UK Freephone numbers, which up until now have only been free to call from landlines, will also be made free to call from mobiles from July 1st 2015. This change is just a small part of a UK-wide Ofcom initiative to make call charges clearer for customers who phone non-geographic service numbers, which are often used to make calls to companies and organisations, contact directory enquiries or even to vote in TV shows.

At present, when anyone makes a phone call to a non-geographic service number – that’s one beginning 08, 09 or 118 – it’s not always clear how much it will cost. From July 1st businesses advertising any of these numbers will have to clearly state the ‘service charge’ for calling that number. The service charge will be the same for that number regardless of whether customers are calling from a mobile or fixed line, and regardless which phone company the customer uses to make the call.

For example, currently, a TV show inviting calls to take part in a phone poll may state: ‘Calls cost xxp per minute from a BT landline. Other landlines may vary and calls from mobiles may cost considerably more’. In future that message will become: ‘Calls cost xxp per minute plus your phone company’s access charge’.

As the latter message indicates, under the new charging structure the cost of calling service numbers will be made up of two parts – the service charge and the access charge. The access charge is the part of the call charge which goes to the caller’s network provider, charged as pence per minute. The service charge is the part of the call cost that’s paid to the organisation you are calling, and could be pence per minute, pence per call or a mixture of the two.

The new charging structure for service calls is being introduced by Ofcom (the UK communications regulator) working together with all landline and mobile phone companies. The initiative is also being fully supported by the Communications Commission here in the Isle of Man. Dr Carmel McLaughlin, Director of the Communications Commission, said:

“These changes will result in greater call cost transparency, which is a very positive development for consumers. We are pleased that all licensed telecom operators on the Island have agreed to comply with the new charging structure that is being implemented right across the UK.”

David Smith, Marketing Director at Manx Telecom, said:

“Manx Telecom is pleased to support this UK-wide initiative and I can confirm we will be fully compliant with the new charging structure. From July 1st, UK Freephone numbers beginning 0800 and 0808 will be free to call from mobiles as well as fixed lines. For other non-geographic service numbers, our access charge for landlines will be 10p per minute including VAT, for pay monthly mobiles 25p per minute, and 30p per minute for pay as you go mobiles.”

The new charging structure will apply to all consumer calls to 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers across the UK whether the calls are made from landlines or mobiles. The changes do not affect calls made to ordinary geographic landline numbers (01, 02), 03 numbers or mobile (07) numbers. Neither do they affect calls made from payphones, international calls, or calls made while roaming.

For more information about the service call changes go to www.ukcalling.info.