Telephone numbers starting 08, 09 and 118 are called 'service numbers'. You might use them to make phone calls to organisations such as banks, travel services, government departments, or even to vote in TV shows. From 1 July 2015, the regulator Ofcom is changing the way these numbers are charged for. The changes are designed to make the cost of calls clearer, and they are being communicated through a campaign called UK Calling.
Service numbers
These are numbers for contacting organisations. They start with the prefix 084, 087 and also include 118 for directory enquiry and premium rate service numbers beginning 09. From 1 July 2015, the cost of calling any of these numbers will be split into two parts:
- The access charge: This is what we charge you, per minute, for connecting the call. We will be communicating our access charges to existing customers before 1 July 2015.
- The service charge: This is the remainder of the call charge. The organisation you are calling decides the service charge, and must communicate it. For example, if the service charge was 20p per minute, the organisation you are calling might say "Calls cost 20p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge".
By adding together the access charge and the service charge, you'll know exactly what the call will cost you.
Freephone numbers
Numbers beginning 0800 and 0808 are already free to call from landlines, including your Plusnet phone, however from 1st July 2015 they will also be free to call from your mobile phone.
Find out more
All these changes apply across every landline and mobile phone – not just your Plusnet phone. Find out more at ukcalling.info