Ofcom calls for cuts to phone charges

PLANS to cut the cost of calls to 0870 numbers to the same rate as geographic numbers have been announced by the regulator, Ofcom.

The proposals also improve protection for customers calling 0871 lines – the most expensive of the 08 numbers – by bringing them under the remit of premium rate services regulator PhonepayPlus.

The plans are part of Ofcom's wider review of "non-geographic" telephone numbers following consumer complaints over the lack of transparency about the cost.

The regulator said companies should provide 0870 lines on the same basis as geographic calls. The proposal is likely to significantly reduce the cost of calling such numbers.

Calls to 0870 numbers are currently priced in a way that allows organisations to share the revenue generated by per-minute call charges.

However Ofcom's proposals would effectively end this.