BT or not BT? [Archive]

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abuelito

25/02/2007, 15:47

This is probably a silly question, but here goes.

I'm thinking of changing my landline telephone provider from BT to a cheaper alternative - perhaps OneTel/TalkTalk. My telephone number would be unchanged. Does this affect my Broadband with ADSL24, which I would, of course, retain?

Realist

25/02/2007, 15:58

No its only your calls thet get re-routed via a new carrier and not your adsl.

Regards,

abuelito

25/02/2007, 16:57

Thanks for the quick reply, Brian

jockwav

25/02/2007, 17:16

Have a look at equitalk,that,s who i went with.:D

greyrider

25/02/2007, 18:20

Stay with BT, use a diverter for FREE calls,

http://www.18185.co.uk/index2.php

http://www.1899.com/

http://www.18866.co.uk/

To name a few, average 4p connection and then yak away all day, easy.

Realist

25/02/2007, 19:07

I use 18866 and my bills are cheap as chips.

Patr100

25/02/2007, 19:27

Do as Greyrider says, also I get free evening weekend calls with Primus

http://www.planet-talk.co.uk/SaverProducts.aspx?source=saver

You need to call them but make sure you specifically ask for: "Saver Option 2" which is free - They charge for some others.

but keep your line rental with BT or you'll have a very limited choice of other providers, for other services including internet. if you decide to switch later Many insist on a BT line.

pcdoc

25/02/2007, 22:03

I have used 18866 for ages now and they are great, used to use onetel but they got crappy. Tried talktalk once, never ever again.

surfer_chick

26/02/2007, 03:00

Do as Greyrider says, also I get free evening weekend calls with Primus

http://www.planet-talk.co.uk/SaverProducts.aspx?source=saver (http://www.adsl24.co.uk/forum/redirector.php?url=%68%74%74%70%3a%2f%2f%77%77%77% 2e%70%6c%61%6e%65%74%2d%74%61%6c%6b%2e%63%6f%2e%75 %6b%2f%53%61%76%65%72%50%72%6f%64%75%63%74%73%2e%6 1%73%70%78%3f%73%6f%75%72%63%65%3d%73%61%76%65%72)

You need to call them but make sure you specifically ask for: "Saver Option 2" which is free - They charge for some others.

but keep your line rental with BT or you'll have a very limited choice of other providers, for other services including internet. if you decide to switch later Many insist on a BT line.

You use the same as me Patr100 but I also use 18185 for all other calls - mobiles, daytime landlines etc as they're the current cheapest of the bunch, or were when I last checked, so make sure those of you still using 18866 and 1899 keep tabs on call charges as they change frequently and were recently more expensive than 18185 :)

tboorman

26/02/2007, 13:25

It's worth having a read of http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1095003038,99872,.

Patr100

26/02/2007, 14:01

It's worth having a read of http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1095003038,99872,.

Yes and then this

http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/ukcallchecker/index.php

-

castro

26/02/2007, 16:00

Patr100

26/02/2007, 17:06

Being a bit dense today. (Come to think of it I'm usually a bit dense.)
I use 18866 at the moment for all my calls. Calls are free but are subjected to a 5p connection charge.(Used to be 0.5p, remember?)
1. If I switch to planet-talk saver option 2, all evening and weekend calls are free, with no connection charge. Is this bit correct?

Calls to UK landlines only - might be up to 90mins then redial not sure. not free for eg mobiles

2. Peak calls cost 2p/min. Is there a connection charge?

For Primus, not as far as I know but don't use them during the day

3. Can I still make calls using 18866 during the day?

Yes, I do and many others

If I can still use 18866 then how does planet-talk make any money from me?

Through the connection charge which happens regardless if you speak to anyone and they hope you will use their other services I guess. The MSE article probably has details.

-----------------

castro

26/02/2007, 17:38

Patr100

26/02/2007, 18:19

Thanks for reply.
Still not clear.
Is there any connection charges to any of their Saver Option 2 services?
If I ONLY use their off peak landline only service do I pay them any money?
If not how long will they leave me connected?

Just checked my online bill - for evening and weekend, there's no connection charge for UK 01 & 02 numbers - just checked the MSE site - talk up to 90 mins - so hang up & redial or you will pay whatever thie rate is dunno what they charge if you over run -

-

apuk

26/02/2007, 19:27

castro

27/02/2007, 13:31

As I subscribe to sky sports, I reckon £5/month for unlimited uk landline calls may be the way to go.

