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'6-steps' to reducing costs for BT residential landline subscribers (10 October 2007)
PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW SUGGESTIONS RELATE TO STANDARD (P.S.T.N.) TELEPHONY ONLY AND DO NOT CONSIDER INTERNET (VOIP) TELEPHONY OR 'BUNDLED' BROADBAND AND VOICE TELEPHONY OFFERS NOW ON 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 Add-ons, they're not worth it). The cost, which includes free basic 1571 (but please don't use that), Caller Display (see step [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 (£12.50 per month if you pay any other way). ж£10.50 if you opt for online only billing too.


[2]. Sign up for Primus Saver Option 2 and ask also for the Penny Mobile 2 add-on (the latter caps calls to UK mobiles at 20p for up to 20 minutes) as your Carrier PreSelect (CPS)Ф calls provider. Be very specific about the name of the package and the add-on - they're not widely advertised and so are not often asked for. Even though there's no monthly subscription charge, that gives you free evening (6pm to 8am Monday to Friday) and weekend (effectively, 6pm Friday to 8am Monday) calls of up to 90 minutes each to UK 01 & 02 numbers. Phone§ 0800 036 0094.


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

(a) weekday daytime (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday) calls to UK 01, 02 & 03 numbers - 5p each (regardless of duration);
(b) all calls to 056 numbers - 5p each (regardless of duration);
(c) short calls (less than 2 minutes during the week or less than 5 minutes at the weekend) to UK mobiles (075, 077, 078 & 079 numbers) - 5p connection + 6p/min. weekdays (3p/min. weekends);
(d) weekday evening and weekend calls* to 0845 numbers - 5p connection + ½p/min.;
(e) weekday daytime and weekend calls* to 0870 numbers - 5p connection + 6p/min. & 5p connection + 2p/min. respectively. [4]. Use a '1280' prefix to 'hop back onto BT' for all 0500, 055, 080x, 0844, 0871, 00800 (international freephone), weekday daytime 0845 and weekday evening 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 121 8000 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. Bear in mind though that BT impose a £1.75/month charge for this facility if you don't make at least 2 chargeable calls via them 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 0870 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 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 of this post 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. Not all experiences of Euphony are positive though. 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. Not all experiences of Euphony are positive though. 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 you must continue paying a Sky satellite TV subscription (minimum £15/month) to qualify and that the additional 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 - which will cost you a minimum of £15/month at Sky's standard prices), 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.

'The Heinz Program 01 August 2007'
Having suggested to my daughter that she take advantage of the MSE 20% discount and get an Orchid V4 LCR to 'tame' her family's telephone use, I was looking for a list of 'recommended settings' for her to [EMAIL="sales@orchid-electronics.com"]e-mail to Orchid[/EMAIL] as her 'Initial Programming Requirements'.

Not finding one, I had to come up with my own - taking into account that she has a BT landline, Primus Saver Option 2 CPS (free E&W UK 01 & 02 calls), 1899*, 18185 & 18866* accounts and five children. Yes, you're absolutely right, that last bit's not really relevant to the programming - but it was the reason the Orchid was needed! :kisses2: Like father, like daughter!

Click HERE to see how to implement the below program with the minimum of effort.

01/02/03 numbers ►►
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Monday to Friday) - 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 6am Monday to Friday) - no routing (via CPS)
Weekends (6pm Friday to 6am Monday) - no routing (via CPS)

0500 (Freephone) and 055 (VoIP) numbers Ф►
At all times - 1280 prefix

056 (VoIP numbers) Ф
At all times - 18185 prefix

NEW ENTRY 06 (New Personal Numbering range) numbers
1 AUG. 07-Bar

070 (Personal Numbering) numbers►
Bar

075, 077, 078 & 079 (UK mobile) numbers►
At all times - 18185 prefix [FONT=&quot]□[/FONT]

