'0500' former freephone numbers
Until they were decommissioned in June 2017, '0500' numbers were a form of freephone number
Withdrawal of non-080 freephone numbers
In the late 1990s, there were a variety of different prefixes in use for freephone services. In addition to the well-recognised '0800' numbers, freephone numbers also started with '0321', '0500' and '0958' among others. To make it easier for callers to recognise freephone services, it was decided that for all future freephone numbering, only '0800' and '0808' numbers would be used and the other prefixes would be gradually withdrawn.
By the end of April 2001, the relatively rare '0321' and '0958' prefixes had been taken out of service, just leaving the '0500' prefix, which was more widespread. It was decided that the many existing '0500' numbers could remain in use for a longer period. As no new '0500' numbers were being issued, usage of the prefix declined. Many organisations previously using '0500' numbers moved to other numbers and other '0500' numbers were withdrawn if their owners shut down a service or no longer needed their '0500' numbers.
By 2014, usage was low enough that the regulator Ofcom began consulations on a final withdrawal of '0500' numbers and it was eventually decided that they would be decommissioned during June 2017.
Replacement of '0500' freephone numbers
Organisations who were still using '0500' numbers for receiving calls when they were decommissioned were offered 'matching' freephone numbers that start with '0808 5'. So, for example, the owner of '0500 200300' would have been able to switch to the number '0808 5200300'. It was not compulsory to take the replacement '0808' number, the only requirement was that '0500' numbers were no longer used. Many organisations replaced their '0500' numbers with completely different numbers of their choosing.