070 phone number scams: regulators to cap cost of premium rate lines
070 numbers are commonly used in 'missed call' scams, as people mistakenly think they've simply received a call from a mobile phone. Here's how to spot a scam and avoid racking up charges until the new cost cap is implemented.
Communications regulator Ofcom is to cap the price of calls to phone numbers beginning with '070' in a bid to clamp down on missed call scams that see victims racking up hefty charges.
These numbers, easily mistaken for mobile phones, are in fact premium rate lines that can cost users between 45p and £1.10 a minute and aren't included in 'free minute' allowances.
Ofcom estimates that 20% of calls using these numbers were connected to fraudulent activity. Legitimate uses of the 070 number include classified ads, to hide a caller's personal number and small businesses and sole traders.
The regulator plans to cap the cost at 0.5p a minute: however, this won't come into place until October 2019.
Customers will hopefully see lower bills sooner than that, says Jonathan Oxley, Ofcom’s competition group director.
"There’s no reason why phone companies shouldn’t pass this saving on to their customers as soon as possible.”
Instead of waiting for companies to protect you, here's how to spot scams and keep your money safe.
Scam tricks: email, phone and text message traps to watch out for
Missed call scams
Ofcom says it has taken action because of 070 numbers' common use in 'missed call' scams.
Victims receive a missed call from a number beginning 070, and believing it to be a mobile, call it back at considerable cost.
They are then met with an engaged tone, or sometimes an automated message telling them the line is bad and asking them to call back.
Alternately, fake job ads ask applicants to call an expensive 070 numbers.
If you've been targeted by this scam, you can complain to the premium rate line regulator.
Premium text messages: how to stop them
Other premium rate numbers to avoid
070 numbers aren't the only way you could be left with a shock bill.
Numbers beginning 076 have also been implicated in the abovementioned 'missed call' scam.
Some of the most expensive numbers, however, are entirely legal.
118 numbers – such as well-known directory 118 118 – charge a connection charge plus a per-minute charge, meaning the first minute of the call could cost £15.98. Ofcom is consulting on capping costs at £3.10 for a 90-second call, but has yet to do so.
084, 087 and 09 numbers are also premium rate lines, which cannot be used for customer service numbers.
You can find free (geographical) numbers to get in touch with companies on the website Say No To 0870.
How to call 0800, 0844, 0845 and 0870 numbers free from your mobile
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Comments
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On 1 April 2019, Ofcom capped the Service Charge element of DQ 118 calls at £3.65 per call and/or £2.43 per minute with a limit of £3.65 per 90 seconds of a call. On 1 October 2019, Ofcom capped the wholesale termination rate for calls to Personal Numbers starting 070 at 0.49p (£0.0049) per minute, the same rate as for calls to UK mobile numbers. Ofcom "expect[s] this will allow phone companies to price calls to these numbers or include them in call allowances in the same way that they do for calls to mobiles". Several landline and mobile providers have now done so, many others have not (yet!) done so.
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Hi Ian018, thanks very much for spotting those errors. I got my figures from Ofcom, but unfortunately, they do appear out of date so I have updated them. We will hold off on the 118 118 price cap until it is set-in-stone but I appreciate the heads-up.
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Since 1 July 2016, the Service Charge for calls to 118 numbers can be up to £15.98 per call plus up to £7.99 per minute. Previously, from 1 July 2015, the maximum charge was up to £6.98 per call and/or up to £3.60 per minute. The figures quoted in the article are more than three years out of date. However, Ofcom is currently reviewing these charges and has recently (June 2018) proposed capping these calls at £3.10 per 90 seconds of a call. Ofcom's official final statement is expected before the end of the year. On calls to numbers starting 084, 087, 09 or 118 there is NO requirement for there to be a pre-call audible automated announcement of the charges. That is a myth. Instead, there is a requirement for all users of 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers to declare the call charges immediately alongside the number wherever it is advertised or promoted. The intention of these regulations is that the caller will know the charges BEFORE they call. Where call charges are missing, this should be reported to ASA. There must be widespread compliance because ASA appears to have received zero complaints about this in the last three years. Usage of 084, 087 and 09 numbers is now banned for most purposes. Regulations from BIS have banned usage of these numbers by retailers, traders and passenger transport companies. Regulations from FCA have banned usage of these numbers by banks, card companies and insurers. Guidance from the Cabinet Office has banned usage of these numbers by government departments, their agencies and their contractors. Changes made by Ofcom over the last few years have led to considerable simplification of call charges, but there are several steps still to be completed.
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19 October 2019