A Number Translation Service translates a dialled telephone number, typically beginning 08 in the UK to a geographical 'connect number' beginning 01 or 02 in the UK or a mobile 07 number. The connect number may be changed without changing the published dialled number. This allows you as a business to move premises without updating adverts or to divert calls to different numbers, departments and locations at different times.

Originally NTS numbers were used, for example, to allow any caller to dial a local call to the called party irrespective of location, saving money if the connect number was not also a local call. The system gradually developed into 0800 & 0808 Free to dial numbers and came to be seen as a way of making money too with the introduction of 0870 national rate numbers. Now companies can make revenue from the caller or choose to pay for the caller call dependant on their marketing strategy.

TOP 0800/0808 FREEPHONE numbers in pence per minute ex vat click for 0845 local or 0870 national rates

Supplier (Click logo to visit site direct or MORE INFO button )	You pay incoming call to landline	Set up/connection fee	Rental fee	Minimum call charge	Billed in units of	Features	Rating
	4p peak 3.3p off peak, 25p to a mobile peak or 18p off peak	£0 Auto record & store calls via voice recording facility 'Replay' for 0.75p per minute. All recordings retrieved via web. Option to store indefinitely for just 50p per 1000 minutes of stored messages per month.	£10 p.m. waived if you have more than 2000 mins incoming calls	4p	1 min	'Optional' £4 a month provides call stats- change tel no. to deliver calls to + other features
	4.5p all times	£49	£10	1p	1 min

A toll-free , Freecall , Freephone , or 0800, 0808 number is a special telephone number , in that the called party is charged the cost of the calls by the telephone carrier , instead of the calling party . The cost of the call to the called party is usually based on factors such as the amount of usage the number experiences, the cost of the trunk lines to the facility, and possibly a monthly flat rate service charge. The called party may use a Freephone number because:

• They charge the calling party in another way, such as for technical support calls.
• They make a sale following the call to the toll-free number.
• Sales were enhanced with the inclusion of toll-free support.
• Improved customer satisfaction by providing free after-sales support in certain products/services.
• They want friends and family to be able to contact them without paying long distance.

TOP 0844/0845 LOCAL RATE numbers in pence per minute ex vat back to top click for 0870 national rates

Supplier (Click logo to visit site direct or APPLY button)	You pay incoming call per minute	Set up/connection fee	Rental fee	Minimum call charge	Billed in units of	Features	Rating
	FREE	FREE	FREE	FREE	na	TWO FREE numbers Redirect to landline's or mobile's Voicemails & missed call alerts sent to email & phone
	NO incoming call charges	£49	£10 a month	na	na	Free AirMiles
	2p peak 2p off peak 2p weekend	£0	£2 p.m waived for >100 incoming mins	2p	1 sec	No minimum contract

0844 & 0845 prefix

0845 numbers were formerly known as 0345 numbers, which were operated by BT and were described as "Lo-call" numbers (play on the word "local"). 0845 numbers were until 2004 charged at the same rate as local calls (numbers with the same area code). The rates for "local" and "national" were later replaced by a single rate for calls to UK geographic numbers, which are now generally cheaper than calls to 0845 numbers. Mercury Communications , now Cable and Wireless , operated a similar scheme using the 0645 code. When the 0345 and 0645 codes were abolished, 0345 numbers were prefixed with 7 to become 0845 7xx xxxx and 0645 numbers were prefixed with 9 to become 0845 9xx xxxx. There are also other prefixes for different 0845 number providers.

TOP 0870 NATIONAL RATE number packages in pence per minute ex vat

back to top click for 0845 local rates Got a BT 08XX number ? Transfer it to one of these tariffs and save money. Email here

Supplier (Click logo to visit site direct or APPLY button to order)	Earn or Pay incoming call per minute	Set up/connection fee	Rental fee	Minimum call charge	Billed in units of	Rating
	EARN 1p peak 0p off peak 0p weekend	£0	£2 p.m	1p	1 sec
	PAY 3.5p all times	£49	£10 a month	1p	1 sec	free AirMiles

0870 prefix

The 0870 code was originally introduced as 0990, the code formerly used for Ascot, when it was subsumed into 0344 (Bracknell). 0990 numbers were originally six-digit, and when 0870 was brought in to replace 0990, the six-digit numbers were prefixed with a 5 to make 0870 5xx xxxx. Mercury Communications (now Cable & Wireless ) had a similar scheme, with its numbers beginning with 0541. Like 0990, they were also renumbered into the 0870 scheme, with the numbers becoming 0870 1xx xxxx. Other operators (such as Vodafone ) also had national rate codes and were renumbered in a similar way.

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