To get to the meat of this.

The rate at which money is paid to the call recipient on a 0845 number varies according to whether the call is made during weekday daytime, weekday evening or a weekend. Charges may therefore vary according to when the call is made.

BT rates from residential landlines to 0845 numbers are regulated and therefore low (or inclusive).

This regulation does not apply to BT payphones or other providers, so calls to 0845 numbers from these are (generally) subject to a premium. (Some landline providers lose money on these calls by price matching BT.)

Payphone call charges are based on coins inserted - 20p's in the case of BT. The rate is therefore better expressed as seconds per unit, rather than pence per minute. In addition to the 40p connection charge, at least one unit must be purchased, making the minimum charge 60p.


It is the users of 0845 numbers who are benefitting from the revenue share and are therefore responsible for the problem. Telephone service providers will keep the cost of ordinary calls down to the lowest possible level to remain competitive. This will exaggerate the differential with the cost of calling "special" numbers.

One may take advantage of cheap rates from BT and others for 0845 calls, if these come as part of an overall package that meets one's needs. The focus must however be firmly placed on those who choose to use a number that causes most callers to incur a premium charges. There are many who simply do not understand what they are doing.