Phone regulator Ofcom wants mobile phone operators to stop charging customers for calling Freephone 0800 numbers.
The numbers, which are free from landlines, can incur charges of up to 40pence per minute from mobile phones leading to confusion amongst customers.
The mobile operators are reportedly making more than £100m-a-year from imposing charges for “Freephone” numbers leading to claims that consumers are being ripped off by mobile phone companies.
Ernest Doku from price comparison service, uSwitch.com, described the move as “a long-overdue victory for common-sense.’
Ofcom also wants clearer price structures for non-geographical numbers starting with 08, 09 and 118 so that consumers can clearly know now much they will be charged for using these numbers.
It said: “The changes will affect all telecommunications operators and most businesses and consumers across the country.
“They represent a fundamental restructuring of call charging which will require reasonable time for operators to implement. For that reason, Ofcom will be allowing 18 months from the conclusion of the review to the introduction of the changes.”
Via: Daily Mail