1899/18866/18185 constantly busy! (merged)

crossleydd42

Maybe there are lots of people using it for long Sunday calls and it's even more under pressure in the runup to Xmas.

ffym

Yes, I've found it always seems busiest on Sundays!
Not a problem anymore because since they've hiked thier prices up I'm using 1899 and 18185.

D'North

Seems strange - we've used 18866 today with no probs. We do get occasional faliures where it doesn't seem to recognise a number, but otherwise OK.

ginger_nuts

surely you should only be using 18866/1899/ on a Sunday for international calls .
shouldnt you be getting FREE 01 & 02 calls at weekends and using 18185 for moblies .

trisha

skronk wrote:

Does anyone else suffer from constant engaged tones on a Sunday. This is the 3rd week we are unable to use the service!!! Strange. Only on Sunday!!!

Skronk

We have been getting engaged tones constantly today :-(
I think I may report a fault on the web site.
It's very frustrating.

bbb_uk

It is possible for both Call18866/1899 to be really busy and oversubscribed during the weekends as its the busiest time of the week. This problem happens every weekend but it appears to be an area type problem as some people have problems in certain areas more than others.

There is a very, very, very long thread here about it.

Most regular MSE's use an alternative carrier like Primus Talk(Planet Talk), OneTel, TalkTalk, Tele2, JDS, etc at the weekend as all these providers do free weekend calls to geographical numbers even on their basic package. These providers are really only available for those paying line rental to BT. Those on NTL/T'west can't use these providers but I believe even T'West do free weekend calls now and NTL do free local weekend calls.

utilitybroker

Its only parts of the UK that have congestion problems as bbb_uk points out.On the South Coast where i am its fine.But i use a free e&w supplier anyway to make 01/02 calls.

PS.Should you not consider switching to 1899? its cheaper 3p connection, instead of 4p on 18866!

Heinz

skronk wrote:

Does anyone else suffer from constant engaged tones on a Sunday. This is the 3rd week we are unable to use the service!!! Strange. Only on Sunday!!!

Skronk

Someone starts a thread like this every weekend - re 1899, 18866 or 18185.

The problem appears to be capacity - but only in certain parts of the country.

Although I had hardly ever suffered from this problem, I opted for a CPS provider which gave me free UK 01/02 calls at the weekend (purely because I'm tight - the saving is less than £2 a month). That is now reaping an additional benefit - distancing myself from the sort of problem you're having.

Can't you sign up to for a CPS which'll give you free weekend and evening UK 01/02 calls?

utilitybroker wrote:

Should you not consider switching to 1899? its cheaper 3p connection, instead of 4p on 18866!

And no chance of a 118866 misdial - and £1.50 down the drain.

jellygoodfellow

If you do not want to change from 18866,you might as well use BT to call 01/02 numbers at Evenings And Weekends on the days you cant get through. After all they only charge 5.5p for a 60 minute call,as opposed to 18866 4p.(Just 1.5p extra a call, and you normally get through from anywhere in UK).

ginger_nuts

jellygoodfellow wrote:

If you do not want to change from 18866,you might as well use BT to call 01/02 numbers at Evenings And Weekends on the days you cant get through. After all they only charge 5.5p for a 60 minute call,as opposed to 18866 4p.(Just 1.5p extra a call, and you normally get through from anywhere in UK).

better still get free evening & weekend calls