Premium 72p-a-minute charity helpline charges branded a 'disgrace'

Callers to charities and helplines still face premium charges of up to 72p a minute despite demands for the rip-off numbers to be ditched.

The Fair Telecoms Campaign found at least 20 charities and advice services use the 0844, 0845 or 0870 numbers.

But the charities benefit by no more than 7p a minute from the calls – with up to 65p a minute going to the phone companies.

Campaigners have condemned the charges, which can add as much as £7.20 to the cost of a 10-minute call.

Campaigners have condemned premium charges for calls to charities and helplines (Getty)

They want charities and advice services to adopt cheaper “geographic” numbers.

Groups still using the numbers include St John Ambulance, the Salvation Army and the National Centre for Eating Disorders.

David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms Campaign, said: “Imposing a charge on people making charitable donations is disgraceful.”

Despite high costs to calls to helplines such as the National Centre for Eating Disorders, charities don't earn more than 7p per minute from calls (Getty)

Around 30 charities, including Citizens Advice, axed the codes. St John Ambulance has vowed to.

Deanne Jade, of the National Centre for Eating Disorders, said: “We don’t earn anything from it.”