Call18866 now supports Direct Debit!

bbb_uk · 27 May 2005 at 1:56PM

Hi all,

Having just read this thread by dizzydux I noticed that he mentioned Direct Debit (DB) option within his post so having checked into it, I noticed that I'm now given the option to pay by Direct Debit.

This is very new as far as i'm aware, I hadn't read it anywhere else on this forum (I did do a search) and MSE Martin hasn't mentioned it in his UKs Cheapest Home Phone Calls Provider article. Martin you may wish to update your article with regards to this.

According to Call18866's FAQs, it still mentions they don't do payment via DB!

Can anyone confirm if Call1899 now has this facility?

UPDATE: Someone has managed to signup to Call18866 via the Direct Debit method so it must be running now!

dizzydux · 27 May 2005 at 3:24PM

Hi, after I read your post I went in to 18866 again to get the Direct Debit Mandate submitted, but still no joy. I gave up & went in to my debit card & got that accepted.
Which seems to indicate that although it offers the option and allows you to easily complete the Direct Debit Mandate, it is NOT actually up & running yet but still being sorted.
Though why the reply from the helpdesk didn't say not available yet I don't know.

bbb_uk · 27 May 2005 at 3:32PM

It may explain why their FAQ's still state they don't support Direct Debits yet. As you say, they're probably in the middle of getting it up and running and working!

Nicholas · 28 May 2005 at 7:25AM

I have successfully registered using the direct debit method.

Phone line was working within minutes and e-mail with customer number was not far behind.

Unfortunately, 10 hours later, I still cannot access my account online. How long should this take? Their website advises waiting a day (or do they mean until next day?) and then e-mailing them.

I have e-mailed them already this morning. Not bothered if I get a reply or not so long as they sort out my account login.

Come on 18866.com. Pull your finger out. I want to order my Orchid dialler but am not prepared to invest the money until I know my account is running smoothly.

bbb_uk · 28 May 2005 at 10:19AM

Hopefully you're just having temporary problems as I could access my account once they created pretty quickly.

BTW, I assume you know you can get 20% off the dialler now if you order online? See this (updated) thread.

Personally, I think the diallers are worth it anyhow even without the fact that they are saving me money on calls as I use them to block premium rate and mobile calls. That facility on BT would cost me £1.75 per month (£21 for the year) compared to about £15 for the dialler.

Nicholas · 28 May 2005 at 6:00PM

Still having problems accessing my account. After sending 18866 an e-mail at 6:30 this morning, I get a reply 2:20 this afternoon, explaining child-like how to input the numbers into the login screen.

Must say I am very disappointed so far. I know that they are a no-frills organisation. Did not mind the wait for the e-mail, but basically the answer they gave means that I have wasted 7 hours, and now have to e-mail them again. I suspect it will be at least 7 hours before I get another (hopefully not so daft) reply.

Just wondering if they do not get the matter sorted before they start taking money from my account would technically be a breach of direct debit rules, as I am supposed to know in advance the amounts that will be taken.

REALLY glad that I was able to sign up with direct debit, because if they have not sorted the matter by the end of next week, I will cancel their direct debit. (Only used the service once so far, so only owe them 2p).

What exactly do I have to do to spell out in plain English that I cannot log into my account, although correctly using the information that they have supplied.

Very disappointed. Beginning to wonder if it is worth the aggro just to save a few pounds a month.

bbb_uk · 28 May 2005 at 7:16PM

Have you tried accessing their site from another computer to ensure it isn't your computer that is causing the problem? If you can access it from another computer then the problem is your computer but if you can't then email them once more and say you you have followed exactly the instructions given and you can't access your account from another computer (this will tell them it isn't limited to your computer). Was you clear about what you can't access (ie. account not recognised or clicking on a link doesn't do anything once you're in your account area, etc)?

margaret_3 · 28 May 2005 at 7:25PM

The same thing happened to me Nicholas, and the reason was that I had been leaving a space between my area code and the number.
No spaces!!!!
Hope this is all that's wrong with yours too.
Margaret

Nicholas · 28 May 2005 at 7:53PM

margaret wrote:

The same thing happened to me Nicholas, and the reason was that I had been leaving a space between my area code and the number.
No spaces!!!!
Hope this is all that's wrong with yours too.
Margaret

Unfortunately not. I was not leaving any spaces.

Nicholas · 28 May 2005 at 7:55PM

bbb_uk wrote:

Have you tried accessing their site from another computer to ensure it isn't your computer that is causing the problem? If you can access it from another computer then the problem is your computer but if you can't then email them once more and say you you have followed exactly the instructions given and you can't access your account from another computer (this will tell them it isn't limited to your computer). Was you clear about what you can't access (ie. account not recognised or clicking on a link doesn't do anything once you're in your account area, etc)?

Perhaps I will try another computer. However, this is the message I am getting after hitting the login button:

Login Error (4):

The account number/telephone number you entered is incorrect. Please check your 18866 account number and try again. You can find your 18866 account number in the confirmation email from 18866 or you can call our freephone number 0808 170 170 8 from a registered telephone. You must enter the main telephone number with which you initially registered.

Edinburghlass_2 · 28 May 2005 at 8:02PM

Perhaps another angle to try is what browser are you using to access the internet? People were having problems seeing the padlock on 18866 some time back using IE whereas users of Firefox had no problems.

Just a suggestion.

I have to access my account on the pc using 0044 before the number but when I tried last week from the laptop it accepted my phone number without the international code.

Call18866 now supports Direct Debit!

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