Patr100

27/02/2007, 14:22

Hi All,

I'm on BT option 2 (rental + free weekend/evening calls) which costs £14.70 pm

The problem is my partner tends to use the phone BEFORE 6pm for national calls (phone banking etc) and so my bills are often just over £20! :mad:

Been thinking of going to BT option 3 but just saw that Primus Saver option 3 which is £8.49 pm.

Would that be a better option do you think?

This very helpful post from MSE says it all

PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW SUGGESTIONS RELATE TO STANDARD (P.S.T.N.) TELEPHONY ONLY AND DO NOT CONSIDER VOIP OR 'BUNDLED' TELEPHONY AND BROADBAND OFFERS NOW COMING ONTO THE MARKET. PLEASE REFER TO OTHER THREADS IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ANY OF THOSE.

[1]. Stay with BT for your line rental but make sure you are on BT Together Option 1 (don't pay extra for their International or CallMobile Call Add-ons, they're not worth it). The cost, which includes free basic 1571, Caller Display (see [6] below) and Premium Rate call barring (if you want it/them), is currently £11ж per month incl. VAT if you pay by Direct Debit (£12 per month if you pay any other way). ж£10.75 if you opt for online only billing.

You may be able to find (slightly) cheaper line rental but, if you change, it's likely you'll regret doing so because access to CPS (Carrier PreSelect) providers - such as [2] below - will cease to be available and some of the other options below may cease to be available (e.g. it is known that TalkTalk, even before they put the cost of their line rental up so it was no longer cheaper than BT, had barred some subscribers from using indirect [4 or 5 digit prefix] access codes like the one detailed in point [3]below).

[2]. Sign up for Primus Saver Option 2 as your CPSФ provider. Be very specific about the name of the package - it's not widely advertised and so is not often asked for. Even though there's no monthly subscription charge, that gives you free (up to 90 minutes) evening (6pm to 8am Monday to Friday) and weekend (effectively, 6pm Friday to 8am Monday) calls to UK 01 & 02 numbers. Phone§ 0800 036 0094.

§ It is sometimes possible to earn cashback for changing to the same (or a similar) Primus package via uswitch.com. To do so, click a uswitch.com affiliate link on one of the cashback sites to get to the uswitch.comuswitch.com site (i.e. instead of calling Primus on
the 0800 number above or going to the uswitch.comuswitch.com site direct).

[3]. Sign up online with 18185.co.uk (there's no monthly subscription charge) and use the 18185 prefix for:

(a) weekday (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday) calls to UK 01 & 02 numbers for 5p each (regardless of duration);
(b) calls to UK mobiles (077/078/079 numbers) - 5p connection and 6p/min. weekdays (2p/min. weekends);
(c) weekday evening calls to 0845* numbers - 5p connection and ½p/min. (BT is now cheaper for weekday daytime and weekend 0845 calls);
(d) weekday (6am to 6pm Monday to Friday) calls to 0870* numbers - 5p connection and 6p/min. (BT is now cheaper for evening and weekend 0870 calls).

* If you have to make them and if you can't find a geographic alternative on SayNoTo0870.com

[4]. Use a '1280' prefix to 'hop back onto BT' for all 0844 and 0871 calls, for weekday and weekend 0845 calls and for evening and weekend 0870 calls.

[5]. Use the MSE International Callchecker or Niftylist to find up-to-date details of the cheapest options available for your international calls.

[6]. Call 0800 916 55 44 and use the automated service to get free Caller Display - OK, this isn't a cost reduction item per se (unless you've been paying BT £1.75/month for that service), but it is very handy and it's also fun dumbfounding people by answering them by name when they call! Bear in mind though that BT say they 'reserve the right' to impose a £1.75/month charge for this facility if you don't make at least 2 chargeable calls per month if you are billed monthly (or 6 per quarter if you are billed quarterly).

N.B. I do not imply that the above are always the cheapest options (e.g. the MSE UK Callchecker shows some providers that offer 1p/minute cheaper weekday rates to 0845 numbers and, from time to time, providers offering cheaper rates than 18185 to call mobiles pop up) but, as sensible compromises between money-saving and ease of use, I believe they'll suit most people.