080 (Freephone) numbers ■►
At all times - 1280 prefix

0844 numbers►
At all times - 1280 prefix

0845 numbers►
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Monday to Friday) - 1280 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 6am Monday to Friday) - 18185 prefix
AMENDED ENTRY 1 AUG. 07 Weekends (6pm Friday to 6am Monday) - 18185 prefix

0870 numbers►
Weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Monday to Friday) - 18185 prefix
Weekday evenings (6pm to 6am Monday to Friday) - 1280 prefix
AMENDED ENTRY 1 AUG. 07 Weekends (6pm Friday to 6am Monday) - 18185 prefix

0871 numbers►
At all times - 1280 prefix

09 (Premium Rate) numbers►
Bar

00 (international) numbers►
At all times - 18185 prefix

00800 (UIFNs - Universal International Freephone numbers)►
At all times - 1280 prefix

00979 (UIPRNs - Universal International Premium Rate numbers)►
Bar

118xxx (Directory Enquiry) numbers►
At all times - Digit Translate 118xxx to 1280118226 §

123 (Timeline / Speaking Clock)►
Bar

192 (the old Directory Enquiry number)►
At all times - Digit Translate to 1280118226 §

► For local 01 / 02 calls (i.e. calls to numbers in the same STD code area as you), the V4 auto-inserts the 3 or 5 digits of your 'home' STD code - so you don't have to dial them (Orchid's system detects your STD code when you first install your V4 and force it to call home and then includes it in the download).

Ф Apart from (freephone) 0500, the use of the 05 number range is relatively new but BT's published rates show there are two specific charging rates for 05 calls (charge rates g6 and g21). However, because 18185 doesn't carry 055 calls (14 sub-ranges of which are BT g21 rate and 3 of which are BT g6 rate) but treats 056 numbers (all of which are BT g21 rate) the same as standard UK 01/02 numbers (i.e. 5p connection and 0p/minute), it is the obvious choice of carrier for such calls. Other providers either don't publish their (BT g6 and g21) rates or their rates are extremely difficult to find so, as with the routing of 0844 and 0871 calls, routing 055 calls via BT will eliminate any possibility of 'surprise' call charges.

[FONT=&quot]□[/FONT] Remember to override the dialler by using the 121 prefix if you know your call to a UK mobile is going to be over 2 minutes during the week (or over 5 minutes at the weekend). Those are the points at which Primus Penny Mobile's capped price of 20p for up to 20 minutes becomes more cost-effective than the program's use of 18185.

■ Primus went through a period of charging for 0800 and 0808 (freephone) calls in error and, although customers obtained refunds without difficulty and it's unlikely to happen again, this programming eliminates the possibility.

§ 118226 currently appears to be the least expensive standard DQ provider - charging a flat rate of 23.5p for up to two enquiries.

§ A free DQ service, funded by making users listen to advertisements when they call, is now available from 118FREE (0800 118 3733). When calling that number, an announcement appears to require pre-registration in order to use the service but, currently, that is not necessary. As a result, some may want to use this free service rather than paying 23½p to call 118226. Nevertheless, because of the delay caused by the adverts, because of the uncertainty about how long registration-free use will be possible and, most importantly, for the reasons below, 118226 remains the DQ recommendation in the program.

N.B. I was initially at a loss to understand why a service allegedly funded by subjecting users to advertisements when they call requires any 'registration' whatsoever but the registration page may be a clue. Apart from requiring potential users to provide their telephone number, the unnecessary personal details required would, IMHO, be extremely useful to cold callers, spammers and scammers. Consequently, I suggest readers think long and hard if they consider registering if (when) doing so becomes compulsory.

There may well be cheaper options for some calls (e.g. without doubt, 18185 is not the cheapest to all international destinations and better rates for calling UK mobiles become available from time to time) but the above is designed for ease of use and, as far as possible, to eliminate the need to review or change settings more frequently than, say, once a month or once every couple of months.

*The 1899 and 18866 accounts are currently unused but have not been closed.