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UK Premium Rate Number Charges

This is a quick guide to premium rate numbers, what they are used for and how much they cost:

SMS shortcodes

What are they?
Mobile text shortcode numbers are five or six-digits long and usually begin with 5, 6, 7 or 8. These numbers are often used to pay for new features in apps, to donate to charity, to enter competitions and to download games and ringtones. You may see these numbers in promotions asking you to text a certain word to a number or, you may receive promotional texts asking you to reply to them.

How much do they cost?
It can vary, check the promotion’s terms & conditions to find out the exact costs.

118 – directory enquiries

What are they?
These 6-digit numbers beginning with 118, are used for directory enquiries services which will tell you the phone number or address of a business or a home address.

How much do they cost?
Most calls include a charge to connect and then a charge for every minute you use the line (can be up to £5 per minute). Most phone operators charge an additional Network Access Charge for use of these numbers. Such numbers can impose a Service Charge in a variety of different ways with the maximum Service Charge being £6.98 per call  plus £3.49 per minute – fixed fee is the charge for first 60 seconds of call, or part thereof, and ppm duration applies following the first 60 seconds. Other prices may involve a fixed call fee plus a per minute charge, such as £3.99 per call plus £1.39 per minute (with both charges starting from connection); or be a fixed charge, such as 75 pence per call; or simply be a more traditional cost per minute Service Charge, such as £2.20 per minute.

0870, 0871, 0872 or 0873

What are they?
These numbers are normally used for customer service lines, such as technical support lines, chat lines, tarot/horoscope lines and sales/booking lines. Where these numbers charge more than 5.833 pence per call, exclusive of VAT, they are regulated by PhonepayPlus.

How much do they cost?
Typically Service Charges can be between 7p and 15p per minute, with some phone operators charging an additional Access Charge for use of these number ranges.

070 numbers

What are they?
Numbers beginning with 070 may look like mobile numbers but they are different and can be more expensive.
They are used to divert calls to another phone number. Small businesses and sole traders often used these to avoid giving out their personal phone number, and to take advantage of a facility that allows calls to the 070 number to be redirected to whichever fixed line number or mobile phone they prefer. 070 numbers are regulated by Ofcom. However, PhonepayPlus can investigate services on these numbers if they are found to offer premium rate-style services and/or the number is being misused and if the cost of the call exceeds 10p per minute.
How much do they cost? Typically between 4p and 65p per minute from landline (often also including a call set-up fee, sometimes of up to 51p). From a mobile phone, calls may cost between 30p and £1.50 per minute.

09 numbers

What are they?
These numbers are mainly used for competitions, TV voting, horoscopes, chat lines, adult lines, recorded information and professional advice services.

How much do they cost?
Service Charges can be made in a range of formats with the simplest being a per minute charge between 7p and £3.60 per minute. Other prices may involve a fixed fee charged for the first 60 seconds of call, or part thereof, and a pence per minute duration applies following the first 60 seconds, with the maximum fee being £4.45 per call and £2.57 per minute; or a fixed call fee plus a per minute charge, such as 77 pence per call plus £1.55 per minute (with both charges starting from connection); or be a fixed charge, with a maximum single fee of £6.00 per call.

If you’re not sure on the cost of a number, please use our #NumberChecker to find out more information about it.

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