0845 / KNOW THE BENEFITS, KNOW THE COSTS
A useful number strategy
starts with the caller.
0845 offers a non-geographic identity, but it is not a local-rate promise. Compare caller costs, business costs and the service behind the prefix.
What 0845 provides—and what it does not.
An 0845 number gives an organisation a non-geographic contact identity. The associated service may support useful routing and management features, but those depend on the provider’s service, not the digits alone. Keeping an established number may avoid changing published contact details; that benefit should be weighed against caller cost and suitability.
Calls to 0843, 0844 and 0845 are charged through a service charge plus the caller’s telephone-company access charge. An 0845 number should not be described as a standard local call. The precise service charge and any per-call element must be checked for the particular number.
Ofcom’s guide describes the service-charge component for 084 calls as 0–7p per minute and for 087 calls as 0–13p per minute, before the caller’s access charge. Check the exact tariff, including any per-call element. These are charging-category limits, not a Switch quotation.
Compare the main alternatives.
| Number family | Caller perspective | Business decision |
|---|---|---|
| 0843 / 0844 / 0845 | Access charge plus service charge; do not assume inclusive minutes. | Review caller friction, charge disclosure and the specific service tariff. |
| 0870 / 0871 / 0872 / 0873 | Access plus service charging also applies. | A higher charging category is not automatically a better business service. |
| 03, including 033 / 034 / 037 | No more than an equivalent 01/02 call; included in allowances on the same basis. | A UK-wide identity with a different caller-cost model. Eligibility applies to particular subranges. |
| 01 / 02 geographic | Plan-dependent geographic rates and inclusive allowances. | A local association; compare the area identity with your customer base. |
| 0800 / 0808 | Free for UK consumer calls from landlines and mobiles. Business-phone and overseas conditions need checking. | The receiving organisation may pay service and inbound-call charges. |
Sources checked for this guide: Ofcom UK Calling, Ofcom call costs guide and GOV.UK call charges. Review the provider tariff for a specific call or service.
CALLER-COST EXPLAINER / YOUR INPUTS
Two charges.
One clearer picture.
Enter the caller’s access charge, the number’s per-minute service charge and a whole-minute duration. This demonstrates the arithmetic; it is not a tariff quote.
Enter both charges to begin.
Excludes connection charges, per-call service charges, minimum charges, billing rounding and any other tariff conditions. Do not use this as a final bill estimate without those details.
Business cost is a separate calculation.
Ask for setup and transfer charges, recurring fees, inbound call charges, onward routing costs, minimum commitments and support terms. A lower caller price does not by itself establish a lower cost for the organisation. Switch pricing and any potential saving are assessed through a provider-backed quote for your requirements.
Show the charge where the number is advertised.
Ofcom’s business guidance says organisations advertising applicable 084 and 087 numbers must make the service charge clear. Use the actual number’s tariff, with wording explaining that the caller’s telephone-company access charge is additional. A generic “local rate” label does not explain the charging model.
Read Ofcom’s business charging guidance ↗
Check the purpose of the line.
Where Regulation 41 applies to a telephone line for consumers contacting a trader about an existing contract, the caller must not be bound to pay more than the basic rate. The application and exceptions depend on the service and circumstances; review the actual use case before selecting a chargeable line.
Read the regulation on post-contract telephone charges ↗
Choose the number for the job.
Consider the people calling, how frequently they call, whether you need a local association and how the contact route is advertised. Customer-service lines can have additional requirements: obtain guidance for the actual use case before keeping a chargeable number.
Explore published number choices ↗