Local area phone numbers are changing - here's what you need to know

Starting today, people in five UK areas will have to include the area code when they dial a local number from a landline.

13:34 01 October 2014

With the goal to free up more telephone numbers, people in five areas in the UK will now need to include area codes even when they dial a local number, the same way as numbers are entered when using mobile phones, otherwise, the call will fail to connect. 

 

Areas affected are the following: 

 

•  Aberdeen (01224): includes areas such as Aberdeen, Balgownie, Kinellar, Lochnagar and Portlethen

•  Bradford (01274): includes areas such as Bingley, Bradford, Horton Bank, Low Moor and Queensbury

•  Brighton (01273): includes areas such as Newhaven, Barcombe, Southwick, Brighton and Lewes

•  Middlesbrough (01642): includes areas such as Billingham, Easton Grange, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough and Stainton

•  Milton Keynes (01908): includes areas such as Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, Stoke Goldington and Wolverton

 

Ofcom explained: “The number of communications providers with landline numbers has increased significantly over recent years, leading to more competition and cheaper landline bills for millions of homes and businesses. But it has also led to increased pressure on the supply of phone numbers.

“Currently, Ofcom cannot allocate phone numbers in which the first digit after the area code is 0 or 1 (for example, 01274 012 345 or 01274 123 456). This is because the network that is connecting the call may confuse the number with other existing dialling codes (such as a mobile number beginning with 075) or with a number reserved for special use (such as 118 for calls to directory inquiry services).“

“Dialling the code avoids this confusion and allows Ofcom to allocate numbers in which the first digit after the area code is 0 or 1.”