When you need to contact organisations and access important services,

you shouldn't have to worry about how to call them or what it'll cost you.

Currently, many organisations use 1800, 1850, 1890, 0818, and 076 numbers, called Non-Geographic Numbers or NGNs, to deliver important services like helplines, public services, and utilities.

But the cost of calling them is not always clear and can be confusing and expensive.

Because of this, some people, including people in vulnerable situations, avoid calling NGNs for the services they need.

This can cause distress and needs to be fixed.

So, from the 1st of December, calls to 1850, 1890, 0818 and 076 NGNs will be included in call bundles that include landline calls.

These changes will make accessing important services cheaper and simpler.

If you don't have a bundle like this or you've used yours up, these calls will be charged by the minute and cost no more than calling a landline.

Calling 1800 numbers will still be free from landlines and mobiles.

Further changes to NGNs should also encourage service providers to provide more 1800 Freephone services.

But there's more that needs to change, the five different NGN ranges can also put people off calling, meaning questions can go unanswered and problems unsolved.

So, to simplify NGNs further, over the next two years, the five NGN ranges will be reduced to two.

The 1850, 1890, and 076 ranges will be withdrawn and, from 1 January 2022, only the 1800 and 0818 ranges will remain.

Organisations using 1850, 1890, or 076 numbers need to move to new numbers and should contact their telecoms operator to do so.

These NGN changes are hugely positive for callers and organisations alike - they will encourage the use of and restore trust in NGNs, connecting people with confidence to the services they need.

Here's to clearer NGN calling costs and a simpler NGN platform!

For more information visit comreg.ie/ngn