09 Premium Rate Numbers
Premium rate · starts 090, 091 and 098 · 09 numbers are premium rate and can cost many times more than an ordinary call. You should be told the price before any charge starts.
What 09 numbers are
Numbers starting 09 are premium rate, the most expensive numbers you can call in the UK. You pay a service charge set by whoever runs the line on top of your provider's access charge, and together that can come to several pounds a minute. They're used for competitions and TV votes, chat and adult services, and paid information or advice.
Premium-rate services are regulated, and the price is supposed to be made clear before you're charged. Even so, a missed call or text from an unknown 09 number is one of the oldest tricks for running up someone's phone bill.
- Kind of number
- Premium rate
- Begins
- 090, 091 and 098
- Usually used by
- Competitions, TV votes, chat and adult lines, and paid advice services
- We hold
- 84 numbers, 0 reports
Cost to call: 09 numbers are premium rate and can cost many times more than an ordinary call. You should be told the price before any charge starts.
Things to watch out for with 09 numbers
- Never return a missed call, or reply to a text, from an unknown 09 number without checking it first.
- If you don't hear the price in the first few seconds of the call, hang up. Some lines charge several pounds a minute.
- If an unexpected premium-rate charge appears on your bill, complain to your phone provider and to the premium-rate regulator.
Check a list with the bulk checker, see the scam calls going around, or find out how to report a scam number.
09 numbers people have checked
Questions about 09 numbers
How much does it cost to call an 09 number?
It depends on the service, but it can be far more than an ordinary call, sometimes several pounds per minute. You should be told the price before charging starts.
Why did an 09 number ring once and stop?
Short rings are a common way to get people to call back. If the number is premium rate, calling it back could cost a lot, so check it first.
Who regulates 09 numbers?
Premium-rate services in the UK are regulated by Ofcom, which sets rules on pricing and handles complaints about these services.
Can I get a refund for an 09 call?
Complain to your phone company and to the regulator. Whether you get a refund depends on the service and what happened.