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0300 Numbers

0300 Charges

Charges mary vary. The typical charge is the same as the standard rate for all '01'/'02' and like the national rated number 0870 Number range, cannot be higher than the charge applied by the Communication Service Provider.

What do calls to 0300 numbers cost when dialled from a landline?

It is now the case that many residential service providers such as BT charge 0300 numbers as inclusive call minutes, so calls are charged at the same rate as 01/02.

0300 from different mobile providers may also vary according to the package that the individual / Business is subscribed to. Forinstance, 0300 call charges on O2/Vodaphone/Orange/3/T-MObile may be free when 'free' calls from 0800/0808 number ranges are charged at up to 40p/min and sometimes more.

So, in conclusion are 0300 numbers free from landlines? The answer is maybe and possibly yes.

Eligibility Criteria

Ofcom has designated the ‘0300’ range of telephone numbers in the National Telephone Numbering Plan for allocation to communications service providers ('CP's) on the basis that those numbers are used by public sector bodies and not-for-profit bodies such as registered charities.

Ofcom will publish this document on its website, updating it as necessary, to provide guidance on how individual bodies will be considered as eligible to use ‘0300’ numbers.

Criteria for eligible bodies

Ofcom considers that the bodies eligible to use ‘0300’ numbers should meet at least one of two basic criteria:

They should appear on one of the lists of appropriate bodies, maintained by other organisations, That are indicated by Ofcom in this document; or
They should fulfil any of the other criteria indicated by Ofcom in this document that identify them as an appropriate body.

Lists of eligible bodies

Any body listed on the following lists will be eligible to use an ‘0300’ number. Ofcom considers it appropriate to include all bodies in these lists as eligible rather than specifically assessing the inclusion of particular bodies on the lists:

List of Ministerial Responsibilities (including Executive Agencies and Non-Ministerial Departments) (http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ministerial_responsibilities/downloads/index.asp)
List of Public Bodies (maintained by the Cabinet Office) (http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicbodies2005.pdf)
Lists of Scottish Executive Departments and Agencies (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/government-scotland)
List of Public Bodies that are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/what-is)
List of Welsh Assembly Government Departments (http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/departments/?lang=en)
Central Register of Charities – maintained by the Charity Commission ( England & Wales) (http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/first.asp)
Scottish Register of Charities – maintained by The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (http://www.oscr.org.uk/TheRegister.stm)
List of Welsh public bodies
Countryside Council for Wales
Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee
National Library of Wales
Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee
Welsh Language Board
Welsh Therapies Advisory Committee
National Museums and Galleries of Wales
Welsh Medical Committee
Sports Council for Wales
Welsh Committee for Professional Development of Pharmacists
Arts Council of Wales
Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board
Health Professions Wales
Social Services Inspectorate for Wales: Inspection Advisory Group.
Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Advisory Panel on Substance Misuse
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Agricultural Wages Committee (x6)
Care Council for Wales
All Wales Medicines Strategy Group
Local Government Boundary Commission
Independent Appeal Panel for Farmers
Environment Agency Wales
Valuation Tribunals ( Wales) (x4)
Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee (x6)
Registered Inspectors Appeals Tribunal ( Wales)
Hill Farming Advisory Sub-Committee for Wales
Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales
Welsh Scientific Advisory Committee
Agricultural Land Tribunal ( Wales)
Welsh Optometric Committee
Rent Assessment Panel for Wales
Welsh Dental Committee
Wales Centre for Health

Other criteria

The following are alternative bases of eligibility to use an ‘0300’ number:

Having a website address ending in ‘.gov.uk’. Including this criterion confirms the eligibility of many public bodies set up between updates of the relevant lists;

Having a website address ending in ‘.nhs.uk’. Including such bodies responds to concerns related to Ofcom about health services’ use of chargeable 08 numbers.

Having charitable status in Northern Ireland. There is currently no register of charities in Northern Ireland, but the Department for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Government gives guidance for charities. The guidance states that documentary proof of charitable status is provided by the official letter granting charitable status for tax purposes. (http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/publications/charities_advice.htm)