Who called me? How to read a UK phone number

The first digits of a UK number tell you a lot: whether it is local, national, mobile or premium, and roughly what it costs to call back. Use our free number checker to look one up.

By the Alltone Telecoms team. Updated 24 October 2026. About 2 minutes to read.

Read the prefix

Starts with	What it is	Calling back costs
01, 02	A landline in a specific area	Standard rate, usually in bundles
03	A national organisation	Standard rate, usually in bundles
07	A mobile (070 and 076 are exceptions)	Mobile rate, usually in bundles
080	Freephone	Free
084, 087	Business rate	Access charge plus service charge
09	Premium rate	Can be expensive

Unwanted calls

If you receive nuisance calls, register free with the Telephone Preference Service and report scam calls through the official channels. Never give payment or security details to an unexpected caller.

Common questions

Something else on your mind? Call 020 7112 8558 or send us a message and a telecoms specialist will reply.

Can you tell me who owns a number?

No. Number ranges tell you the type and area, not the owner. Our checker explains what kind of number it is.

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