What Are 1300 and 1800 Numbers?
1300 and 1800 numbers are special Australian phone numbers used primarily by businesses, government agencies, and organisations. Unlike standard geographic numbers (02, 03, 07, 08), they are not tied to a physical location. Instead, they route calls to the organisation's actual phone system, regardless of where the caller or the business is located.
These numbers are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and allocated through licensed carriers.
1300 Numbers: Local Rate
1300 numbers are "local rate" or "shared cost" numbers. The cost model works as follows:
- For callers – You pay the cost of a local call (typically included in your phone plan's bundled minutes). From a mobile, it's usually counted as a standard local call.
- For businesses – The business pays a per-minute or per-call charge to receive the calls, plus a monthly service fee.
1300 numbers are 10 digits long (1300 XXX XXX) and are widely used by customer service departments, booking lines, and enquiry centres. Many Australians encounter 1300 numbers daily when calling their bank, insurance company, or utility provider.
Browse all 1300 numbers on Reverseau
1800 Numbers: Toll Free
1800 numbers are completely free to call from any Australian phone, including mobiles. The business bears the full cost of each call.
- For callers – No charge at all, even from mobile phones.
- For businesses – Higher per-minute costs than 1300 numbers, making them more expensive to operate.
1800 numbers are also 10 digits long (1800 XXX XXX). They're commonly used by government helplines (e.g., Lifeline: 13 11 14, Scamwatch), large corporations, and organisations where removing the cost barrier for callers is important.
Browse all 1800 numbers on Reverseau
1300 vs 1800: Key Differences
| Feature | 1300 | 1800 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to caller | Local call rate | Free |
| Cost to business | Moderate | Higher |
| Format | 1300 XXX XXX | 1800 XXX XXX |
| Typical users | SMEs, customer service | Government, large corps |
| Mobile callers | May count as local call | Always free |
Legitimate Uses of Business Numbers
The vast majority of 1300 and 1800 numbers belong to legitimate organisations. Common legitimate uses include:
- Customer service lines – Banks, insurers, telcos, and utilities.
- Government services – Centrelink, Medicare, ATO, state departments.
- Healthcare – Hospital appointment lines, health helplines.
- Booking services – Airlines, hotels, car rentals.
- Support lines – Mental health services, crisis helplines, consumer advocacy.
Scam Patterns with Business Numbers
While most business numbers are legitimate, scammers exploit the professional appearance of 1300/1800 numbers. Watch out for these patterns:
Outbound Scam Calls
Scammers use spoofed 1300/1800 numbers to make unsolicited calls. They pretend to be from your bank, the ATO, or a well-known company. A real bank or government agency calling you will never ask for your password, PIN, or request you to transfer money during the call.
Fake Business Lines
Some scammers set up 1300 numbers to appear legitimate. They advertise fake services or products and use the business number to build trust. If you're unsure, verify the number independently by checking the organisation's official website.
Callback Traps
A scammer might call briefly from a spoofed 1300/1800 number, hoping you'll call back. When you do, you reach a convincing scam operation. Always verify numbers through official channels rather than simply calling back.
How to Verify a 1300/1800 Number
- Search on Reverseau – Use our reverse phone lookup to see community reports on the number.
- Check the official website – If a caller claims to represent a company, find the company's website independently (don't use a link provided by the caller) and confirm the phone number.
- Call back on a known number – If your bank calls, hang up and call the number on the back of your card.
- Search online – A quick web search for the number often reveals whether it's been reported as a scam.
- Check ACMA's number register – The ACMA website has information about number allocation.
What About 1900 Numbers?
1900 numbers are premium-rate services that charge callers a higher fee. Unlike 1300/1800 numbers, the caller pays a premium — typically $0.55 to $5.50 per minute. These numbers are used for entertainment services, competitions, and information lines. Be very cautious about calling 1900 numbers, especially if directed to do so by an unsolicited message.
Browse all 1900 numbers on Reverseau
Tips for Dealing with Business Number Calls
- Don't assume legitimacy – A 1300/1800 number alone doesn't prove the caller is genuine.
- Never share sensitive data unprompted – Legitimate businesses will have verification procedures and won't cold-call asking for passwords.
- Take your time – If a caller pressures you to act immediately, it's likely a scam. Genuine businesses will give you time to verify.
- Report suspicious numbers – Help the community by reporting suspicious 1300/1800 calls on Reverseau and to Scamwatch.
- Stay informed – Check trending numbers on Reverseau to see which numbers are being investigated by the community.
Related Guides
- Australian Area Codes Guide – Complete reference for all Australian phone codes
- How to Identify Scam Calls – Detailed scam identification and protection guide
Explore Insights
See community data on business number activity and spam trends:
- Spam Calls Analysis – Spam patterns including telemarketing numbers
- Legitimate Numbers Analysis – Verified legitimate business numbers
- Browse 1300 Numbers
- Browse 1800 Numbers