobile shortcode' in place of the 09 number. Calling the five-digit mobile shortcode from a mobile phone is always cheaper than calling the 09 number from a landline! In many cases, there is an option to vote online at no charge.
In most other cases, make any calls to 09 numbers from a landline rather than from a mobile if you can. The Access Charge is around 35p to 45p per minute less.
The Service Charge for 118 numbers can be up to £15.98 per call and/or up to £7.99 per minute.
Avoid eye-watering 118 charges by looking online at the official website of whoever it was that you wanted to call. There are also a number of Directory Enquiries services that operate online. Beware of directories that return premium rate 084, 087 or 09 numbers in their results.
Don't take numbers directly from a Google search. They are likely to be out of date or part of a scam.
If you really do have to call a 118 service, choose a service with a low Service Charge. Some start at around 40p per minute. The most expensive can be as much as £15.98 per call plus £7.99 per minute!
Personal numbers starting 070
Numbers starting 070 are not mobile numbers. These are personal call-forwarding numbers charged at a premium rate.
Avoid calling these numbers. Always.
Most landline and mobile providers offer deals with inclusive calls to geographic numbers starting 01 and 02 and non-geographic numbers starting 03.
From landlines, an "anytime" deal is nearly always better value than a "weekend" or "evening and weekend" deal. Taking an "anytime" deal avoids call charges of around 18p to 20p per call plus around 10p to 12p per minute for calls made during the week. You only need to make a couple of short calls (just over five mins per call) per week for the "anytime" deal to be cheaper option.
An alternative is to take a "weekend" deal and then use an override provider such as 18185 for calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers, but I sense this is becoming less popular these days.
Mobile providers offer contracts (with or without a handset) and various pay as you go bundles, add-ons or bolt-ons with an allowance of inclusive calls. All of these include, or have options that include, calls to geographic numbers starting 01 and 02 and non-geographic numbers starting 03.
When calling from a mobile phone, the most important point is to make sure you have enough inclusive minutes to avoid paying a per-minute for calls made outside of the allowance. The rates for out-of-allowance calls can vary from 3p per minute to 55p per minute.
Calls to 071-075 and 077-079 numbers
Some landline providers and all mobile providers offer deals with inclusive calls to mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079.
Plusnet, Sky and Virgin Media include calls to mobile numbers in their "anytime" call plans as standard. TalkTalk have an inexpensive "boost" that can be added at any time.
BT does not have inclusive calls to mobile numbers. BT charges 7.5p per minute (in place of 13.6p per min) if you have their "BT Anytime" deal or the "BT Home Phone Saver" plan.
Deals with inclusive calls to mobile numbers from landlines are becoming more common and this trend will continue.
Where calls from landlines to mobile numbers aren't included, using a dial through provider can be useful. There are many options.
Some provide an 03 number for access. Using this means that calls can be made to mobile numbers with no further charges incurred as long as your deal has inclusive calls to 03 numbers.
Various firms such as 18185, 1899, 18866 offer cheap calls from landlines to mobile numbers. Where the 1xx access number is not available, they also offer an 03 or 080 number for access. In all such cases they then send a separate monthly bill for carrying the 'to-mobile number' leg of the call.
There are also various dial-through providers offering calls from landlines to mobile numbers by first calling a premium rate 084 or 087 number. These numbers are usually more expensive than calling mobile numbers but if you have an allowance of inclusive calls to 0845 or 0870 numbers you can use this type of dial-through provider to call mobile numbers effectively free of charge.
Most mobile providers offer inclusive calls to mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079 as standard. Some mobile providers offer free calls to mobile numbers registered with the same provider.
Numbers in Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man
On landlines and mobiles, inclusive allowances usually exclude calls to landline and mobile numbers allocated in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man.
From a landline, avoiding these charges is relatively easy.
There are numerous dial-through providers offering 03 access numbers where these calls can be made without further charge.
Using an override provider such as 18185 from a landline can be cheap, either using their 1xx number or their 03 or 080 access number.
Dial-through providers with 0845 or 0870 access numbers also exist. Where the caller has inclusive calls to these numbers, calls can be made at no extra charge.
If calling from mobile, the options are limited.
The most useful may be dial-through providers with an 03 or 080 access number. You'll be sent a separate bill for the final leg of the call.
Some dial-through providers offer calls to Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man landlines through an 03 access number, with no additional charge for the final leg of the call.
Calling 080 numbers
Calls to numbers starting 080 are free-to-caller on landlines and on mobiles.
There is no charge for these calls and no time limit.
Calling 084 and 087 numbers
Calling premium rate 084 and 087 numbers can be expensive. The call charge consists of an Access Charge to the benefit of the caller's landline or mobile provider and a Service Charge to the benefit of the called party and their telecoms provider.
Usage of these numbers is banned for customer services, financial services and public services. Most organisations no longer use these numbers, but very many third party websites continue to list out of date numbers.
Always look on the official website of whoever you intended to call as in many cases you will find the numbers have changed in the past few years. In some cases, the sayNOto0870 website may divulge an alternative 01, 02, 03 or 080 number that can be called.
If searching on Google for a number, beware of various "call connection service" websites promoting premium rate numbers that charge extortionate rates for simply forwarding calls onwards. These websites are little more than a scam to catch the unwary.
If you really do have to call an 084 or 087 number, there are multiple ways of lowering or avoiding the charges.
There are a number of dial-through providers offering calls to 084 and 087 numbers (but only those where Service Charge is less than 10p per minute) by first calling an 0870 number. These services are designed for those who have inclusive calls to 0870 numbers such that the call will be effectively free of charge.
If you have to call an 084 or 087 number, but have no way of avoiding the charges, choose the phone provider with lowest Access Charge. The Access Charge is usually around 10p to 12p per minute on calls made from landlines or around 45p to 55p per minute on calls made from mobiles.
Using an override provider such as 18185 could save a few pence per minute on these calls.
Non-geographic numbers starting 09 and 118
Calling 09 and 118 numbers is always expensive.
The call charge consists of an Access Charge set by the caller's phone provider and a Service Charge set by the called party and their telecoms provider.
The Access Charge is up to 12p per minute from landlines or up to 55p per minute from mobiles. If you have to call these numbers, choose the phone provider with lowest Access Charge.
For 09 numbers, the Service Charge can be up to £6 per call and/or up to £3.60 per minute.
Some services (e.g. voting on a TV show) offer an alternative 'mobile shortcode' in place of the 09 number. Calling the five-digit mobile shortcode from a mobile phone is always cheaper than calling the 09 number from a landline! In many cases, there is an option to vote online at no charge.
In most other cases, make any calls to 09 numbers from a landline rather than from a mobile if you can. The Access Charge is around 35p to 45p per minute less.
The Service Charge for 118 numbers can be up to £15.98 per call and/or up to £7.99 per minute.
Avoid eye-watering 118 charges by looking online at the official website of whoever it was that you wanted to call. There are also a number of Directory Enquiries services that operate online. Beware of directories that return premium rate 084, 087 or 09 numbers in their results.
Don't take numbers directly from a Google search. They are likely to be out of date or part of a scam.
If you really do have to call a 118 service, choose a service with a low Service Charge. Some start at around 40p per minute. The most expensive can be as much as £15.98 per call plus £7.99 per minute!
Personal numbers starting 070
Numbers starting 070 are not mobile numbers. These are personal call-forwarding numbers charged at a premium rate.
Avoid calling these numbers. Always.
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