Ofcom has announced that calls to freephone numbers from mobile phones are finally set to become free.
Despite the misleading title, freephone numbers actually incur a surcharge when you call them from your cellular.
Freephone calls are only ever free when you’re dialling from a landline. Because everybody still uses those, right?
The change is due to come into action from July 1. You’ll still be charged if you make calls until then.
To clarify, a freephone is any number that begins with either 0800 or 0808.
Related: Best Smartphones 2015
Ofcom also revealed that all telephone services will now have to be clear on their pricing for premium number calls from both mobile and landline.
“
She continued: “Together we spend around £900 million a year on these calls, so it’s important that people understand the cost before they pick up the phone.”
Premium calls are to any numbers that start with 084, 087, 09, and 118.
Under the new rules, providers will need to reveal call costs breakdown – that includes access charges and service charges, shown separately.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
