Calling a phone number is charged differently depending on whether you use a mobile or landline, your service provider, and the first digits of the phone number. Phone numbers with a 0845 prefix are prime numbers and are typically used by service companies to generate income for the enterprise or the telephone company they use. The calls are usually charged at a higher rate than calls made to standard landlines due to the inclusion of a service surcharge for service provided. Consequently, organisations that usually use 0845 numbers include but not limited to travel and event booking services, chargeable support lines, conference calls and subject information.
Calling numbers starting with 0845 is charged in a two-part system. The first part is your phone’s service providers standard per minute charge applicable to calls that start with 087,084,085,118 or 09. The second part is a variable cost that depends on the company being called. Usually, they’ll notify and advise you of the applicable rate before you call.
Typically, the total call costs to a 0845 number range between 44p to 62p per minute, plus an additional per-call charge of up to 7p, when using a mobile. The cost is significantly reduced when using a landline. Vodafone mobile charges 55p per minute that is charged by the second. The minimum call charge is one minute.