If you follow the above recommendations and decide to purchase one or more Orchid V4 LCRs to implement their use, I'd suggest you ask Orchid to initially program it/them like THIS (the no-cost alternative, of course, is to simply cut and paste the relevant parts and print out a sheet to keep by the 'phone).

Ф Possible alternative CPS providers (depending on your usage pattern)

(i) if you regularly make international calls to any of the following 28 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or USA and are willing to be tied into an 18 month contract, Euphony's £5.99 per month eutalk+18 CPS package may be of interest. Its two main attractions are that it is inclusive of all calls to landlines in those 28 countries, to mobiles in Canada and USA and to UK 01/02 numbers (up to 60 minutes in each case). A £4.99 per month reduction in the charge for the first 6 months (bringing the average monthly cost down to £4.33/month for the 18 months of the initial contract) makes this even more attractive but it has to be remembered that the monthly subscription will apply even when you're away on holiday and not using the 'phone at all. Phone 01256 857 000.

(ii) if you regularly make international calls to any of the following 28 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or USA and are willing to be tied into an 12 month contract, Euphony's £7.25 per month eutalk+12 CPS package may be of interest. Its two main attractions are that it is inclusive of all calls to landlines in those 28 countries, to mobiles in Canada and USA and to UK 01/02 numbers (up to 60 minutes in each case). Remember though that the monthly subscription will apply even when you're away on holiday and not using the 'phone at all. Phone 01256 857 000.

(iii) if you are a Sky subscriber and regularly make international calls to any of the following 10 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain or USA, Sky's £5 per month Sky Talk Unlimited CPS package may be of interest. Its two main attractions are that it is inclusive of all calls to landlines in those 10 countries, to mobiles in Canada and USA and to UK 01/02 numbers (up to 60 minutes in each case). Remember though that the monthly subscription will apply even when you're away on holiday and not using the 'phone at all. Phone 0870 240 3756.

(iv) if you are a Sky subscriber, Sky's free Sky Talk Freetime CPS package is a possible alternative to Primus Saver Option 2. Like the Primus package, even though there's no monthly subscription (except you have to continue being a Sky satellite TV subscriber), it offers free (up to 60 minutes) evening and weekend calls to UK 01 & 02 numbers. However, the 60 (instead of 90) minute limit and the requirement to continue paying a Sky satellite TV subscription means the Primus Saver Option 2 CPS package (see [2] above) remains my primary recommendation

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=4

BlueMax

28/02/2007, 05:05

I tried JaJah last week.
http://www.jajah.com
Cheapest I found for making calls to some countries.
Have low rates for UK numbers also.

surfer_chick

28/02/2007, 09:51

Thanks for reply.
Still not clear.
Is there any connection charges to any of their Saver Option 2 services?
If I ONLY use their off peak landline only service do I pay them any money?
If not how long will they leave me connected?

There are no connection charges whatsoever on the Saver Option 2 package if you only ever make evening/weekend landline calls with them. However, I'm sure I read somewhere that they're not too happy if you consistently have £0.00 monthly bills, although I've not checked the T&C for a long time now.

So, what I do is make one short local call a month during the day, costing just a few pence, and I've never had any problems in the two years I've been a customer :)

BlueMax

28/02/2007, 12:34

I just forked out for a VoIP wireless router and all this talk of free calls was making me depressed. :(

That was till found out that these Planet-Talk people are charging 70p per min to Afghanistan. :eek:

Much further away, for a call to South Korea the charge is only 6p.
Few miles away to North Korea charge goes up to 40p.
:cool:

Patr100

28/02/2007, 13:35

That was till found out that these Planet-Talk people are charging 70p per min to Afghanistan.

Those calls being re routed to Mullah Omar are quite a drain on the pocket.

tboorman

28/02/2007, 20:48

That was till found out that these Planet-Talk people are charging 70p per min to Afghanistan. :eek:

Much further away, for a call to South Korea the charge is only 6p.
Few miles away to North Korea charge goes up to 40p.
:cool:

Do you make many calls to Afghanistan and North Korea then ;)?

BlueMax

01/03/2007, 06:24

Haven't yet. And certainly will not for 70p per min.

I am waiting for a SpeedTouch 780WL that I won at eBay. It has VoIP. :)
I will be making calls all over the world then. And all for NOUGHT :D
Mullah Omar watch out!