"From today, customers who sign up to Three’s new plans can call 0800, 0808 and 0500 numbers for free, while all other 08 numbers, like 084 and 087, will cost 5p per minute. These charges typically range from 14p to 40p. Existing customers can swap over from their existing plan without paying a fee and can keep their existing contract end date."

Does not apply to payg.

http://www.threemediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/Brits-shell-out-over-half-a-bil...

They are making 0800 and 0808 numbers free to call some 15 months ahead of the Ofcom requirement to do so and without the benefit of receiving an increase in the call origination fee until that time.

Ofcom's rules do not force 0500 numbers to become free from mobiles at any point, and there will be no increase in the call origination fee. Instead, 0500 numbers will cease to be used and move to 080 in a three year transition period beginning later in 2014.

The 5p/min call price for 084 and 087 numbers sees them losing money on 0871, 0872 and 0873 calls. They appear to be taking a gamble that the profits made from 0845 (2p/min Service Charge), 0870 (zero Service Charge), and the lowest level Service Charge 0843 and 0844 calls will be more than the losses made on those 0871, 0872 and 0873 calls with a Service Charge of more than 5p/min.

The 5p/min rate will be welcomed by consumers, but will need to be changed by 26 June 2015. Ofcom wants a fixed level Access Charge for 084, 087 and 09 numbers rather than a fixed level call price.

Ian G wrote on Mar 19^th, 2014 at 12:09am:
Maybe they're not losing that much money after all !

I would have thought dialling these numbers from a mobile has declined partly because of bill shock and partly because more and more consumers are (albeit slowly) becoming aware of the costs of these numbers can be expensive from a few landlines never mind mobiles 

Note the new offer is not available on sim only deals. Only on 24 month contracts with mobiles.

bigjohn wrote on Mar 20^th, 2014 at 7:00pm:

But they'll be forced to offer free 080 calls soon enough.

I'm about halfway through a 24 month contract with 3. I've looked on their website and I can't see how to get the new 0800 deal. Am I being thick or have they hidden it away under the sofa?

Thanks, but that only seems to cover new contracts. I haven't yet spotted how existing contracts can be amended to include this. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

allegro wrote on Mar 29^th, 2014 at 8:59am:


Its not just a question of adding free freephone calls and cheaper 084x/087x calls etc  to your existing contract, you have to take out one of  the new contracts i pointed out, to get them. Which can result in you losing other benefits  eg unlimited tethering.