Non-geographic telephone numbers in the United Kingdom
A non-geographic number is a type of telephone number that is not linked to any specific locality. Such numbers are an alternative to the traditional 'landline' numbers that are assigned geographically using a system of location-specific area codes.
Non-geographic numbers are used for various reasons, from providing flexible routing of incoming phone calls to generating revenue for paid-for services.
Functionality
Non-geographic numbers were introduced to offer services that were historically unavailable on standard landline phone numbers, particularly in terms of call routing and special charging arrangements.Advertised benefits of non-geographic numbers include:
- Call routing. Calls can be flexibly redirected to virtually any destination. For example, calls could be answered in different call centres depending on where the caller is located or the time of day.
- Ease of communication. Organisations covering multiple locations can advertise a single national phone number rather than having to publicise different numbers for different areas.
- Location neutrality. Standard geographic numbers are firmly linked with specific localities. Using non-geographic numbers can help an organisation avoid appearing to be limited in scope to a specific geographic area, and also removes any need to change telephone numbers in the event of relocation or expansion into a different area.
- Resilience and disaster recovery. Standard geographically routed landline numbers may become unreachable in the event of a fault or damage to the telephone network in the area they are linked to. Non-geographic numbers allow for incoming calls to be easily redirected to alternative locations when necessary.
- Special charging arrangements. The use of number prefixes that are distinct from standard landline numbers allows for a variety of different charging arrangements – from freephone numbers that cost the caller nothing to dial to premium rate numbers that generate revenue for the called party.
Call handling
Developments in telecoms technology mean that advanced call routing facilities are no longer unique to non-geographic numbers with many suppliers offering the same functionality through 'virtual' geographic numbers.
Calling non-geographic numbers from abroad
Calling certain non-geographic number ranges might not be possible when calling from abroad of the United Kingdom. This is mostly the case with the 070 personal numbering range, the 080 freephone range and service numbers starting 084, 087, and 09.Non-geographic number ranges
All non-geographic numbers offer similar functionality, with the main difference being the charge levied on the caller. The major non-geographic prefixes now in use are:080 (freephone)
0800 and 0808 numbers are free-to-caller from landlines, mobile phones, and payphones alike. The organisation receiving the call pays the cost of the call.03 numbers
Billing and costs
Numbers starting with '03' are non-geographic numbers charged at standard geographic rates. Calls to these numbers cost exactly the same as calls to regular local or national landlines. Regulation ensures that if a tariff offers inclusive minutes or free calls to numbers starting with 01 or 02, calls to 03 numbers must be included on exactly the same terms.Since their reintroduction in 2007, these 03 numbers have been the only variety of non-geographic number whose charge is officially linked to that of geographic numbers. No provision has been made for replicating the old 'local rate' or 'national rate' prefixes, as almost all UK telephone operators now charge all landline calls at the same rate, regardless of location.
Usage
As of 2016, active 03 number prefixes are: 0300, 0303, 0330, 0333, 0343, 0344, 0345, 0370, 0371, and 0372.While all 03 numbers operate the same way, some sub-ranges have restrictions on their use.
;030: Reserved for allocation to public sector bodies and not-for-profit bodies such as registered charities
;034 / 037: Reserved for migration from equivalent 084 and 087 numbers.
Service numbers
These are the non-geographic numbers starting 084, 087, and 09. They are also known as premium rate numbers. Until 2015, 084 and 087 numbers were called special rate or business rate numbers.Since 2015, these numbers have a two-part charging structure. Call charges consist of a per-minute access charge levied by the caller's phone service provider, plus a service charge or 'premium' paid to the joint benefit of the organisation being called and their telecoms provider.
The access charge varies considerably by phone operator, with calls from landlines charged at 2p to 27p per minute and calls from mobile phones charged at 4p to 89p per minute.
The service charge is charged at the same rate regardless of which telephone company the caller uses to make the call. The rate that applies must be detailed wherever the number is publicised and falls into the following bands:
- 084 numbers: up to 7p per call and/or 7p per minute
- 087 numbers: up to 13p per call and/or 13p per minute
- 09 numbers: up to £6.00 per call and/or £3.60 per minute.
