Mobile calls to 0800 now free with BT

BT is the first UK company to make mobile calls to 0800 numbers free, which will apply to BT Mobile customers from May.

Mobile companies charge up to 25p a minute for dialling the numbers, which companies set up in an attempt to let customers call them for free.

However, BT Mobile is scrapping all charges for its consumer customers who dial 0800 numbers and similar 0500 numbers from May 1 onwards.

John Petter, managing director of BT's Consumer business, said: "We think mobile customers are irritated by having to pay high rates to call 'free' 0800 numbers, so we have put our own house in order by making it free for any BT Mobile customer to call these numbers."

He added: "We had already made calls into BT free for our 14 million landline customers. We also recently announced that calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers would be included in call packages for BT landline customers, so it is a good time to be calling these organisations from a BT landline or mobile."

The landmark decision won immediate support from consumer groups that believe companies should stop charging for calls to free phone 0800 numbers.

More here.