A number starting with 05 that appears on your phone may cause hesitation before answering. The question often arises: is this number starting with 05 charged extra? The answer lies in how Arcep has structured the French numbering plan, and it is clearer than one might think.
05 Numbers and Premium Rate Numbers: What the Numbering Plan Says
The confusion between geographic numbers and premium rate numbers stems from a lack of understanding of the ranges assigned by Arcep. The table below summarizes the differences in status between a number starting with 05 and the numbers that are actually subject to surcharges.
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| Type of Number | Range | Possible Surcharge | Main Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geographic South-West | 05 | No | Landlines, businesses, individuals |
| Freephone | 0800 to 0805 | No | Customer service, assistance |
| Standard Rate SVA | 0806 to 0809 | No (local call price) | Commercial services |
| Premium Rate SVA | 081, 082, 089 | Yes | Value-added services |
| Short Numbers | 3BPQ, 10YZ, 118XYZ | Variable | Information, services |
The 05 range is reserved for geographic numbers in the South-West area. Arcep prohibits its use for value-added services of the SVA type. Therefore, a call to a 05 number cannot, in law, be charged extra as a call to a 089 or a short number would be.
To learn more about Comme Vous Voulez, the distinction is based on this simple rule: only numbers starting with 08 (excluding 0800-0805) and certain short numbers can legally apply a surcharge.
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Why a Call to a 05 May Still Be Expensive
While a 05 number cannot be charged extra in the SVA sense, a call to this range is not necessarily free. The billing depends on your phone plan and the type of line called.
The majority of current mobile and box plans include calls to landlines in metropolitan France. In this case, a call to a 05 is included in the plan, with no additional cost. However, if your subscription does not cover calls to landlines, the operator applies its standard rate per minute.
- With a plan including unlimited calls to landlines: the call to a 05 incurs no additional cost
- With a limited or prepaid plan: the call is deducted from the credit or charged at the standard communication rate, never at the SVA rate
- From abroad: calls to French geographic numbers are subject to roaming charges, which can be high regardless of any surcharge
Any potential extra cost comes from the plan, not from the number itself. This distinction explains why some users mistakenly associate a 05 with abnormal pricing after noticing an unusual amount on their bill.
Checking the Nature of a Number: Reliable Tools
Several methods allow you to confirm that a 05 number is not a disguised special number.
The Reverse Directory for SVA Numbers
The platform surmafacture.fr, set up to reference special numbers, only lists numbers starting with 08, short numbers (3BPQ, 10YZ, 118XYZ), and their associated rates. The absence of a 05 number in this directory confirms that it does not fall under value-added services. If you search for a 05 there without results, that’s normal: it is not intended to be listed.
Your Operator’s Consumption Details
Since 2024, Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Free display a separate line for calls to special and SVA numbers in their consumption tracking tools. A call to a 05 never appears in this section. If it appears in the “calls to landlines” section of your statement, it is proof that no surcharge has been applied.
This separation in detailed bills is a quick way to clear up doubts after a call.
05 Numbers and Phone Scams: The Real Risk
The risk associated with a 05 number is not the surcharge, but the callback to another number. The classic scenario works like this: a brief call from a 05 appears as missed. When you call back, you encounter a message that redirects you to a number starting with 089 or a short number, which is indeed charged extra.
Some call centers and commercial services have migrated their SVA lines to geographic numbers from 01 to 05. This migration eliminates the direct surcharge but maintains confusion, as the caller does not always know who they are dealing with.
- Do not call back an unknown 05 number without first verifying the caller’s identity through a standard reverse directory
- If a voicemail invites you to dial a number starting with 08 or a short number, check its pricing on surmafacture.fr before calling
- A 05 number that redirects you to a 089 transfers the extra cost to the second call, not the first
Vigilance is therefore focused on what happens after the call to the 05, not on the call itself.
A number starting with 05 falls under geographic telephony and cannot carry a surcharge in the regulatory sense. The cost of a call to this range depends solely on your plan. For any doubts about a received number, checking takes less than a minute on surmafacture.fr or in your operator’s consumption details.