Telecom Service Changes

Important Changes to Inbound Non-Geographic Call Services (NGCS)

Following a consultation process, the telecoms regulator Ofcom is due to implement changes to non-geographic numbers beginning with 08 and 09. They come into effect on 1st July 2015. The aim is to make the cost of calling these numbers clear for everyone.

Firstly, there is a Mobile Levy.
As of 1st July 2015, the communication regulator OFCOM is introducing a new regulatory change called UK Calling.  UK Calling is designed to make call charges more transparent for consumers calling into businesses on Non Geographic Number Services (NGNS).

This new regulation is great news for Freephone business users as it encourages callers to dial your number more than ever before. This is because currently, consumers may pay between 14p and 40p per minute when calling Freephone numbers from a mobile.  However, as a result of this regulatory change, calls to Freephone numbers starting with 0800 and 0808 will now be free from mobile phones just as they are from landlines.

As a business that uses Freephone numbers, your 080 pence per minute rate will remain exactly the same, with the exception of any calls you receive that originate from mobile networks where you will need to pay a top up, (a mobile levy charge which will be paid on your behalf to the mobile operators) as part of your 080 pence per minute rate from the 1st July 2015. The mobile levy charge is 12 pence per minute.

Secondly, there are changes to the Unbundled pricing (084/087).
There will be a removal of the separate 0844, 0845 and 0870/1 tariffs. As a result of the NGCS changes, these numbers now fall into one of a number of available Service Charges, with this depending on the original range holder of the number.

The cost to you no longer depends on what the number prefix is, but on the Service Charge of the number.

These Service Charges vary between 13p and 1p for 087, and between 7p and 1p for 084. All service charges are inclusive of VAT.

To find out how much your number range Service Charge will be, you can use the OFCOM Service Charge Master Sheet. (This is the most accurate resource for Service Charges, but these can be changed prior to July 1st.)

What do I need to do?
As part of the changes, there is an obligation to publish the Service Charges wherever you advertise your 084 or 087 telephone number.

The format for this should be similar to 'Calls to this number will incur a Service Charge plus your phone company's Access Charge.'

Due to the extensive changes made by Ofcom these tariffs will be reviewed regularly and changes maybe applied. You will be notified in writing prior to any changes.