- Every call to an 084 or 087 number costs an access charge set by your phone provider plus a service charge set by the organisation that owns the number.
- Under Ofcom's unbundled tariff, in force since July 2015, the service charge must be advertised wherever the number appears.
- 084 service charges are capped at up to 7 pence per minute, and 087 service charges at up to 13 pence per minute, within Ofcom's published bands.
- 084 and 087 numbers are non-geographic and are generally excluded from inclusive landline and mobile call allowances unless a provider states otherwise.
- GOV.UK guidance discourages public bodies from using 084 numbers for essential services and points them towards 03 or freephone numbers instead.
084 and 087 calls cost your provider's access charge plus a capped service charge (up to 7p per minute for 084 and up to 13p for 087). The service charge must be advertised so you can check it before dialling.
Last reviewed: June 2026
How 084 and 087 numbers are regulated
Numbers beginning 084 and 087 are non-geographic ranges allocated and overseen by Ofcom, and the way they are charged has been governed since July 2015 by the unbundled tariff. Before that change, the price of an 08 call was bundled into a single rate that varied between networks and was almost impossible for a caller to predict. The reform split the cost into two clearly labelled parts so that callers could see what they were paying and to whom.
The first part is the access charge, set by your own telephone company and applied to all 084, 087, 09 and 118 calls. The second is the service charge, set by the organisation that owns the number, and it is identical regardless of which network you call from. Oversight of how service charges must be communicated falls within the wider Phone-paid Services framework, which works alongside Ofcom's numbering rules to keep charging transparent.
What the service charge covers and how it is split
The service charge is the revenue that flows to the number's owner or its telecoms supplier, and it is the reason 084 and 087 numbers exist as a commercial product. It can fund call-routing technology, contact-centre infrastructure, or in some historical arrangements a small revenue share for the business operating the line. Importantly, the access charge does not go to the called organisation: that money stays with your provider and reflects their cost of connecting the call across the network.
Because the two charges are separate and only the access charge is within your provider's control, the same 084 number can cost different totals depending on the network you dial from. The service charge, by contrast, is fixed by the number's owner within Ofcom's permitted band and is the same for everyone. The table below sets out how 084 and 087 differ and where their service charges sit within the regulated structure.
| Range | Service charge cap | Access charge | Inclusive minutes? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0843 / 0844 / 0845 | Up to 7p per minute or per call | Set by your provider | Not normally |
| 0870 | Up to 7p per minute or per call | Set by your provider | Not normally |
| 0871 / 0872 / 0873 | Up to 13p per minute or per call | Set by your provider | Not normally |
| 03 (comparison) | No service charge | Same as 01/02 calls | Yes |
The comparison row for 03 numbers is included deliberately. An 03 number costs the same as a standard geographic call and is included in inclusive allowances, which is why public-service guidance points organisations towards it in place of 084 and 087 for essential lines.
The transparency rules on advertising the charge
The central regulatory requirement is transparency. Whenever an organisation publishes an 084 or 087 number, in print, on a website, in an email signature, on packaging or in a recorded greeting, it must show the service charge clearly alongside the number. A common compliant form reads along the lines of "calls cost Xp per minute plus your phone company's access charge". This wording lets the caller combine the advertised service charge with their provider's published access charge to work out the total before dialling.
The rules apply to the called organisation for the service charge and to your provider for the access charge, which they must publish in their price list and show on your bill. Together these obligations mean that, in principle, no caller should ever face a surprise 084 or 087 charge, because both halves of the cost are required to be available in advance. Where a number is advertised without its service charge, that omission is itself a breach of the transparency requirements.
What the service-charge code says
The code governing how service charges must be displayed sits within the Phone-paid Services regime and works in tandem with Ofcom's General Conditions on numbering and billing. The code requires that pricing information be prominent, accurate and presented in a way the average caller can understand, not buried in small print or a separate terms page. For higher-priced ranges and for any service likely to involve long calls, the expectation of clear up-front pricing is correspondingly stronger.
The code also underpins the cap structure: 084 numbers cannot lawfully carry a service charge above the 7 pence per minute band, and 087 numbers cannot exceed the 13 pence band. An organisation that tries to levy more than the permitted band, or that fails to advertise the charge at all, is acting outside the rules, and complaints about the service charge can be pursued through that framework while billing and access-charge complaints go to your own provider.
How to find the cost before you call
The reliable method has two steps. First, look at how the number is advertised and read off the service charge, which the organisation is required to display. Second, check your own provider's access charge, which appears in their published price list and on recent bills. Adding the two figures gives the per-minute or per-call total. For mobile callers this matters more, because mobile access charges have historically been higher than landline access charges, so the same 084 number can cost noticeably more from a handset.
If the advertised material does not show a service charge, that is a sign the number is being promoted in breach of the rules, and you can ask the organisation directly for the figure before committing to a long call. Where an essential service offers an 03 or freephone alternative, that alternative will cost the same as a normal call or nothing at all and will usually come out of inclusive minutes, which is why public guidance steers callers towards it.
One further point matters for anyone who calls 084 or 087 numbers regularly, such as for a recurring service or helpline. Because these calls usually fall outside inclusive allowances, the cost is charged on top of a bundle and can accumulate quietly across a billing period. Reviewing an itemised bill periodically, noting which numbers carry a service charge, and switching to an 03 or freephone equivalent where the organisation offers one, are practical ways to keep the running cost under control without losing access to the service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are 084 numbers?
084 numbers are non-geographic UK telephone numbers, including ranges such as 0843, 0844 and 0845, that are not tied to a particular town or region. They carry a service charge set by the organisation that owns the number, on top of your provider's access charge. They are regulated by Ofcom for transparency.
How are 084 calls charged?
An 084 call costs an access charge set by your own phone company plus a service charge set by the called organisation, capped at up to 7 pence per minute or per call. The two figures are billed separately. The total varies by network because providers set their own access charges.
Are 084 numbers free from inclusive minutes?
Generally no. 084 numbers are not normally included in landline or mobile inclusive call allowances, so calls to them are charged in addition to your bundle unless your provider specifically states they are covered. Always check your tariff if you call such numbers regularly.
What does the PSA code say about 084 numbers?
The code requires that the service charge be displayed prominently, accurately and understandably wherever the number is advertised, and that it stay within the permitted band, which is up to 7 pence per minute for 084. Burying the price or charging above the band breaches the rules. Complaints about the service charge can be raised through that framework.
How do I find the cost of calling an 084 number?
Read the advertised service charge shown next to the number, then add your own provider's access charge from their published price list. The sum is your per-minute or per-call total. If no service charge is advertised, ask the organisation directly before making a long call.
