Until now, calling telephone numbers starting 070 usually resulted in call charges significantly higher than calling landline or mobile numbers and such calls were never included within call allowances.
Calling hospital bedside telephones is one particular case where eye-watering call charges have been incurred. Providers of these bedside TV and telephone services have been (rumoured to be) making more than 40p per minute from incoming calls. Callers have been paying very high rates, with retail charges in excess of 50p per minute.
From 1 October 2019, Ofcom has cut the amount that can be made on incoming calls to 070 numbers down to just 0.5p per minute. This is known as the "termination rate" or "wholesale rate". The new limit for 070 numbers is the same as the existing limit for the termination rate for calls to UK mobile numbers.
Ofcom expected landline and mobile providers to drop their retail charges for calls to 070 numbers down to the same rate as calling UK mobile numbers, and include calls to 070 numbers in allowances on the same basis as calls to UK mobile numbers.
From 4 October 2019, giffgaff has complied with that expectation. Calls from giffgaff mobiles to 070 numbers are now inclusive in allowances on the same basis as calls to UK mobile numbers or otherwise charged at the same rate as calling a UK mobile number.
See also ...
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/how-much-does-a-phone-call-really-cost
