I dial 0800 / 0870 / 0845 / 0871 / 0844 / 03 numbers: what will happen to me?

The changes advocated by Ofcom are as follows:

0870 national rate numbers

• You will be able to dial and use all 0870 numbers exactly as you do now.

• Rather than paying the current rate of 6p -7.5p that you are paying now, this may be reduced to the standard rate of a national call charged by your landline or mobile provider (depending on which phone you are calling from). For some companies and members of the public the cost of your calls could be reduced over 5 fold!

• All of the published 0870 numbers will remain the same, but you may find that a lot of companies will wish to change their numbers to 0800 / 0845 / 0871 / 0844 / 03 numbers

What will calling these alternative numbers cost me? Go to our 0800 / 0845 / 0871 / 0844 / 03 numbers advice centre.

0871 revenue numbers

• You will pay call costs (up to 10ppm). This will mean that the company you are calling is receiving a revenue share on your call. Often this revenue share is used to pay for the operation of the call centre and its associated technologies.

• 0871’s will be regulated by PhonePay Plus (formerly known as ICSTIS the governing body of premium rate numbers)– it is quite possible that advertising rights will be restricted, so you will be better informed of the charges associated to you and the directors of the business will be personally responsible for good business practice of these lines.

• You may find that a lot of companies will wish to change their numbers to 0800 / 0845 / 0871 / 0844 / 03 numbers

What will calling these alternative numbers cost me? Go to our 0800 / 0845 / 0870 / 0844 / 03 numbers advice centre.

0845 lo-call rate Numbers

• Currently you are paying approximately 2.5p per minute to dial a lo-call rate number

• Ofcom has plans to make similar changes to the 0845 number range as it is proposing to do to the 0870 numbers. If this is so, the receiving company will have to pay to take your call and the caller will only pay the cost of a normal local call from the network they are using i.e. mobile or land line network.

• Numbers will remain the same

• You may find that a lot of companies will wish to change their numbers to 0800 / 0845 / 0871 / 0844 / 03 numbers

What should I do as a business so that this does not have an adverse impact on me? View our advice page: 0845 Business advice centre.

0800 / 0808 / 0500 free phone Numbers

• These are widely known to be free of charge to callers and the recipient pays for the calls. Ofcom are not expected to make any changes to these numbers in the short to medium future.

0844 / 03 Numbers

• All three of these numbers are relatively new in the market and businesses and consumers awareness of their costs and operational impact is low.

• 0844 – Calls will cost the caller from 2p - 5p per minute. The receiving company will receive a revenue, the amount will be largely governed by the cost to the caller.

• 03 - Predominantly for Government and not-for-profit organisations.

• Call cost to be the same as national-rate geographic numbers.

• Corresponding 0344, 0345, 0370, 0371

If you would like more information on the numbering changes please use our feedback form: http:///www.drltd.com/forms/feedback.aspx