Government departments have been ordered to stop using premium-rate phone lines for core public services. Guidance issued by the Cabinet Office admitted it is "inappropriate" for members of the public to be hit with high charges.
The move comes after a damning National Audit Office (NAO) report found that callers including crime victims and the bereaved spent £56 million on expensive government numbers last year. Calls from landlines to 0845 numbers typically cost between 1p and 11p a minute. From mobiles, it is usually between 14p and 41p per minute.
The new guidelines state: "It is inappropriate for callers to pay substantial charges for accessing core public services, particularly for vulnerable and low income groups. 01, 02 and 03 numbers are all charged at standard geographic rates and are always included in available minutes within call packages.
"Departments should therefore first consider whether a non-geographic number is required, and if not, use a 01 or 02 prefix. Where a non-geographic number is needed, departments should treat the use of the 03 prefix as a default policy position for the provision of key public services."
When 0845 numbers continue to be used, an 03 alternative should also be offered, according to the document. Departments will have to explain themselves to Cabinet Office ministers if they do not abide by the rules and provide numbers with 01, 02 or 03 prefixes.