Have you ever wondered what makes 0870 numbers different from others? Why some people are wary of them? Or, why they are so popular among businesses?
Unlike other numbers, calls to all 0870 numbers are not charged at a common flat rate. There are several other nuances associated with 0870 numbers, which we’ll explore in this article.
Through this, WeNumber aims to empower you, customers and businesses, into making well-informed decisions about calling or setting up a 0870 line. If you are a business owner, you can make up your mind about investing in these numbers for your company.
Part 1: What Are 0870 Numbers?
Numbers with 0870 prefixes are non-geographical business rate numbers that are not linked to any particular region in the United Kingdom.
0870 numbers belong to a special category of premium-rate numbers. Hence, you need to pay a charge for calling them irrespective of any free call package deal that you may have signed up for with your phone operator.
Call costs to 0870 numbers are split into two parts. Firstly, an ‘access charge’ is applied by your network operator, which can vary according to different phone companies.
Secondly, a ‘service charge’ can be set by the organization which owns and manages this phone number.
Part 2: Who Uses 0870 Numbers?
0870 numbers are used among organizations for pre-sales support, information inquiry, or voting lines. They are commonly used for telephonic ticket booking services, conference calls, paid dating and chatting lines, fortune-teller lines, etc.
Previously, companies also used 0870 numbers for after-sales support. However, in the interest of customer rights, Ofcom passed a resolution in 2015 prohibiting this kind of use in the future.
Part 3: Why Uses 0870 Numbers?
If you are a business owner, 0870 numbers allow you to set an enviable national level presence. Besides, you can also earn a significant sum of money via high incoming call volumes.
One other often overlooked reason behind the popularity of 0870 numbers is that they allow even the callers outside of UK to contact you with ease. Thus you can expand your customer reach significantly.
Part 4: What Do 0870 Numbers Offer?
Business owners having a 0870 line can charge a “service fee” in lieu of providing their expert service to callers over the phone. This service charge can be set to any value up to 13 pence per call or 13 pence per minute.
Because of the income-generating potential activity of 0870 numbers, their use is heavily regulated by Phone-paid Service Authority (PSA). Organizations must mention complete information about service call charges wherever they display their number to the public.
If you face any problems regarding phone call charges or access charges on 0870 numbers, you should contact Ofcom.
Part 5: FAQs
1. How much does it cost to call an 0870 number on Vodafone?
Vodafone levies an access charge of approximately 20p per minute for dialing a 0870 number. In addition to this, you will also have to pay a service charge to the company that you are calling. Thus, the maximum call charge per minute comes out to be 33 pence.
2. How much does it cost to call an 0870 number on O2?
O2’s call charges to 0870 numbers differ according to your plans:
- Pay monthly users are levied a 55p access charge, plus a 68p per minute charge. Their minimum cost is 68p.
- Pay as You Go users are charged an access fee of 45p, thereafter a charge between 13p to 21p per minute. 58 pence is their minimum call cost.
Note that O2 allows free calls to some 0870 numbers, whose information can easily be found on their website. Services charges are added to this.
3. How much does it cost to call an 0870 number on EE?
The access charge set by EE for 0870 numbers varies according to the plan that you have.
- If you belong to the category of SIM-only customers or monthly paying customers, you will be charged 50p per minute.
- If you have Pay as You Go plan or you belong to the small business category, you will be levied an access charge of 44p per minute.
- Customers of phone package or broadband have the least rate at 11p per minute.
Besides, you will also have to pay the service fee for each call, which is variable.
4. How much does it cost to call an 0870 number on Three?
For Three mobile users, you will be charged an access fee of 45p for each minute of call to a 0870 number. However, there is another caveat. You’ll be charged for at least one minute even if you make a short call of not more than a few seconds.
Of course, the service charge is an add-on and will vary between different phone numbers according to the organization.
5. How much does It cost to call an 0870 number on BT?
BT is one such network operator which includes 0870 numbers within the ambit of most of its call packages. So, consumers are not charged anything extra for calling 0870 numbers.
However, if you are a user of BT’s unlimited weekend call package, and you make a 0870 line call during the weekday, you will incur an access charge. Service charges still need to be paid as set forth by the dialed company.
Conclusion
We hope you are now much better equipped to understand and handle 0870 numbers. Since calling these numbers can be quite costly, you should be aware of them.
At WeNumber, our focus is to keep you updated with the world of telecom, so you are never caught unguarded. If you have any other lingering doubts, you’ll surely find answers on our platform.
Are you interested in purchasing a 0870 number for your business? WeNumber can provide you with a great variety of memorable numbers, including other prefix ranges as well.
Our attractive call features will surely benefit your company. So why wait? Explore our website now and begin a new journey!
