What replaced 0845 numbers? Moving from 0845 to 0345

For years 0845 was the standard "local rate" business number. It is not any more. Since the UK Calling changes of July 2015, a call to an 0845 number costs the caller their own phone company's access charge plus a service charge set by the number holder, and 0845 calls are rarely included in mobile bundles.

The replacement: 0345

Ofcom created the 03 range so organisations could keep a national number without charging their callers extra. Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling an 01 or 02 landline and count towards inclusive minutes. 0345 was set aside as the natural home for 0845 users, which is why so many banks, utilities and councils now use 0345 numbers.

Why it matters for a small business

• More calls: customers on a mobile bundle will ring an 0345 number without worrying about the cost.
• More trust: an 084 or 087 number looks like a premium line; an 0345 number looks established.
• Clear pricing rules: businesses advertising an 084 number must show the service charge wherever the number appears.

How to move to an 0345 number

1. Choose an 0345 number from our live stock at siluxcall.co.uk/0345-numbers. It is £4.99 a month (ex VAT), with no setup fee and no contract, added to any Silux Call plan.

2. Set where it rings: every user on the app, browser phone and desk phones, or a greeting menu, hunt group, opening hours and voicemail.

3. Put the new number on your website, invoices, email signature and adverts. Keep the old 0845 number with your current provider for a few months with a message pointing callers to the new one.

Silux Call does not sell 084 or 087 numbers. If you would prefer calls to be free for every caller, see 0800 freephone numbers.