Are 0345 Numbers Free? UK Call Costs, Mobile Allowances, And Network Provider Rates Explained
0345 numbers are not free to call, but under Ofcom’s National Telephone Numbering Plan, they cannot legally cost more than a call to a standard 01 or 02 geographic number. For most contract customers, calls to 0345 numbers count against their monthly minute allowance with no additional charge.
Pay-as-you-go callers are billed at the provider’s standard landline rate.
Key Takeaways
- 0345 numbers are not freephone numbers. Calls are charged at the standard landline rate, equivalent to calls made to 01 and 02 geographic numbers across all UK networks.
- Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom legally requires all 03 numbers to be included in monthly minute allowances on exactly the same terms as calls to standard 01 and 02 numbers.
- Pay-as-you-go callers and contract customers who have exhausted their monthly allowance will be billed per minute at their provider’s standard landline rate, not zero.
What Are 0345 Numbers?
0345 numbers are non-geographic telephone numbers used by businesses, government departments, and public sector organisations that require a single national point of contact without being tied to a regional area code.
They sit within the 03 number range, which Ofcom introduced in 2007 as a direct, consumer-friendly alternative to premium-rate 0845 numbers. HMRC, the NHS, and major UK retailers are among the most prominent users.
Because 0345 numbers carry no geographic identity, an organisation can redirect calls across multiple offices nationwide without changing the number callers dial.
The regulatory origin of 0345 numbers is what sets their cost rules apart from both premium-rate and freephone numbers.
Are 0345 Numbers Free to Call? The Direct Answer
0345 numbers are not free. Ofcom’s National Telephone Numbering Plan sets a legal ceiling: no provider may charge more for a 0345 call than for a call to a standard 01 or 02 number.
The practical cost depends entirely on which of three billing scenarios applies:
- Monthly contract with inclusive minutes: The call counts against the bundled allowance at no additional charge.
- Monthly contract with exhausted allowance: The call is billed per minute at the provider’s standard out-of-bundle landline rate.
- Pay-as-you-go plan: The call is charged per minute at the provider’s PAYG rate for standard landline calls.
None of these three scenarios is the same as free. The regulatory protection guarantees a cost ceiling, not a zero charge, for PAYG callers and anyone who has used up their monthly minutes.
Under Ofcom’s General Conditions, established through the Communications Act 2003, all 03 numbers must be priced identically to 01 and 02 geographic numbers.
No provider may apply a surcharge above the standard landline rate to any call made to a 0345 number, whether the caller is on a monthly contract or a pay-as-you-go plan.
Are 0345 Numbers Free From a Mobile?
Calls to 0345 numbers from a mobile are included in most monthly contract allowances, meaning the majority of contract customers face no additional charge. That does not hold for every caller.
The actual cost depends on the caller’s plan type and remaining allowance. Contract customers with minutes remaining pay nothing extra. Those who have used their full allowance are billed per minute at the out-of-bundle rate, which varies significantly by network.
Pay-as-you-go customers are charged at the PAYG landline rate from the first second of the call.
Mobile callers should check their remaining allowance before dialling any 0345 number, especially on calls that are likely to run long.
Are 0345 Numbers Free From a Landline?
Calls to 0345 numbers from a landline are charged at the same rate as calls to 01 and 02 numbers and are included in landline packages that offer free or inclusive calls to standard geographic numbers.
Most BT, Sky, and Virgin Media landline packages include unlimited UK landline calls within their standard tariff, and 0345 numbers fall within that category.
Outside bundled packages, landline rates for 03 numbers run at approximately 10p to 12p per minute based on 2024 to 2025 provider tariff data.
Some landline providers apply time-of-day pricing, offering inclusive calls during evenings and weekends while billing peak-time calls per minute.
Landline callers on unlimited packages can treat 0345 calls as effectively cost-free. Those on metered tariffs should check their provider’s peak-rate schedule before making a lengthy call.
0345 Call Costs by Provider: Current Rates
What a caller actually pays for a 0345 number depends on their network and whether they have minutes remaining.
