070 numbers: personal numbers that look like mobiles
A number starting 070 is not a mobile. It is a personal number that forwards to another phone, and it costs more to call than a mobile.
Ofcom's numbering plan defines a personal numbering service as number translation: you can be reached on one personal number and take the call on almost any other phone, including a mobile. The number itself says nothing about where the call ends up.
Because 070 looks like 07, it is easy to call one back thinking it is a mobile. GOV.UK puts calls to 070 at about 50p a minute from a landline and 86p from a mobile, against 10p to 20p and 3p to 65p for a mobile number.
Ofcom's plan forbids anyone using personal numbers from sharing call revenue with the caller or the person called. If an unexpected text asks you to ring an 070 number, check the sender first.
What it costs to call
| Number | From a landline | From a mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 070 personal numbers | 50p a minute | 86p a minute |
| 07 mobiles, for comparison | 10p to 20p a minute | 3p to 65p a minute |
070 personal numbers in Ofcom's data
Ofcom lists 3,061 blocks: 735 allocated to 79 providers and 2,326 free, protected or quarantined (files of 2026-09-04).
| Range holder | Blocks |
|---|---|
| Media Telecom Ltd | 46 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 43 |
| Core Telecom Limited | 30 |
| Vodafone Limited | 30 |
| Spacetel UK Ltd | 27 |
Example format: 07012 345678. Type any number into the number checker to see its range; paste a message into the scam text checker.
Frequently asked questions
- Are 070 numbers mobiles?
- No. They are personal numbers that forward calls to another phone. They start with 07 but are priced and regulated differently.
- How much does it cost to call an 070 number?
- GOV.UK gives about 50p a minute from a landline and 86p a minute from a mobile, approximate. Your provider's price list has the exact figure.
- Can I block 070 numbers?
- You can block a single number in your phone's settings. Ask your provider whether it can bar calls to a whole range.
Sources
- Cost: 070 personal numbers: GOV.UK, Call charges and phone numbers (costs "approximate"; check with your provider): "070 | Personal or ‘follow me’ numbers | 50p | 86p" — https://www.gov.uk/call-charges, read on 2026-09-29
- Cost: 07 mobiles, for comparison: GOV.UK, Call charges and phone numbers (costs "approximate"; check with your provider): "07 | Mobile numbers | 10p to 20p | 3p to 65p" — https://www.gov.uk/call-charges, read on 2026-09-29
- Numbering plan: Ofcom, The National Telephone Numbering Plan, version with effect from 22 April 2025 (read from the Internet Archive copy of 27 Sep 2026): "070: Personal Numbers. 'Personal Numbering Service' means a service based on number translation that enables an End-User to be called or otherwise contacted at a single Personal Number, and to receive those calls or other communications at almost any Telephone Number, including a Mobile Number" — https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/numbering/other/national-numbering-plan.pdf, read on 2026-09-29
- Range data: Ofcom numbering data files S1, S3, S5, S7, S8, S9 (ofcom.org.uk, Download numbering data) as downloaded by Ofcom on 2026-09-04, copied unchanged from the Number::Phone data-files mirror, commit b842859. Ofcom: "We publish data on which UK telephone numbers are available for allocation or are allocated, and aim to update these files every Wednesday." — https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/phone-numbers/numbering-data; mirror: https://github.com/DrHyde/perl-modules-Number-Phone-data-files, read on 2026-09-29
Last updated 2026-09-29. Independent information service. Number data from Ofcom shows the original range holder; numbers can be ported or spoofed. Not affiliated with Ofcom, the FCA, the ICO or any police service.