12 January 2009
BT is to become the first telecoms company in the UK to offer free calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers by including them in customer call packages.
Some 14 million customers on Anytime and Evening and Weekend packages will benefit from the move, allowing them to call insurance firms, energy providers and other companies than use such numbers without incurring extra charges.
The company said its decision to scrap 0870 and 0845 fees - which was made following complaints from customers - will cost it tens of millions of pounds.
John Petter, Managing Director of BT's consumer business, said: "We know that the public is frustrated by having to pay higher charges for these numbers."
BT's move comes as the government is considering a ban on the use of 084 numbers in GP surgeries.
Campaigners argue that such numbers - which allow surgeries to keep patient callers in a queue - go against the free-at-the-point-of-need principles of the NHS.
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