We’ve all seen it, the small print on adverts and TV shows under the non-geographic number saying ‘Calls cost 20p per minute from a BT landline. Other landlines may vary and calls from mobiles may cost considerably more.’ Great if you have a BT landline but not so helpful if you are calling from anywhere else.
In response to research showing that people are confused by how charging for service numbers works, Ofcom are bringing in changes to make it all a little clearer.
From the 1st July onwards the rate you pay per minute to call numbers beginning with 084, 087, 09 and 118 will consist of two parts:
Part 1 – The Access Charge – This part is determined by whoever bills you for your calls (such as Deep Blue)
Part 2 – The Service charge – This part is determined by Ofcom based on the number prefix
So what does this mean for you? From July 1st onwards any company using an 084, 087, 09 or 118 number will have to change the wording of their small print to make callers aware of both parts of the non-geographic call charge e.g. ‘Calls cost x pence per minute, plus your providers access charge.’