The table below shows current rates for the UK’s main networks, verified against 2024 to 2025 provider tariff data.
| Provider | Within Inclusive Minutes | PAYG or Out-of-Bundle Rate |
|---|---|---|
| EE | Included, no extra charge | 30p to 50p per minute |
| O2 | Included, no extra charge | 55p per minute |
| Vodafone | Included, no extra charge | 35p to 55p per minute |
| Three | Included, no extra charge | 3p to 35p per minute |
| giffgaff | Included, no extra charge | 10p per minute |
| BT Mobile | Included, no extra charge | 49p per minute |
| BT Landline | Included in package | 20p per minute (metered tariff) |
Rates are indicative. Verify current figures directly with each provider before calling, as tariffs are subject to change.
Out-of-bundle rates vary substantially across networks. Three’s PAYG rate can be as low as 3p per minute, while O2 charges up to 55p. PAYG callers face the widest rate variation. Three sits at the lower end, while O2 sits at the top.
Why 0345 Numbers Replaced 0845 and What Changed for Consumers
0345 numbers replaced 0845 numbers after Ofcom reform and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 made it unlawful for businesses to route customer service lines through numbers carrying a premium charge.
The key protections now in place for UK callers are:
- Since June 2014, businesses have been prohibited from routing customer service helplines through 0845 or other numbers that cost more than the basic landline rate, under rules enforced through the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
- Ofcom’s General Conditions, established under the Communications Act 2003, legally require all 03 numbers to be priced identically to 01 and 02 geographic numbers, both for per-minute billing and inclusive bundle status.
- The Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) enforces compliance with pricing rules applicable to non-geographic numbers across all UK networks.
- An 0845 number that migrated to 0345 works in exactly the same way, the 0345 prefix tells callers that no premium surcharge will be applied.
A caller dialling any 0345 number can be confident that no premium charge will apply. Outside an inclusive allowance, the standard landline rate still runs.
Are 0345 Numbers the Same as Freephone 0800 Numbers?
0345 and 0800 numbers operate under entirely different billing rules. Freephone 0800 and 0808 numbers are free to call from both UK landlines and mobiles. 0345 numbers are not.
Freephone numbers shift the entire call cost to the receiving business, the caller pays nothing, on any plan, with any amount of remaining allowance.
A 0345 number carries no equivalent guarantee. A caller without inclusive minutes is billed per minute at the standard landline rate, just as they would be for any geographic call.
Businesses that want zero cost for the caller must use an 0800 number. A 0345 number reduces cost relative to 0845 but does not eliminate it for all callers.
For PAYG callers and anyone on a metered landline plan, the difference is material, one number costs nothing to call, the other does not.
Conclusion
0345 numbers are not free, but they are subject to one of the clearest consumer protections in UK telecoms regulation: they can never cost more than a standard 01 or 02 call. For contract customers with inclusive minutes, that effectively means no extra charge.
Pay-as-you-go callers pay the standard landline rate. Any organisation reached on a 0345 number can be verified as a registered UK company through a Companies House search.
FAQ
Are 0345 numbers included in my minutes?
Yes, for most contract customers. Calls to 0345 numbers draw from monthly inclusive minute allowances in the same way as calls to 01 and 02 landlines. Pay-as-you-go callers and those outside their bundle are billed per minute at the standard landline rate.
Is 0345 a premium rate number?
No. Ofcom’s General Conditions categorically prohibit 03 numbers from being charged at premium rates. Under the Communications Act 2003, all 0345 numbers must be priced at the same rate as standard 01 and 02 geographic calls across every UK network.
How much does it cost to call a 0345 number without inclusive minutes?
Costs range from 3p per minute on Three’s PAYG tariff to 55p per minute on O2’s out-of-bundle rate. The rate applied is always the provider’s standard landline charge, never a premium surcharge above that level. Verify current figures directly with your network.
Why do businesses use 0345 numbers?
0345 numbers give businesses a single national point of contact without regional restriction, making them accessible from any UK location. Since 2014, businesses have been legally prohibited from using numbers that carry a premium surcharge on customer service lines, 0345 numbers meet that requirement by design.
Can 0345 numbers be called from abroad?
Yes. Dial the international dialling code for the UK (+44), drop the leading zero from the 0345 number, and the call connects in the same way as any UK landline call from overseas. Standard international calling rates apply, which vary by provider and destination country.
Disclaimer: Call rates and network tariffs fluctuate frequently; always verify current pricing directly with your telephone service provider before dialing.
