0845 Ofcom changes

0845 Ofcom changes

Ofcom's view on 0845 is now clear, no specific Ofcom changes are to be applied to 0845. Ofcom are not going to be changing the pricing of 0845 numbers. They have made it clear that they encourage any business to drop the 0845 and move to the more friendly 0345 equivalent. This obviously includes ALL Government departments / services that are currently using 0845.

This means that the cost to call a 0845 number is not going to be brought down for the caller and at 3.4p/minute from a BT landline the rate is not much different to the price of a local call. Ofcom's latest announcements are to come in affect in mid 2015. Anyone with an 0845 should at very least change the first digit of the number to 0345 or it may be better to change it completely to a 0844 or 0871 perhaps - or to an 0800.

At that point, i.e. when that happens, the 0845 number owner/user will then have to start contributing towards the cost of the call per minute, if they are not already asked to already now.

An official date for this change has not yet been announced by Ofcom but everyone will be given 90 days notice - which we will of course give to all our clients this formal notice before 0845 numbers minutes do become chargeable. Given anyone with an 0845 should at very least change this number to 0345 then many will consider as if they have to change the number in some way then maybe it would be better to change it completely to a 0844 or 0871 perhaps - or to an 0800.

For advice you can contact Ofcom on: 0300 123 3333.
Or alternatively visit their website by clicking below.