When calling tax credits I use the number to call if from abroad. They seem to know that I have done this rather than use their expensive 084x number and ask me from what country I am calling so I generally say Spain. First this is an utter liberty as who can afford these numbers and secondly why should I be interrogated in this way. What is the best way to handle this as they are the only organisation I know that questions if you are really calling from abroad?

hbomb1957 wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2013 at 12:41am:

I suggest you ask them why they need to know and why it matters to them where you are calling from, and why is it relevant and does it matter, and surely the main thing is that you want to make an enquiry and you have or will identify yourself and there is nothing on their documentation which says you have to state where you are when you call them.   And ask them where they are and why.

I didn't know the number had changed. Is 0345 in a mobile bundle and cheaper generally on a landline - excuse my ignorance as I get 03 numbers on my mobile package though I was told for instance that 0300 is expensive regardless of the 03 bundles so you never know what is part of a bundle and what isn't so for example people get caught on 070 thinking that 07 is part of their bundle - all very confusing.  WRT to asking tax credits these questions like why do they need to know they are like little Hitlers sometimes and if you ask them questions or refuse then they cut you off which happened to me once after waiting for 20 minutes.  If you haven't got the persons name and there's no record then if they cut you short then there's nothing you can do so they've got you at there command.

hbomb1957 wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2013 at 12:35am:

I echo SilentCallsVictim's point that all 03xx numbers are included in packages/bundles where 01/02 calls are. The cost of 03 calls is no greater than calling a 01/02 number and all these rules apply to landlines, mobiles and payphones.

There are a number of 03 subprefixes, but be assured that any number that starts 03 won't cost any more than ringing a 01/02 number (including being part of inclusive minutes).


It is largely thanks to the SayNoTo0870 campaign that we now have 03 numbers. The issue was that there was no geographically charged non-geographic number type — 03 filled that gap.

Understandably, it may take some time to get the message out that 03 is not another rip-off prefix. It's like the boy who cried wolf; telephone users have been stung so many times that they are suspicious that it will happen again. The example of 070 being mistaken for a normal mobile number is one such example.


The 03 subprefixes do not vary by charge. Different organisations are allowed to use different ones:

0300 / 0303 Public sector and other non-profit making bodies such as charities
0344 / 0345 These numbers are set aside for users of respective 0844 and 0845 numbers to use, if they so wish.
0370 / 0371 These numbers are set aside for users of respective 0870 and 0871 numbers to use, if they so wish.
0330 / 0333 All organisations can use these numbers.

So the only significance of 0345 is that the user must have previously used (or perhaps still does use) the equivalent 0845 number.