What are the premium rate numbers? How to spot them, bar them and avoid bill shock

If you're wondering what are the premium rate numbers, the short answer is this: in the UK they are mainly numbers starting 09, plus 118 directory enquiries and five-digit text short codes, where you pay a service charge on top of the normal cost of the call. That is perfectly legal as long as the price is made clear. The trouble comes when it isn't noticed, so the habit worth building is simple: check the first digits before you ring, and bar the numbers you never want to dial.

What are the premium rate numbers?

Most phone numbers cost you whatever your plan says. Premium rate numbers are different, because the organisation you're calling sets an extra charge that goes to them rather than to your network. You're paying for a service: a quiz line, a tarot reading, a voting line, a conversation line, a directory enquiry, a payment by phone.

The ones you're most likely to meet in the UK:

• 09 numbers, such as 0905, 0906, 0908 and 0909. These are the classic premium rate range. We go through the individual prefixes in 09 numbers explained.
• 118 numbers, the directory enquiry services that replaced the old 192.
• Five-digit short codes for texts, used for charity donations, voting and some subscriptions.
• 070 personal numbers, which look a bit like mobile numbers but aren't, and which can cost more than you'd expect.

Numbers beginning 01, 02 and 03 are ordinary geographic or standard-rate numbers, and mobiles begin 07. Numbers starting 08 are a mixed bag. Some are cheap to call and some are not, so they deserve a second look rather than a blanket rule.

Why the cost isn't one simple figure

Since Ofcom's reforms, a call to a non-geographic number is made up of two parts. The access charge is what your own provider (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, BT, Sky and so on) charges you for connecting the call. The service charge is set by the organisation you're ringing, and for premium rate numbers it's the bigger part.

That's why the same number can cost different amounts depending on who you're with, and why mobile callers often pay more than people on a landline. If that's the part that confuses you, mobile phone sex: why 09 calls cost more from a mobile explains the mobile side in plain terms.

The practical point: the number itself only tells you the category. The exact price should be stated by the service, and your provider can tell you its access charge.

How to spot one before you ring

You don't need a list in your head. A short routine covers nearly everything.

• Look at the first four digits. 09 is the red flag. 118 is a directory service. A five-digit number in a text is a short code.
• Read the small print next to the number. Adverts, websites and TV screens should show the price near the number, not buried at the bottom. If you can't find it, treat that as an answer.
• Search the number before calling. The regulator for premium rate services, the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA), has an online number checker that tells you who runs a number.
• Be wary of a number that arrives out of the blue. A text saying you've won something, or a missed call from a number you don't know, with a number to ring back, is a common set-up.
• Ask yourself what you're actually calling for. If the service is something you could do on a website or through an app, you probably don't need a premium rate number at all.

How it shows up on your bill

On a contract, premium rate calls and texts are normally itemised, separate from your allowance. They don't come out of your included minutes, which surprises a lot of people who assume that an all-you-can-call plan covers everything. It doesn't cover 09 numbers.

On pay as you go, the charge comes straight off your credit, so you may only notice when your balance drops faster than it should.

When you look at a bill, check for:

• Lines labelled as premium rate, "third party" or "PSMS" (premium text messages).
• Calls to numbers you don't recognise, particularly those beginning 09.
• Recurring text charges, which can mean you've been signed up to a subscription.

If you share a phone plan, with a partner or a flatmate, check the itemised list together. It's much less awkward to ask "do you recognise this?" than to argue later.

The common traps

Short calls that get longer. Some services are designed to keep you on the line: long menus, hold music, "please stay on the line for your result". If you're not getting what you came for, hang up.

Missed-call scams. A number rings once, then stops. You call back out of curiosity, and the number turns out to be a premium or international line. The safest approach is not to return calls from numbers you don't know. If it matters, they'll leave a message or send a text.

Text subscriptions. A reply to a competition or a "reply YES" message can sign you up to a service that charges every week. Reply STOP, and if charges continue, contact your provider.

Look-alike numbers. A number that resembles a normal mobile or a customer service line, but starts 070 or 09. Check every digit, especially if it was sent by text.

Ringing in a hurry. Most unpleasant surprises happen when someone is tired, bored or lonely and presses call without reading the number. That's not a character flaw. It's a good reason to make the check automatic.

How to protect yourself

You have more control than you might think.

• Ask your provider to bar premium rate numbers. Most networks can block outgoing calls to 09 numbers, and many can bar premium text services as well. It usually takes one call or a few taps in your account. Barring can be lifted later if you change your mind, so you aren't locked into anything.
• Use a spending limit or alert. Many providers let you set a cap on usage or send a warning when you pass a certain level.
• Check what's switched on. On some phones, "carrier billing" lets you charge purchases and subscriptions to your bill. If you don't use it, turn it off.
• Look after a relative's phone. If you manage a phone that an older parent uses, bar premium numbers from the outset.
• Save trusted numbers properly. If you've checked a number and you're happy with it, saving it in your contacts with the service's name makes it harder to dial the wrong one by mistake.

If you've been charged and don't understand why

Don't panic and don't ignore it. A few steps in the right order will usually get you somewhere.

1. Look at the itemised bill and note the dates, times and numbers involved. 2. Check the number using the PSA's number checker, so you know which company is behind it. 3. Contact your provider first. Ask what the charge is for and whether the service was properly priced. Many providers will talk you through it. 4. Complain to the service itself if you know who they are. A clear, polite email with dates and amounts is more effective than an angry call. 5. Escalate if you're not satisfied. The PSA deals with complaints about premium rate services, and if your provider doesn't resolve the matter, you can take it further to the relevant ombudsman scheme. Citizens Advice can also help you work out your options. 6. Stop it happening again by barring premium rate numbers and, for texts, replying STOP.

Keep a record of everything: screenshots, dates, names. If the problem is a scam rather than a mistake, report it as well so that others are spared.

A word on feelings: if a charge has left you short of money or embarrassed, you're far from the only one. Phone companies and regulators deal with this all the time. If money worries are getting heavy, talk to someone you trust or to an advice service rather than carrying it alone. A premium rate number is never the answer to feeling low.

Are all premium rate numbers a bad idea?

No. Premium rate is just a billing method, and plenty of legitimate services use it: voting on a TV show, a charity text donation, a directory enquiry when you really need a number. The point is not to avoid every one but to decide knowingly.

Three questions are enough:

• Do I know the price? If it's stated clearly before I commit, I can decide.
• Do I know who runs it? A real company name and a working website are a good sign.
• Do I actually want this? If the answer is a reluctant "maybe", wait a day.

Adult conversation lines fall into the same category, and the same questions apply. If you're curious about how that world came about, a short history of UK chat lines is a good place to start.

Where Covmod fits

Covmod is a conversation service for adults, and we think being straightforward about cost is part of being trustworthy. Calls aren't open on this site yet, so there's nothing to dial, but our FAQ explains how we think about it.

The rule that protects you on any phone line: know the prefix, know the price, and bar what you don't use.