0845 telephone numbers

[Oor Wullie]

How much does it cost per min when you dial an 0845 number

[jimistra]

Calls to 0845 numbers are charged at the same price as a local rate call.

[ursula62]

In theory they cost national rate. However, in practice they work out much more expensive, so Ofcom is looking into the use of 0845 and 0870 numbers at the moment.

Companies that use these numbers are paid a percentage of the call charge by the line provider. This means it is in the company's interest to keep you holding as long as possible before dealing with your call. This is probably the main reason for the large number of recorded lists of "press 1 for ... " which you have to listen to before you get put through to another list to choose from, before being put in a queue to speak to a human being.

Almost �1 in every �5 spent on landline calls comes from people calling 0870 and 0845 numbers, and last year (2004) we spent over �1.5 billion pounds on these two number types alone!

[ursula62]

Found the costs/percentages:

0845 numbers cost 4p a minute. Companies that use the 0845 service make 0.5p per minute on the calls.

0870 numbers cost 7.91p a minute, with 2.5p of that going to the company receiving the call.

[jimistra]

BT charge 3p per minute to calls made to 0845 numbers from 8am and 6pm, monday to friday, and 1p per minute during the evening and weekends. These calls are charged at the same rate as a call to a local number and are classified as a Lo-call rate call. The cost of a call to an 0845 number may differ with other service providers.