0800 and 0808 freephone numbers used to feel like the biggest con. “Oh, you’re calling from a mobile phone? No, of course it’s not free!” Now, balance has been restored, as OFCOM have introduced a new initiative called UK Calling which makes these numbers completely free to call from a mobile phone, just as they are from landlines.
UK Calling is actually much more than that, though. The program also dispenses with the byzantine fee system for other premium rate numbers like 084, 087 and 09, which previously were incredibly confusing to calculate, poorly advertised and almost always expensive.
Under the new system, calculating the cost of these numbers will be simple – just add two numbers together. One part will be the access charge, which will be determined by your mobile carrier. This rate is the same for all non-geographic calls, so memorising it shouldn’t be too hard. The second part is the service charge, which will be set by the company you’re calling. This charge will be provided whenever a service is advertised.
So: total cost = access charge + service charge.
For example, you might know your carrier’s premium rate charge is 10p / minute. You see an ad that offers a service for “20p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.” You add 20 and 10 together, and know that the service will cost you 30p per minute. Simple.
OFCOM have produced a website called UK Calling to explain the new system, as well as this YouTube video. Feel free to peruse them at your leisure.
Together with making freephone numbers actually free, this is a great move for UK mobile customers, and should make calling on a mobile a much less stressful experience.
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