Freephone numbers starting with 0800 or 0808 are now free to call from mobile phones as well as landlines.

The move is part of an overhaul of phone numbers and charges planned for many months by regulator Ofcom which has now come into force. It said the cost of so-called service numbers, starting with 084, 087, 118 or 09, had also been simplified. But there are warnings of confusion over the exact cost of these calls and that the burden on firms may rise.

'Terrific'

The changes, first announced more than a year ago, will affect 175 million phone numbers.
They mean:

  • Mobile phone users will no longer be charged for freephone services
  • The cost of calls to service numbers will be explained as "calls cost x pence per minute, plus your phone company's access charge"


This has prompted many businesses and organisations to move from 08 numbers to cheaper 03 numbers. Ofcom said that UK consumers spent a total of £900m a year on 250 million calls to 084, 087, 09, or 118 service lines..........Read more here

2 Years before -

AAD Forum Blog pages posted:

12th March 2012
Calls from mobiles to 0800 numbers will soon be free as regulator Ofcom steps in LINK

4th April 2012
Mobile phone users could get free 0800 calls - LINK