Nothing is "free". Calls to 080x numbers are only "free" to the caller because the recipient pays for them.

It is widely accepted that the costs of mobile telephony are fully reflected in call charges rather than in "line rental". That is essentially why it is more expensive to call a mobile than a landline.

If those who use 080x numbers had been keen to pay the full cost of receiving calls from mobiles then they would have been beating down the doors of Ofcom to allow them to do this. I have not myself heard even a whimper to this effect.

The Telephone Helplines Association has brokered arrangements whereby mobile companies waive their charges on calls to some registered "helplines". This essentially voluntary scheme must not be threatened by attempts to extend it beyond the point where it works.

The DWP appears to be keen to pay for calls from mobiles but has not yet got its act together to make this work. If this were to be achieved then this could provide a model for others to follow.

In answer to the question "how can we reclaim Freephone?", one has to start with those who wish to offer this facility.

If those who offer 080x numbers are to be required to cover the full cost of calls from mobiles as well as landlines, consider whether some would withdraw the facility altogether.

Many suggest the whole basis on which mobile telephony is paid for needs to be changed. That too would have winners and losers.

I understand the emotional reaction to something that is thought of as being FREE being charged for, but we must remember that nothing is totally free.

080x calls are paid for by the recipient. Having signed up to meet the cost of calls from landlines, users of 080x numbers may be reluctant to meet the full cost of calls from mobiles. Clearly this is so as there no evidence of them complaining about not being able to do this.

To advance this matter we need to identify the people who are frustrated at not being allowed to meet the full cost of incoming calls from mobiles.

When we have evidence that Ofcom is guilty of failing to respond to their needs, then we can blame Ofcom.

If we are unhappy that mobile companies charge the caller when the cost of the call is not being met by the recipient, we have to suggest who else should pay.

There certainly is legislation preventing anyone from describing a 080x number as being free to call without specifying that this only applies to national calls from landlines and payphones.

There are plenty of unused prefixes between 0800 and 0809 for a new code to be issued for calls that are free from a mobile as well as from a landline.

Ofcom should make the code available and then see who actually utilises it for their customer-base to get in contact.

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Sep 6^th, 2009 at 8:56am:


I don't recall ever being charged for breathing oxygen (other than onboard an aircraft) or having sunlight fall on my skin in a public park.  As ever SCV you are trying to over complicate something simple (something I am often also guilty of but am only at the mere novice stage in studying compare to your good self).  08 clearly implies free to the caller and it is obvious someone else pays somewhere along the line and it is just the fact that 08 historically screams "free to caller" but no longer is in many circumstances in the UK that is being objected to.

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Are you sure you don't have a day job working for Ofcom as this is just the kind of nonsense speak people in their call centres always come up with all the time in order to fob off legitimate complaints from members of the public.

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No we don't that is Ofcom's problem to sort out.  We just have to complain that a number range that advertises the number called is free is used but it is now misleading and that Ofcom has allowed this to occur to the detriment of the calling public.