056 numbers

What 056 numbers are

Ofcom set 056 aside for location-independent services, which in practice means internet phone (VoIP) lines. The number is not tied to a place. It can ring on a desk phone, a computer or an app anywhere with an internet connection, so it says nothing about where the caller is.

What it costs to call

Your phone company decides. Calls to 056 numbers are not always part of the inclusive minutes that cover ordinary landline and mobile calls, so check your tariff first. If you are not sure, Ofcom’s guide below explains how each kind of number is charged.

Do scammers use 056 numbers?

Any number can be used for nuisance calls, and an internet phone number can be answered from anywhere. That makes the number itself weak evidence either way: a genuine business may use one, and so may someone who is not what they claim.

Judge the call by what was asked. Do not share codes, passwords or card details with someone who called you, and do not call back on a number they give you. Look the number up to see what other people have said, and add a report if it was a nuisance.