Don’t you just love it when you have to ring your bank, from your mobile, and they’ve only got an 0845 number? Of course you could look up another number online, but sometimes that isn’t convenient.
If you just turn over your bank card or even your credit card, you’ll see a (usually 0845) number to ring, but next to that is the ‘calling internationally’ number – and this is a normal landline telephone number to ring. It gets you to the same switchboard as the 0845 number, but the landline number is included in your free minutes, whereas an 0845 number isn’t.
So next time you’re putting off ringing your bank because you haven’t found a cheap number to ring, just turn your card over! This also applies to credit card companies and sometimes even your mobile phone provider.
Ian says
Another useful trick is to dial 034 in place of 084 and to dial 037 in place of 087. In many cases the new 03 number works even though the organisation hasn’t yet publicised the change of number.
In particular, many of the banks are now changing their telephone numbers ahead of new regulation that is likely to be imposed by the FCA in 2015.
Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers and count towards inclusive allowances on landlines and on mobile phones. The 03 range of non-geographic numbers have been available since 2007.
Laura M George (@lmgeorge92) says
I’m not sure if this works with 0845 numbers I know if you I have to ring an 0800 number on my phone it alerts me that if I hang up and redial without the first zero it’s free from my phone. Pretty impressive as It’s normally 02 I’m ringing!
Steve says
That’s a feature that is unique to 0800 and 0808 when dialled from an O2 mobile.
Steve says
Dropping the leading zero when calling 0800 and 0808 numbers is a feature unique to calls made from mobile phones on the O2 network. These calls are not generally free.
Most 0800 and 0808 numbers are charged by O2 at either 20p or 15p per minute depending on your tariff.
There are a select few 080 numbers, such as those used by DWP or those registered with the Helplines Association (beginning 0808 80) that are free to call from mobile phones on the main mobile networks. Each such network has a list of these numbers on their website.
Additionally, some 080 numbers used by O2 themselves are free to call from O2 mobiles. There’s a detailed list on their website. That list also suggests that some 0845 and 0870 numbers used by O2 themselves are free to call from O2 mobiles.
Clazz says
I usually go to http://www.saynoto0870.com when I need to call a number like that!