New Non Geographic Service Charges Introduced

Additional Chargebands for Non Geographic Number Services are being introduced 1 July 2016. These are in addition to the charges introduced 1 July 2015.

Non Geographic numbers are regulated by Pay Phone Plus and include calls to numbers beginning 118, 08 and 09. The numbers are generally allocated to service companies providing services such as Directory Enquiries, Information Services, Entertainment Services and other Value Add Services.

Calls to these numbers are more expensive than calls to landlines (starting 01, and 02) and National Numbers (starting 03).

The Service Provider (who provides the service) must advise the cost of the service in any advertisements and in any publicity for the number.

In addition to the service charge advised by the service provider there is an access charge payable advised by your telephone company (the company who supplied you with telephone service). Consumers must be advised of the access charge by their telephone company but the invoice may consolidate the two elements. Business customers may be advised of a single consolidated charge for the two elements.

The new codes advised are:

Calls charged in pence per minute
SC081 18ppm
SC082 22ppm
SC083 350ppm

Calls charged by set up fee and then pence per minute from start of call
SC084 250ppc + 75ppm
SC085 260ppc + 99ppm
SC086 275ppc + 78ppm

Calls charged by set up fee which includes first 60 seconds then pence per minute
SC087 898ppc + 449ppm
SC088 998ppc + 499ppm
SC089 1198ppc + 599ppm
SC090 1398ppc + 699ppm
SC091 1598ppc + 799ppm
SC092 7ppc + 7ppm
SC093 13ppc + 13ppm
SC094 80ppc + 80ppm
SC095 100ppc + 100ppm
SC096 300ppc + 300ppm
SC097 360ppc + 50ppm
SC098 360ppc + 150ppm
SC099 360ppc + 200ppm
SC100 360ppc + 360ppm 

All prices include VAT
Plus Access Charge as advised by the provider of  your outbound call service
Prices correct at time of publication but may change afterwards
Please check cost of call with the service provider before dialling any number

For more information please see our previous blog
http://plumcom.blogspot.com/2015/07/guide-for-businesses-to-uk-calling.html

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Guide for businesses to the UK Calling changes 1 July 2015

Guide for businesses to the UK Calling changes 1 July 2015

If your organisation uses a ‘non-geographic’ service number for people to contact you – that’s one beginning 08, 09 or 118 – you need to be aware of major changes to how these numbers are charged.

Research has found that telephone users are confused about how much it costs to call service numbers. This means people can lack confidence in these numbers, and sometimes avoid using them.

The new system will introduce greater confidence into this important market by enabling organisations to say how much calls to them will cost. The changes will be implemented on 1 July 2015 under the strapline ‘UK Calling’. The communications regulator Ofcom is working with major phone companies to communicate the changes to consumers.

In future, the cost to the consumer of calling a service number (starting 084, 087, 09 or 118) will be made up of two clear parts:

1. An access charge.

This goes to the caller’s telephone company, charged as pence per minute.

2. A service charge.

This is the remainder; it includes any revenue going to the service provider (that is you, the party being called), as well as revenue going to the ‘terminating call provider’ (or TCP: the company that provides the number to you).

In another change happening at the same time, all Freephone numbers beginning 0800 or 0808 are being made free for consumers to call from mobile phones, just as they usually are from landlines.

What you need to do

Speak to the company that provides your 08 or 09 telephone number. If you haven't done so already, you may wish to discuss with your TCP how the changes will affect your organisation and the way you use service numbers.
Ask them to confirm the service charge for your number or numbers. Your TCP should be able to let you know the service charge linked to the number or numbers you currently use.
Decide if the service charge is suitable. If you are not happy with the service charge linked to the number or numbers you currently use, you may need to consider changing your telephone number(s).
Review all your materials and advertising. If your business or organisation is contacted on a number beginning 084, 087, 09 or 118, you must ensure that your service charge is clearly displayed wherever you advertise or promote that number. The service charge should be prominent and in close proximity to the number itself. The recommended form of wording is:

“Calls cost xp [or xp per minute] plus your phone company's access charge.”

This is likely to mean that your service charge should be provided alongside the related number in all communications directed towards current or potential users of the service, where the use of the number is promoted or advertised. These communications are likely to include as a minimum:

• Any broadcast advertisements on television or radio;
• Any press advertising;
• Any online advertising, including paid-for search listings;
• Advertising bill boards and posters;
• Public notices, press releases and other public relations material which promotes access to the service offered on the numbers, or promotes contact with the organisation using the number;
• Point of sale displays and other fixed advertising;
• Packages, wrappers, labels, tickets, timetables and price lists;
• Service directories; and
• Company websites.

Freephone

If you use a Freephone number to be contacted, you may wish to discuss with your TCP the implications of calls to your organisation becoming free from mobile phones. It is likely that in most cases the cost of receiving Freephone numbers will increase.
Dialling service numbers

Most businesses make outbound calls to 08, 09 or 118 numbers.
The new charging system (the access and service charges) applies to calls made from residential lines and consumer mobile phones. Phone operators will continue to have flexibility over how they charge for these calls from business phones.

Service Charge Caps

Calls to numbers starting 0800 and 0808 will be free to call for consumers. There will be caps on the maximum amount of the service charge for the other affected non-geographic numbers, with the exception of 118 directory-enquiry numbers, with the caps varying according to the number range. The 084 and 087 ranges will be capped at 7p and 13p respectively (per minute or as a fixed fee and including VAT). The 09 range will be capped at £3.60 per minute and £6 per call (including VAT).

Enforcement

PhonepayPlus and the Advertising Standards Authority will be responsible for enforcing the requirements for including service charge information in advertising.
More Information

For more information on how this affects you please contact: Plum Communications Limited 0161 622 3500 or email info@plumcom.co.uk.

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0871, 0872 and 0873 Regulatory Change

From 1st August 2009 0871, 0872 and 0873 numbers will be reclassified by Ofcom as Premium Rate Services and will be subject to PhonepayPlus regulation. All 0871, 0872, 0873 and 09 numbers costing above 5ppm will be subject to PhonepayPlus’ Code of Practice.

How the code will apply to 087 services is set out in the Statement of Application to be found here: http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/upload/087app.pdf

The Code of Practice can be viewed here: http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/output/code-of-practice-1.aspx

If you have any of these numbers and need guidance on how the changes will affect you or if you are considering ceasing a number and having an alternative prefix please contact your account manager at Plum Communications. Should you have any numbers with another provider you may wish to consider transferring them to Plum Communications.

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