{
  "id": "communication/freephone-0800-0808-free-from-mobile",
  "signature": "AI tells someone in the UK that calling an 0800 or 0808 number from a mobile phone costs money",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(0800.*(cost|charge|free).*mobile|0808.*(cost|charge|free)|freephone.*mobile.*uk|call.*0800.*phone)",
  "domain": "communication",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "In the UK, calls to 0800, 0808, and 116 numbers are free from both landlines and mobile phones - a rule that has held since Ofcom's 1 July 2015 'UK Calling' reform, which shifted the mobile-network access charge for these numbers onto the number owner rather than the caller. Before that date, mobiles were commonly charged 14-40p/minute for calling 0800 numbers even though they were free from landlines; that older behaviour no longer applies. Numbers starting 084, 087, 09, and 118 remain chargeable from mobiles, split into a service charge (set by the organisation called) plus the caller's own network access charge.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Tell someone calling a UK 0800 or 0808 number from a mobile phone to expect a per-minute charge, or to prefer calling from a landline to avoid cost",
      "why_fails": "gov.uk's call-charges guidance lists 0800, 0808, and 116 numbers as 'Free' for both landlines and mobiles - identical cost, £0, regardless of which type of phone is used. Citizens Advice confirms 'Calls to these numbers are always free from mobiles and landlines.'",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "Calling from within the UK",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.gov.uk/call-charges",
        "https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/check-how-much-a-call-will-cost/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Assume all numbers starting with '08' are free, lumping 0843/0844/0870-0873 in with 0800/0808",
      "why_fails": "nidirect.gov.uk explains 084 and 087 numbers split into an access charge set by the caller's provider (a few pence to over 80p/minute) plus a separate service charge set by the organisation called - these numbers are not free like 0800/0808/116.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "Number begins 084 or 087 rather than 0800/0808/116",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/contacting-08-and-03-numbers"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Check the first four digits: 0800/0808/116 are always free from mobile and landline; 0843/0844/0845 and 0870-0873 carry a service charge plus your provider's access charge; 09 and 118 numbers are premium rate and can be expensive per minute",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "gov.uk/call-charges publishes the current per-range price caps if an exact cost is needed.",
      "condition": "Deciding whether to call a UK non-geographic number from a mobile",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.gov.uk/call-charges"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.75,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.9,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2026-09-09",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-09-09",
  "last_updated": "2026-09-09",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "communication/freephone-0800-0808-free-from-mobile/uk"
  ]
}