If you receive a call from a saved contact but only see their phone number on the screen, it is almost always due to the format of the number saved in your address book.
The Correct Format (+44)
Numbers must be stored starting with the UK country code (+44). When adding the country code, you must remove the leading zero from the area code or mobile number.
| Format | Example | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Standard UK | 0203 123 4567 | ❌ Incorrect |
| Incorrect International | +440203 123 4567 | ❌ Incorrect |
| International Standard | +44203 123 4567 | ✅ Correct |
Why formatting matters
Caller ID Recognition: Your handset compares the incoming data to your contact list. If the formats don't match exactly, the name won't appear.
Call Connectivity: If you try to dial a number starting with
0044or+440, our system may not recognize it.Tariff Errors: You might hear an automated message saying, "This call is not covered by your tariff plan." This usually happens because the handset is misinterpreting the extra zero and attempting to dial an invalid international destination.
Important: Disable "Dial Assist"
Most modern smartphones (especially iPhones) have a feature called Dial Assist or International Assist. This feature automatically tries to guess the country code, which often conflicts with settings.
How to disable it:
On iPhone: Go to Settings → Phone → Scroll to the bottom and toggle Dial Assist to OFF.
On Android: Open the Phone App → Settings → Assisted Dialing → Toggle OFF.
Pro Tip: Bulk Editing
If you have hundreds of contacts stored with the leading 0, you don't have to edit them one by one. There are many "Contact Fixer" apps available in the App Store and Google Play Store that can automatically convert all your UK numbers to the +44 format in seconds.