09 numbers: premium rate, the most expensive calls
09 numbers are premium rate: the most expensive numbers to call in the UK. Do not call one back unless you know exactly what it is.
Ofcom's plan caps the service charge on 090 and 091 numbers at 300p a minute or 500p a call, excluding VAT; GOV.UK gives up to £3.60 a minute plus your provider's access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call. 098 numbers, and the older 0908 and 0909 ranges, are for sexual entertainment services.
Premium rate services are regulated by Ofcom: the Phone-paid Services Authority's functions were transferred to Ofcom by the Regulation of Premium Rate Services Order 2024.
A missed call or text asking you to call an 09 number you do not recognise should be ignored. If you see premium charges on your bill you did not expect, contact your provider.
What it costs to call
| Number | From a landline | From a mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 09 premium rate | up to £3.60 a minute plus your provider's access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call | up to £3.60 a minute plus your provider's access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call |
090 and 091 in Ofcom's data
Ofcom lists 5,534 blocks: 5,198 allocated to 107 providers and 335 free, protected or quarantined (files of 2026-09-04).
| Range holder | Blocks |
|---|---|
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 885 |
| BT | 303 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 226 |
| Media Telecom Ltd | 198 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 195 |
098, 0908, 0909 in Ofcom's data
Ofcom lists 2,513 blocks: 2,322 allocated to 71 providers and 191 free, protected or quarantined (files of 2026-09-04).
| Range holder | Blocks |
|---|---|
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 250 |
| Dynamic Mobile Billing Limited | 128 |
| Media Telecom Ltd | 110 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 106 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 96 |
Example format: 0906 123 4567. Type any number into the number checker to see its range; paste a message into the scam text checker.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a 09 number cost?
- GOV.UK gives up to £3.60 a minute plus your provider's access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call, approximate.
- Who regulates premium rate numbers?
- Ofcom. The Phone-paid Services Authority's regulatory functions were transferred to Ofcom.
Sources
- Cost: 09 premium rate: GOV.UK, Call charges and phone numbers (costs "approximate"; check with your provider): "09 | Premium rate numbers | up to £3.60 and your phone company’s access charge, plus 5p to £6 per call" — https://www.gov.uk/call-charges, read on 2026-09-29
- Numbering plan (1): Ofcom, The National Telephone Numbering Plan, version with effect from 22 April 2025 (read from the Internet Archive copy of 27 Sep 2026): "090 and 091 (except 0908 and 0909): The applicable Service Charge must not exceed 300 pence per minute, exclusive of VAT, or 500 pence per call" — 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
- Numbering plan (2): Ofcom, The National Telephone Numbering Plan, version with effect from 22 April 2025 (read from the Internet Archive copy of 27 Sep 2026): "098: Non-Geographic Numbers: used to provide Sexual Entertainment Services; 0908 and 0909: no longer available for Allocation" — 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.