How much do you really pay for calls to service numbers? Please Press 1 Investigates…
What's more disconcerting is that you may actually be paying a small fortune to listen to that robot without realising. Just how much does it cost to lift that receiver? We took a closer look to bring you the real figures behind the numbers.
The Key Offenders
How often do you go to call a business number for help, only to find that it begins with 08 or 09? We all know that 08 and 09 prefixes are code for EXPENSIVE, but what's the real damage they are doing to your pocket?
0843,0844 and 0845 numbers: Some of the most commonly used numbers for businesses, when you call these you can expect to be charged between 1 and 13 pence per minute when you call from a landline, depending on your provider.
However, if you call from a mobile, you'll be charged an eye watering rate of between 15 and 41 pence per minute.
0871/2/3 Calls to these numbers usually cost between 5 and 12.5 pence per minute. But again, if you call from a mobile, expect to pay almost double.. Between 21 and 45 pence per minute!
09 numbers: These are the ones to really watch for. Expect to pay a minimum of 10 pence per minute , up to a maximum of £2.60 per minute when you call from your landline. In some cases this charge will apply per call, but more often than not it's a per minute rate, so do your research.
When it comes to calling from your mobile, don't even think about it unless you've got money to burn, which is exactly what you'll be doing at between 50p and £2.55 per minute or per call.
For more information on Mobile call costs, please review this useful article from Which?
Our research suggests that over half of you call these service numbers at least once every couple of weeks. And a lot of you are calling on-the-go, from mobiles. So we wanted to find a way to help you reduce the time that you are on the line, listening to that robot voice. At Please Press 1, we've done all the hard work for you.
Simply search our site for your service provider, and you'll find all the menu options you need to select. Then when you make the call, you already know the numbers you need. This means you are able to Press Ahead through the options, and hit the queue quicker, saving you valuable minutes and reducing the amount you'll pay for the call.