Telephone

Ofcom has introduced new rules for 0870 calls that come into effect from 1 August 2009. These are designed to encourage communications providers to charge 0870 calls at the same rate as calls to geographic number rates (01, 02 or 03 numbers) i.e. charged at the same pence-per-minute rates and included in communications providers’ call packages price plans on the same basis as geographic calls. Communications providers that want to charge 0870 calls at rates above those for geographic numbers will be bound by strict rules about how prices are publicised and will be responsible for ensuring their customers know what 0870 calls cost. In order to improve consumer protection for the most expensive 08 number ranges (the 0871 and 0872 range) Ofcom has decided that from 1 August 2009, these numbers will be regulated by the premium rate services regulator PhonepayPlus.