0871 Numbers

Why an 0871 number helps your organisation

An 0871 number gives a national presence for lines where a service charge makes sense, such as some information and booking lines. 0871 sits in the 087 group, which generally carries higher service charges than 084 numbers. Some organisations use the service charge to help offset the cost of running the line.

Because callers pay more, 0871 works best for services where the charge is expected, and the cost should never come as a surprise. Be clear about it wherever you show the number. If your line is for general customer service, or if your callers may be vulnerable or on a tight budget, an 03 number such as 0330 is the lower-cost alternative, and our team can help you choose.

About 0871 numbers

0871 numbers are service numbers in the format 0871 xxx xxxx. Since Ofcom's UK calling changes in July 2015, the cost of a call has two parts: an access charge set by the caller's own phone company and a service charge set by the organisation being called. The service charge must be stated wherever you advertise the number, whether in print, online or in adverts. Calls to 0871 numbers are not covered by the Ofcom rule that counts 03 numbers towards inclusive minutes. Our team will confirm the service charge that applies to the 0871 number you choose.

Who uses 0871 numbers

Information lines

Services that give out specialist information by phone sometimes use 0871, where the service charge helps support the cost of providing it.

Booking and ticket lines

Some booking and ticketing services use 0871 numbers as a single national contact point for reservations.

Businesses with an established 0871 number

If your 0871 number is already on your website and materials, you can port it to Alphatalk and keep it, with full control over where calls go.

How your 0871 number works

Your 0871 number can ring any UK landline, any mobile or Alphatalk's cloud phone system. You can update the destination at any time in myAlphaTalk, our customer portal, for example to cover busy periods or staff absence. Time-of-day routing sends calls where you want them at different times of day, voicemail is delivered to email, and call statistics show call volumes and peak times. Each number costs £4.99 a month and includes 1,000 free UK minutes. Standard numbers have no setup fee. Silver and Gold numbers are more memorable and carry a one-off charge, and Platinum numbers are priced on application. Order online and our UK team will set up your number and confirm the service charge that applies to it.