Sky Talk

Irishorangutan

Hello,

It's been a while since I've done a shakeup of my bills, so it starts today with the phone.

I'm currently using Sky Talk, (£5 per month for unlimited local and national landline calls) but I find on average I'm spending an extra £3-5 per month on top of the fee, due to 0845 numbers (Banking usually).

I work from home so do make the occasional national and 0845 call during the day, but I'm actually surprised at how little I phone. I must be working away more than I think - and using my mobile!

So, I'm going to cancel Sky Talk today, but can anyone suggest a good alternative?

My line rental is with BT just now (£10.50 per month) and I used to use various combinations of numbers for different calls (can't remember the actual ones but when they were 1p connection fee to call and you dialled in to their service) so not afraid to use a combo to save costs.

On another note, I'm cutting my sky bill today, before anyone suggests I do - as I'm aware you need to spend over £200 per year on SKY to get Talk.

Any help greatly appreciated.

:j

Heinz

Apart from using a mobile, Sky is the most expensive calls provider for 0845 and 0870 calls so, IMHO, you're doing the right think in ditching them (particularly now that they can - and do - ignore the 1280 prefix so you can't use BT for those calls or for your 'qualifying' calls for free BT Caller Display and/or basic 1571).

Please see the HERE link in my signature below for alternative suggestions.

Irishorangutan

Thanks very much for that, a big help! I've been looking around the site for info and yours is the most in depth! Thanks!

neil40

Im with Sky Talk for calls just now.Got the unlimited package free for 6 months but with the 1280 situation, i think i will go back to BT because proberly Primus will go the same way soon so it is'nt as good value as it used to be by using another provider for your calls.

Irishorangutan

Hi Neil - notice we are both from Aberdeen!

The BT option (£4.95) is actually pretty reasonable at the moment so definitely an option. I suppose it depends on whether I/you can be disciplined enough to use the various options to get ultimate cheap calls, or go for an all-in package. Certainly BT is a heck of a lot cheaper than it was in the past, and it's cheap to 0845 which is a bonus if you use phone banking or similar.

jhp

You need to regularly be making at least 99 peak geographical calls a month to cover the BT £4.95 option. Otherwise your better off taking the Free Evening and Weekend Call option and using it in conjunction with 18185 for your peak geographical, mobile, and certain NGN calls.

Their is no need to remember what access code to dial if you invest in a Orchid Dialler.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=518161

Irishorangutan

Ok, setting up was my main concern. I've put off buying an orchid dialler for years. I've taken the easy route I suppose. Are they easy enough to set up?

confused1

What is the rate for dialling the actual number 18185, please?

jhp wrote: »

You need to regularly be making at least 99 peak geographical calls a month to cover the BT £4.95 option. Otherwise your better off taking the Free Evening and Weekend Call option and using it in conjunction with 18185 for your peak geographical, mobile, and certain NGN calls.

Their is no need to remember what access code to dial if you invest in a Orchid Dialler.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=518161

Heinz

Using 18185 allows you to make calls to UK 01, 02 and 03 numbers for 5p each, regardless of duration. 18185 bill you for those calls direct (online only billing).