Cheapest Home Phones Article Discussion

wannaberich41

Heinz you have totally lost me. Ive looked at your link in your signature. Ive got the free calls after 6pm and weekends with bt. What would you recommend?
51%mobile
44%daytime
1% other
4% 0845 numbers

dawnb4

I have just tried to sign up to Primus saver for calls only (as reccommended in martins guide) but when i selected the free evening and weekend calls option it said it was for a 12 month renewable contract. Martins article said it was on a monthly contract. Am i missing something ? or have they changed since martin's article? :huh:

Heinz

wannaberich41 wrote: »

Heinz you have totally lost me. Ive looked at your link in your signature. Ive got the free calls after 6pm and weekends with bt. What would you recommend?
51%mobile
44%daytime
1% other
4% 0845 numbers

Gordon Brown fooled David Cameron at PMQs by saying he was increasing the number of helicopters in Afghanistan by 60% without actually mentioning numbers (an increase of 60% on a starting figure of 100 would be impressive but an increase on a starting figure of 5 wouldn't be).

On the face of it, your 44% daytime figure appears to indicate that you need an inclusive calls plan (BT's Unlimited Anytime Plan is good value now that it includes 0845 and 0870 calls).

However, as 18185 charges 5p for a UK 01, 02 or 03 call of any duration, how many you make is the missing factor (if your 44% is less than 100 calls, then staying as you are but using 18185 for those weekday daytime cals would be more cost-effective).

dawnb4 wrote: »

I have just tried to sign up to Primus saver for calls only (as reccommended in martins guide) but when i selected the free evening and weekend calls option it said it was for a 12 month renewable contract. Martins article said it was on a monthly contract. Am i missing something ? or have they changed since martin's article? :huh:

No, they haven't changed but their Indian call centre personnel are poorly trained (or well trained depending on your point of view) and don't always tell the truth.

wannaberich41

Hi Heinz

Here is a break down of the calls:-
We made 317 calls and of that 135 were free because we have free calls and weekends contract.
218 calls were to uk phonelines £16.79 7hrs 3mins
68 calls were to mobiles £21.31 1 hr 34 mins
19 calls were to 0845/0870 numbers £1.82 £1.55
7 for others calls (not sure what these are for)£2.16 28mins
5 calls which are return fees (i think this is my daughter being lazy) £0.485.

Can you please advise what you think would best suit me?
Thanks

Heinz

You lost me a little there but, working on 317 calls minus the 135 'free' ones meaning 182 were chargeable and on the basis you mean you're on BT's Unlimited Weekend Plan (i.e. you get inclusive UK 01/02/03/0845/0870 calls of up to 60 minutes each only at weekends), a quick calculation on the £16.79 cost of the 182 chargeable calls shows each cost about 9¼p. I'm not sure how that's possible considering the minimum cost of a daytime call on BT is now 12¼p (8p call set-up free + 4¼p) but, as each would only have cost 5p via 18185, that £16.79 would have been reduced to £9.10 and the 68 calls to mobiles lasting 1hr 34mins would have cost £9.04 instead of £21.31.

So, a £7.69 saving on those 182 calls and a £12.27 saving on those mobile calls. £20 back in your pocket without difficulty.

Clearly, that's not accurate but it certainly shows there are savings to be made (after you've recovered the 48½p from the lazy DD's pocket money).

I'd say prudent use of 18185 for 01/02/03 and mobile calls would be a good start but further research on when the calls were made might mean a change to either BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan (or even their Unlimited Anytime Plan) might be worthwhile.

wannaberich41

How clear are the calls on the 18185. i used to call thorugh pc with a head set and no one could ever hear me. Also is it a contract?
I also couldnt understand hos some of the calculations were made.
I have already opted for the free evening and weekend calls

Heinz

18185 calls are much better than VOIP calls - almost like calls via BT in fact. I reckon I've had 4 or 5 on which I've had to hang up and re-dial in the more than 4 years I've been using them.

There's no contract - use or don't use (I still have a [sister company] 1899 account which hasn't been used for over a year - and there's still £1 owing but they've not bothered billing me) as you like/need.

sparkle2amanda

Hi, iam in a contract with sky for my phone, televison and broaband which is really good value - my only complaint is there is no way of barring calls to mobiles - i have two teenage children and my monthly bills are through the roof - does anyone know if there is a house phone that i can buy with the facility of barring calls to moibile phones !!!

Thanks very much Amanda xx

Heinz

Get a Commtel Phone Guard for each live socket and program it (them) to allow only the types of calls you want to let the teenagers make.

sparkle2amanda

Thank you very much - i will get one today !!!! x