I’ve started to notice the use of more 03 telephone numbers by businesses (e.g. 03123 456789), and because they look a little unusual, (almost like a foreign phone number) I was wondering what the deal with them was, and how much they cost to call.
According to Wikipedia, these 03 numbers cost the same to call as geographic landline numbers (like “normal” phone numbers which start with an 01 or 02), even from a mobile phone.
They are also included as part of inclusive call minutes and discount schemes from all major mobile phone and landline operators. This last point is where they differ from other 08 numbers, including 0800s, which are not included in your free monthly minutes.
Here’s a list of the mobile phone call charges associated with different types of telephone number:
| Number | Mobile phone call cost |
|---|---|
| 03 | Inclusive or at geographic rate |
| 0800 | 20-20p/min |
| 0844 | 20-55p/min |
| 0845 | 20-30p/min |
| 0870 | 20-29p/min |
| 0871 | 35-50p/min |
So if you see an 03 number advertised, there’s no need to think that it will be followed by a huge bill for a call to a foreign destination, it should be charged the same as a local rate call, whether you’re phoning from a landline, mobile phone or even a payphone (remember them? They’re those big ugly boxes plastered with adverts for months-old movies which you sometimes see in town centres being used by druggies to score their next hit).
