0844

0844 is a non-geographic telephone prefix used in the United Kingdom for a range of commercial information and service lines. Numbers beginning with 0844 are part of the 08 family of non-geographic numbers and are commonly employed by businesses for customer service desks, helplines, directories, and other information or pay-per-call services. The exact format is 0844 followed by additional digits, and the numbers do not correspond to a fixed geographic location.

Billing and tariffs for 0844 numbers involve two components. Callers pay an access charge set by their own telephone provider, plus a service charge set by the organisation that owns the 0844 number. The total cost therefore varies by the provider, the specific 0844 range, and the length of the call. Mobile networks often charge higher rates, and some providers may include or exclude 0844 numbers from bundled minute plans or restrict their use.

Regulation and consumer guidance: In the United Kingdom, Ofcom oversees non-geographic numbers and has issued guidance on pricing and consumer protection for 08 numbers, including 0844. Prices and terms are typically published by the service operator or the caller’s provider. To avoid high charges, some organisations offer alternative numbers billed at standard geographic rates (such as 01/02) or use the 03 prefix, which is charged at standard rates.

Notes: 0844 numbers are distinct from premium-rate (09) numbers, which incur substantially higher charges. They are used for revenue generation or cost recovery by the service provider and should be clearly disclosed to callers.