Are 18866 and 1899 sustainable?

jacana_2

Are the prices offered by these companies sustainable (e.g. 1p only for a UK call) or is this a ploy to attract customers and attention before an eventual price rise?

Steve_xx

Who knows? They've been running for some time now. Take advantage while you can.............

PTLD

there is no way that they're making money on free calls [except for 1p connection] in UK... + some of their int. call rates are good for consumers but are also silly

+ their other companies [under same Swiss ownership] provide similarly nutty low rates.... even with advent of VOIP or VOB theres NO WAY they can make money.

so question is: how the hell do they survive...?

I really think OfCom should look into them....
As much a we all enjoy low/non-existent pricing, in a market-led economy it just doesn't bode well for any future R&D etc

Edinburghlass_2

Well I signed up for 18866 more than a year ago when Martin first mentioned it on here and my calls to NZ have only now gone up from 1p to 2p a minute, so I would say they are obviously making money somewhere along the line.

Also in reply to the first poster, if you don't use them they don't get any money so its hardly a ploy to gain new customers. TalkTalk for instance giving free calls for a year is in my opinion a ploy to get new customers because they are working on the assumption that after the year is up you will remain with them and pay the £4.99 a month. Which of course all us savvy MSE users won't be doing because by then we will be after the next offer

Finishrich

there is no way that they're making money on free calls [except for 1p connection] in UK... + some of their int. call rates are good for consumers but are also silly

+ their other companies [under same Swiss ownership] provide similarly nutty low rates.... even with advent of VOIP or VOB theres NO WAY they can make money.

so question is: how the hell do they survive...?

I really think OfCom should look into them....
As much a we all enjoy low/non-existent pricing, in a market-led economy it just doesn't bode well for any future R&D etc

I'm not into telecommunications but they must be making some money from some part of their business. Let's face it now we can see that we've been paying highly inflated prices for years. The USA have had free local calls for as long as I can remember, sometime we never got with BT.

System

I FEEL GUILTY !, yes guilty to talktalk because so far, they haven't made any money out of me. I use them evenings and weekends for free. I dial a prefix of 1280 if I need to use a 0845 or 0870 number.

I only use 1899 to call Spain and 18866 for daily calls.

My poor old mobile with it's 120 cross network minutes are gathering as we speak, in fact I have several hours heaped up.

Yeh, I sure feel guilty.

jacana_2

Do you have to leave BT to join TalkTalk? Do 18866 and 1899 still work on TalkTalk?

My BT line rental is paid for by work (only if I stay with BT) so would I have to forfeit this if I joined TalkTalk?

PTLD

I FEEL GUILTY !,

My poor old mobile with it's 120 cross network minutes are gathering as we speak, in fact I have several hours heaped up.
.

Shouldn't have thought several hours as i don't think many mobile plans allow you to roll-over more than a coupla months [ 3 tops] anymore!

sergeant121

Do you have to leave BT to join TalkTalk? Do 18866 and 1899 still work on TalkTalk?

My BT line rental is paid for by work (only if I stay with BT) so would I have to forfeit this if I joined TalkTalk?

No. In fact, you can't (TalkTalk is a Carrier PreSelect [CPS] service for which you need a landline).

Talk2 is their promotional offer this month.

So, you keep your BT landline - but make sure you're on BT Together Option 1 - and pay BT only the line rental (£10.50 per month if you pay by DD or £11.50 if you pay any other way).

Yes, 1899 and 18866 work with TalkTalk (as does 1280 to hop back onto BT for those 0845 and 0870 calls if you really have to make then).

Scooby_Saver_2

Hi,

Where I see they make money is:

0845 / 0870 / Mobiles connections fee,s

I personally think that alot buiness users just hammered the 18866 / 1899 hence the conection fee,s and general price increase.

Like alot other people said on other subjects in the forum this web site can become a victim of its own success the up side is that alot good peeps and sense of helpfullness betwwen members

gt94sss2

No. In fact, you can't (TalkTalk is a Carrier PreSelect [CPS] service for which you need a landline).

Talk2 is their promotional offer this month.

So, you keep your BT landline - but make sure you're on BT Together Option 1 - and pay BT only the line rental (£10.50 per month if you pay by DD or £11.50 if you pay any other way).

Yes, 1899 and 18866 work with TalkTalk (as does 1280 to hop back onto BT for those 0845 and 0870 calls if you really have to make then).

and if you are referred to Talkalk you can get another £20/30 just for joining TalkTalk!

Regards
Sunil