GLOSSARY

What is a premium-rate number?

A premium-rate number charges the caller extra, with part of the fee paid to the service. Learn how they work and detect a number’s type free.

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A premium-rate number charges the caller more than a normal call, with a share of that extra fee going to the service being called. They fund things like technical support lines, voting, and content services — and are a distinct line type worth detecting.

How they bill

Unlike toll-free numbers (where the business pays), premium-rate numbers pass an elevated per-minute or per-call charge to the caller. In many countries they sit in recognizable ranges (like 900 in the US or 09 in the UK). Because they can be abused, detecting them protects users from unexpected charges.

Why detect the type

If your app dials or texts numbers, spotting premium-rate and other special line types prevents surprise costs and fraud. Line-type detection classifies premium-rate alongside mobile, landline, VoIP, and toll-free.

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FAQ

Who pays for a premium-rate call?›
The caller — at an elevated rate, part of which goes to the service. The opposite of toll-free.
How do I detect a premium-rate number?›
Our phone validator returns the line type, including premium-rate.

Related

What is a toll-free number?A toll-free number is billed to the business, not the caller — like US 800/888 numbers. Learn how they work and detect a number’s type free.What is a VoIP number?A VoIP number routes calls and texts over the internet instead of a cellular network. Learn VoIP vs mobile and check any number’s line type free.How to validate a phone numberValidate a phone number’s format, line type (mobile/VoIP), and region. Step-by-step, plus a free validator that returns E.164 and carrier.