As I understand it, the cost of calling an 0870 number is at least 7.51p per minute (inc VAT - Daytime rate on a BT residential line).

When I queried the price of an 0870 number used by a company I often deal with, they told me that the rate was 1.65p (long distance) or 1.5p (local) during the day (standard rate).

Either I've misunderstood what 0870 numbers are all about or they are mistaken. Can anyone clarify this please?

John Edwards

It depends on provider. Generally they don't cost less than 7p/min in the daytime. As for local and long distance, that doesn't come into it as they are non-geographical numbers.  ::)

That firm is either deliberately telling lies or they really don't know the rip-off prices they are charging their customers to contact them.

There is no such thing as 'long distance' or 'local' any more and certainly not in relation to 0870 numbers.  In fact, that was one of the original purposes of 0870/0845 numbers - whatever the distance, the call charge per minute is the same.  However, that 'argument' has not been valid since 1/7/04 when BT introduced its standard UK-wide weekday daytime rate of 3p per minute for calls to all 01/02 STD codes.

BT's charges to call 0870 numbers do, however, vary according to day/time of day:

0600-1800 Mon-Fri 7.51p per minute
1800-0600 Mon-Fri 3.75p per minute
All day at weekends 1.5p per minute

Others charge diferently.  OneTel, for example, charge 8p per minute at all times for most 0870 calls and call18866.co.uk charge 9p per minute at all times.

It sounds like they have given you the amount they rake off each call!