BT removes 0870 and 0845 charges

The UK's largest telco is to cut the cost of calls to specialised numbers used by many government bodies, including NHS Direct and some GP surgeries

BT has announced that from 16 January it will include calls from 0845 and 0870 numbers within its inclusive calling plans. This will make the calls to such numbers free for some or all of the day to the company's 14m residential customers.

It has claimed to be the first UK telecoms provider to make such a move.

People on BT's basic calling plans will pay nothing extra for 0845 and 0870 calls at times when geographic calls are free, either at weekends, at weekends and after 6pm on weekdays for those on a 12 month contract, or at any time for those who pay extra for free daytime calls.

Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, last year issued a consultation on forcing telcos to include calls to 0870 numbers, for which BT now charges about 6p a minute during peak times, in inclusive calling packages. A spokesperson said an announcement on this is due shortly. It has not proposed that 0845 calls, which BT charges at about 2p a minute at peak, be moved within packages.

If other telcos follow suit, BT's move could make government plans to move away from 0845 and 0870 numbers less urgent. 0845 numbers are used by parts of the NHS, including doctors' surgeries and NHS Direct.

Organisations including the Identity and Passport Service have followed Central Office of Information advice to move enquiry lines to the new 03 code, which always costs callers the same as 01 and 02 geographic calls, but others including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency continue to use 0870 numbers.

BT said that its rivals charged from 10p to 75p for a 10 minute 0845 call on a Saturday morning, and 20p to £1.07 for the same call to an 0870 number.