Make sense of the codes to avoid charges

0345

Levied as a geographic call with the cost depending upon the time of day. Typically, the cost is up to 10p a minute for calls made from a landline. Calls from a mobile cost between 10p and 40p a minute. But calls from landlines and mobiles should be included in any ‘free-call’ package deal.

030

This prefix is offered by notfor-profit charities and public bodies, such as local government and Revenue & Customs. As with 0345 landline use, calls cost up to 10p a minute, with mobiles costing between 10p and 40p a minute. But again, calls from landlines and mobiles should be included in any free-call package deal.

0800 and 0808

Freephone numbers that do not cost the caller a penny from a landline. But if you dial from a mobile phone there may be a cost – the operator should warn you before making a connection – of between 14p and 40p a minute.

0845/0844/0843

Calls from a landline are charged at between 1p and 11p a minute, depending on time of day. There may be a minimum call charge of 14p. Mobiles cost more – between 14p and 41p, depending on the network provider and time of day.

0870/0871/0872/0873

These can be more expensive than 0845 numbers under Ofcom guidelines. Calls cost between 1p and 11p a minute from a landline, depending on time of day. Mobiles cost between 14p and 41p a minute.

09

This prefix means a premium rate charge of between 9p and £1.69 a minute from a BT landline, or up to £2.60 from others. Mobile calls cost between 50p and £2.50 a minute. Typically used for competitions, chat lines, recorded information and professional advice hotlines.