Service charge price points
Upon introduction of the "unbundled tariff" for calls to 084, 087, 09, and 118 numbers on 1 July 2015 there were 80 price points for the Service Charge element of the call cost. These were designated SC001 to SC080. A further 20 price points, designated SC081 to SC100, were added on 1 July 2016. There were 100 price points until 1 April 2019. The same charges apply to calls made from all landline and mobile providers.Zen Internet charged six of the price points at the wrong rate, three from 1 July 2015 until their withdrawal on 1 April 2019 and three more from 1 July 2016 to January 2019. From 1 July 2016 to 26 December 2016, Sky Talk charged three of the Service Charge price points at the wrong rate. From 30 November 2016 to 14 March 2017, Sky Mobile charged three of the price points at the wrong rate. Virgin Media did not list price points SC081 to SC100. Andrews & Arnold did not list price points SC068 to SC072, SC080 or SC081 to SC100. Origin Broadband did not list price points SC081 to SC100.
On 1 April 2019, Ofcom introduced a price cap of £3.65 per 90 seconds of a call on calls to numbers starting 118. From this date, 26 of the existing 100 Service Charge price points were no longer available for use by services on telephone numbers starting 118. Of those 26 price points, some 15 price points were available only for use by services on numbers starting 09, and eleven price points were withdrawn from use. From 1 May 2019, new price points started to be introduced. These re-used some of the previously withdrawn SC code numbers - all as noted in the table below.
Personal numbers
Numbers starting 070 are "personal numbers" - virtual telephone numbers intended to offer non-geographic number functionality to individuals, such as by allowing people to have a single number that directs calls to their home, work or mobile phone as they choose. They are controversial as they are charged at premium rates and can be confused for mobile numbers, and therefore the cost of calls to them may not be apparent to callers until they receive their bills.From 1 October 2019, Ofcom capped the termination rate for these calls at the same rate as for calls to UK mobile numbers, thereby allowing phone providers to include these calls within monthly allowances or otherwise charge them at the same rate as a call to a mobile number.
Controlled Premium Rate Services
A subset of non-geographic numbers, designated Controlled Premium Rate Services, is subject to additional regulation by the Phone-paid Services Authority, formerly PhonepayPlus.Ofcom's "PRS Condition" defines Controlled Premium Rate Services as those:
- using "unbundled tariff numbers" starting 087, 090, 091, 098 or 118 with a Service Charge of more than 7p per call or per minute inclusive of VAT,
- using other numbers where the termination fee or rate is more than 10p per call or per minute inclusive of VAT,
- providing a chatline service, irrespective of call cost or prefix used,
- providing an adult-entertainment service, irrespective of call cost or prefix used,
- is an internet dialler-operated service, irrespective of call cost or prefix used.
Services identified as CPRS must comply with the PSA Code of Practice.
History
Most non-geographic numbers use prefixes recovered from former use as geographic area codes. For previous uses of prefixes such as 0345, 0800 and 0990, see: List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom.Freephone - including 0800 and 0808
During the 1980s, free-to-caller numbers were introduced using a range of prefixes that had previously been used as geographic area codes. By the 1990s, the prefixes 0321, 0500 and 0800 were all in use and allocated to Vodafone, Mercury Communications and BT respectively. Typically, the relevant prefix was followed by a six-digit number, giving a total number length of ten digits including the initial '0'.Increased competition and a shortage of the popular 0800 numbers in the early 1990s saw various strategies employed to increase freephone capacity. Newly issued 0800 numbers were lengthened to include seven digits after the 0800 prefix, and the additional 0808 prefix was introduced during 1997. Also during the 1990s, deregulation allowed companies other than BT to acquire 0800 numbers and issue them to their customers, as well as allowing customers with existing freephone numbers to retain them when changing telecoms supplier.
With the 0800 and 0808 ranges established as the primary freephone ranges, the 0321 number range was withdrawn during 2001. The 0500 number range will be withdrawn during 2017, with users migrated to 0808 5 numbers.
Major mobile phone operators went through a period of charging callers to dial most freephone numbers from around 2005 onwards - but this practice largely ceased on 1 July 2015 as 0800 and 0808 numbers became universally free to call from mobiles and landlines due to changes in Ofcom legislation.
As a freephone call results in no charge to the caller, the organisation receiving the call pays the call cost.