How Much Does It Cost to Call a 0900 Number?

The maximum rates for 0900 numbers are legally set by the government. For example, calling a 0900 number can never cost more than €1.00 per minute or €1.00 per call, plus your usual call costs.

The exact amount of your usual call costs depends on the contract you have with your telecom provider and can be checked with them.

For most per-minute rates, there is also a maximum per call. It is therefore not possible for unlimited amounts to be charged to you as a caller.

In practice, most number owners choose a low rate, often less than €0.15 per minute. If a number is used for customer service for existing customers, no rate may be charged beyond the normal call rate.

The law also specifies exactly how the number holder must communicate the call costs. When you call a 0900 number, you will always first hear a message that tells you exactly what the costs are.

These messages vary depending on the rate, as follows:

  • If no additional costs are charged, you will hear: “for this information number, you pay your usual call costs.”
  • If the rate is less than or equal to €0.15 per minute, you will hear: “this information number costs x per minute, plus your usual call costs.”
  • If the rate is higher than €0.15 per minute, you will hear: “this information number costs x per minute with a maximum of y per call, plus your usual call costs.”
  • For a number with a per-call rate, you will hear the message: “this information number costs x per call, plus your usual call costs.”

If a start rate per call is charged, this is also mentioned separately in the rate announcement.

Source

Every rate announcement takes place before the call and cannot be charged.

Can a 0900 Number Be Free?

A 0900 number can have a rate of €0. In that case, you still pay the usual call costs, so the call costs the same as a normal phone call to a landline number.

This is currently how 0900 numbers are used for customer service. Whether it is a utility company, a bank, or your cable TV provider, customer service must be offered at normal call costs. At the beginning of the call, you will hear a message saying: “for this information number, you pay your usual call costs.”

Can I Call a 0900 Number That Is Not Free for Free?

No. Even when a 0900 number has a rate of €0 (see above), you still pay the usual call costs. What these are depends on your provider’s rate structure.

The way a 0900 number works is as follows: when you call a 0900 number, you are first connected to the platform of a number provider like Belfabriek. Additional services are added there, such as a duty roster that ensures you are always connected to the on-duty employee.

That platform then connects you to the so-called “destination number” (sometimes also called the “underlying number”). The number holder can change this destination at any time, for example, in case of an employee’s illness or a department’s relocation.

Online lists are distributed with these “underlying numbers,” suggesting that you could call the corresponding 0900 numbers “for free.” Because the number owner can change the underlying number at any time, these lists are often outdated and incorrect.

When you call an organization’s 0900 number, you are assured of the fastest and best service.

Can I Call a 0900 Number From Abroad?

No, 0900 numbers are not accessible from abroad.

Many companies and organizations therefore offer, in addition to the free number accessible in the Netherlands, a regular phone number through which they can be reached from abroad. For example, you can call Belfabriek from abroad at 🌍 +31 (0)85 400 5588.

Note: In many cases, you will reach a different department (e.g., the international desk) when you call this international number. It is therefore not recommended to call this international number from within the Netherlands.

Who Owns a 0900 Number?

The 0900 numbers in the Netherlands are issued by the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). This is a government organization that oversees the use of these numbers.

Why Do Organizations Use a 0900 Number?

There are several reasons why organizations choose to use a 0900 number.

First, a 0900 number is a national number. It is not tied to a specific city, like 020 numbers are tied to Amsterdam. With a 0900 number, companies create a national image, making someone from Friesland feel just as welcome as someone from Limburg.

Another reason to choose a 0900 number is the professional image it conveys.

A final reason why organizations use 0900 numbers is to cover part of the costs of the phone service. With a 0900 number, they can set the call rate themselves.

I Have a Complaint About a 0900 Number

If you suspect that a 0900 number holder is not complying with the rules, you should contact the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). This is the government organization that oversees the use of these numbers.

For complaints, use this form: https://www.acm.nl/nl/contact/tips-en-meldingen/uw-tip-of-melding-doorgeven-aan-acm/