Be careful of calling anyone with a Lyca mobile. You cannot use your free minutes to call as in my case I called from my T-mobile and was charged £10 for about a 30 minute call. When I called T-mobile they said that Lyca use an indirect number which accounts for me being charged. They then told me the Lyca prefixes as below. Yet another ripp off exposed.
Lyca prefix: 07404, 07405, 07417, 07424, 07438, 07440, 07466

Mobile numbers begin 074, 075, 07624, 077, 078 and 079. The numbers starting 074 and 075 have been added over the last few years due to shortage numbers in the other ranges.

The majority of these mobile numbers are allocated to the five main network providers (O2, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and 3). Where calls are made to any of these numbers from any other of these, they usually come from inclusive minutes or are charged as a standard mobile call.

However, some mobile prefixes are allocated to other telcos. I'm not sure how it is so that they are allowed numbers officially classified as being those for mobile telephone networks, but is the case that they are.

There have been postings in the past from people who have called on of these other numbers, expecting them to be treated as normal mobile numbers.


I wonder if the (termination) charges these other providers impose on origination networks (those we make calls with) are greater than those of the five main mobile operators and thus they are passing this additional charge onto callers.

sherbert wrote on Mar 26^th, 2011 at 2:54pm:

That is certainly what is implied.

The O2 Special Numbers page lists a number of 07 Mobile Number prefixes (and one 0871) which are suspended (i.e. O2 subscribers cannot call them) because of disputes with respective providers:




It's likely that some providers may demand more in termination charges for calls to be connected. This leaves retail call providers in a predicament:

• to allow subscribers to call these numbers, but levy a premium for them thereby potentially leaving them open to bill shock, as experienced by the OP; or
• not allow calls to these numbers.

I have just followed the link to the T Mobile Site and I am a llttle confused to say the least as I thought all mobile numbers started 07 and I hadn't heard of Zones


07404      07405      07408      07417      07424      07466
075202      075594      075894      075895      075896      075897
07609      07610      07621      07682      077077      0782210
078228      078920      078921      078931      079112      079118
079788                              
This means if you call one of those numbers, that call won't come out of your inclusive allowance and you'll be charged

I thought all 07 numbers were mobiles and you were charged depending on your package not the number the caller was contacting

sorry if it is a simple process its just that I am not familiar with all mobile Zones etc

bazzerfewi wrote on Mar 27^th, 2011 at 2:02pm:


Thanks for revealing this matter, Bazzer, Dave and all.   This is so important it should be raised with Ofcom to get sorted out properly.   It so happens there is a perfect opportunity to do this which is only open for the next 4 days ---- to raise it in response to the current Ofcom consultation which is discussed on this thread -- http://www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1292499417/85#85

The closing date for this consultation has been quietly extended by Ofcom to 31st March 2011, this Thursday.   Can I urge you and others to submit a response to Ofcom bringing this problem to their attention before this deadline --- http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/simplifying-non-geo-numbers/

It is not necessary to fill in the Ofcom tedious response form because you can send in a free format response by email as Ofcom say in their section "How to respond".  Send your email to ---  NGCSReview@ofcom.org.uk   .   Most of the 65 responses already published on that Ofcom website are free format and many only address a single issue.

Can I urge as many people as possible to submit a response this week before the 31st March deadline.

These Mobile Numbers which cost a premium to call with respect to other mobile numbers and Personal Numbers are to Mobile Numbers what 084x and 0871/2/3 is to geographic numbers.

In essence, there are two widely accepted types of domestic numbers which have differing underlying costs to connect. They are landlines and mobiles.

All others should be regard as premium (of sorts).

bazzerfewi wrote on Mar 28^th, 2011 at 12:10pm:

If responding to the Ofcom consultation it is worth pointing out that the Ofcom Numbering Plan Dec 2010 http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/telecoms/numbering/numplan201210.pdf distinguishes prefix 070 as Personal Numbering but shows ranges 071-075, 077-079 as Mobile Services implying all these numbers share a common tariff.  This is clearly misleading

sherbert wrote on Mar 28^th, 2011 at 12:42pm:

Yes, but is that not played out by the receiving party (telco; the provider of the phone system)? And in which case, it will most probably only apply one call provider so what use is that?

Today, callers can be ringing from any one of many call providers, so should the recording give the rates of all providers? How might they ensure accuracy?


I'm not really sure what a recorded announcement might do as by the time the digits have been dialled, the decision to call has been made.