NHS 084 numbers - Evidence of call charges
This page contains information about call charges prior to UK Calling taking place on 1st July 2015. Call charges for 084 numbers are now split into constituent parts: the Service Charge, as determined by the GP practice, and; the Access Charge as set by each telephone call provider.
NHS providers (including GPs) in England and Wales are forbidden from using 084 telephone numbers. The relevant regulations don’t specify which prefixes are banned but simply say that, taking the arrangement as a whole, callers should not pay more than they do had a geographic number been used.
We have researched the cost of calling 084 numbers and that of ringing geographic numbers on the same tariffs. The conclusion (outlined below) is that all 084 numbers that are used by NHS providers are banned. Simple as that.
NHS providers (including GPs) in England and Wales are forbidden from using 084 telephone numbers. The relevant regulations don’t specify which prefixes are banned but simply say that, taking the arrangement as a whole, callers should not pay more than they do had a geographic number been used.
We have researched the cost of calling 084 numbers and that of ringing geographic numbers on the same tariffs. The conclusion (outlined below) is that all 084 numbers that are used by NHS providers are banned. Simple as that.
Our research
We have researched the cost of calling 084 numbers and that of ringing geographic numbers on the same tariffs. The information is presented across two PDF documents:
Last revised: 21st October 2013
(The research referenced here is the same as that on the page When are 084 calls more expensive than geographic rate?, the text on which compliments the subject of this page.)
- 084 vs. geographic rate (01/02/03) numbers: Evidence of call charges | This is the main document and it contains a table of call rates for subscribers to packages from various providers of fixed line, mobile phone and payphone services. The conclusion lists those packages for which 0843, 0844 and 0845 numbers do cost more.
- Exhibits of call charges | This document contains shots of phone providers’ pricing literature for packages shown in the table in the main document. We have included annotations to aid understanding as some are quite complicated!
Last revised: 21st October 2013
(The research referenced here is the same as that on the page When are 084 calls more expensive than geographic rate?, the text on which compliments the subject of this page.)
Conclusion
0844 numbers are more expensive and cannot be used by NHS providers where callers ring using any of the following:
0845 numbers are more expensive and cannot be used by NHS providers where callers ring using any of the following:
- Landline services | BT Unlimited Anytime Calls Calling Plan, BT Basic, O2 Home Phone Anytime, O2 Home Phone Evening & Weekend, Phone Co-op Anytime, Primus Saver Phone Max, Sky Talk Anytime, TalkTalk Anytime, and Virgin Media Talk Unlimited.
- Mobile services | 3 Pay Monthly, 3 Pay as you Go, O2 Pay Monthly, Orange Pay Monthly, Orange Pay as you Go, T-Mobile Pay as you Go, Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly, Virgin Mobile Pay as you Go, and Vodafone Pay Monthly.
- Public payphones | BT Payphones.
0845 numbers are more expensive and cannot be used by NHS providers where callers ring using any of the following:
- Landline services | BT Basic, Primus Saver Phone Max, Sky Talk Anytime, and Virgin Media Talk Unlimited.
- Mobile services | 3 Pay Monthly, 3 Pay as you Go, O2 Pay Monthly, Orange Pay Monthly, T-Mobile Pay as you Go, Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly, Virgin Mobile Pay as you Go, and Vodafone Pay Monthly.
- Public payphones | BT Payphones.
Amended: 2015-07-01
