0870
08 freephone and service range
0870 is a UK non-geographic range. Ofcom's register shows 834 allocated blocks held by 150 operators. Vodafone Ltd (C&W) holds the most, with 139 of the 834 allocated blocks. Data retrieved 2026-09-06.
- Allocated blocks
- 834
- Operators
- 150
- Free or protected
- 0
- Share allocated
- 99%
Who called you from 0870?
Calls from 0870 numbers usually come from organisations rather than individuals: helplines, switchboards, customer service teams and outbound call centres. The allocation data below shows which phone companies hold 0870 numbers.
Which companies hold 0870 numbers
Ofcom allocates numbers to phone companies in blocks. These are the operators holding the most 0870 blocks. The company that was issued a number often supplies it onward to a business or reseller, and UK numbers can be ported between networks, so read this as where the number started, and a strong hint rather than proof of who serves it today.
| Operator | Blocks held | Share of allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 139 | 17% |
| BT | 128 | 15% |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 67 | 8% |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 64 | 8% |
| Virgin Media Limited | 60 | 7% |
| Colt Technology Services | 29 | 3% |
| Vodafone Limited | 19 | 2% |
| Magrathea Telecommunications Limited | 16 | 2% |
| Digital Select Limited | 14 | 2% |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 13 | 2% |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 12 | 1% |
| Alphatalk Limited | 11 | 1% |
Plus 138 further operators with smaller holdings.
What it costs to call 0870
Free (080) or a service charge applies (084/087)
0800 and 0808 numbers are free to call from UK landlines and mobiles. 084 and 087 numbers carry a service charge (up to 7p a minute on 084, up to 13p a minute on 087) plus your phone company's access charge, which can add 50p a minute or more.
Inclusive minutes: 080 is free; 084/087 never come out of inclusive minutes. See the full UK call charges guide.
Had a suspicious call from 0870?
- Hang up. If the caller claimed to be your bank or a government body, find the organisation's number yourself and call back on that.
- Forward the number and what was said to 7726, the free spam-reporting service on every UK network.
- If you lost money or gave away details, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (or Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland).
- Persistent marketing calls? Report them to the ICO and register with the TPS. Full walkthrough in our report a call guide.
Questions people ask about 0870
What is a 0870 number?
0870 is a UK 08 freephone and service range. 150 operators hold number blocks in this range according to Ofcom's allocation data.
Who called me from 0870?
Calls from 0870 numbers usually come from organisations rather than individuals: helplines, switchboards, customer service teams and outbound call centres. The allocation data below shows which phone companies hold 0870 numbers.
How much does it cost to call 0870 numbers?
Free (080) or a service charge applies (084/087). Full details in the cost section above.
Is a call from 0870 a scam?
The code alone can't tell you. Most calls from 0870 numbers are legitimate, but scammers can dial from, or pretend to dial from, any range. Never hand over passwords, PINs or remote computer access to an inbound caller. If in doubt, hang up and call the organisation back on the number printed on its website or your paperwork.
How do I report a nuisance or scam call?
Forward scam call details to 7726 (free, all UK networks), report fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and report persistent nuisance calls to the ICO. Our report a call guide walks through each route.
Source: Ofcom telephone numbering allocation data, retrieved 2026-09-06 and reproduced with acknowledgement under Ofcom's re-use terms. Figures describe number blocks, and a block being allocated to an operator says nothing about any individual caller. Last verified by a human on 2026-09-06.