TheGame7. Apologies for the delay in replying - I've been out all day.
I'm going to assume you have opted for the free Sky Talk Freetime package and have (sensibly IMHO) left your line rental with BT (i.e. are just using the Sky package as your CPS calls provider).
If so, just the 1280 prefix will allow you to 'hop back onto BT' for an individual call (i.e. one for which BT is cheaper) and just the 18185 prefix will allow you to make an individual call via 18185.
Opting for a CPS means you have the BT exchange programmed to, by default, send your calls via the CPS provider instead of BT. Using a 1280 prefix overrides that programming for a single call and sends that call via BT. Similarly, using a 18185 prefix overrides that programming for a single call and sends that call via 18185.
Only chargeable calls prefixed with just 1280 will 'count' towards 'nearly free' caller display.
I always recommend gateway providers' numbers (0844/0871) are prefixed with 1280 so that the well-published BT charges for such calls appear on your BT bill, rather than the difficult-to-find (and possibly more expensive) CPS providers' rates being charged.
The 'short mobile calls' comment in paragraph [3] in my 6-steps only applies to those who are on Primus Saver Option 2 CPS with the Penny Mobile 2 add-on as recommended in paragraph [2]. As you're on Sky Talk CPS instead, I'd recommend all your calls to UK mobiles are routed via 18185.
Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
TheGame7. I'm going to assume you have opted for the free Sky Talk Freetime package and have (sensibly IMHO) left your line rental with BT (i.e. are just using the Sky package as your CPS calls provider). Heinz - Have always taken your advice re. phone calls but as we are retired didn't bother with the Orchid dialler. My query to you is this: I am currently with Primus for Broadband (with free evening & week-end calls). My first year is up and they are offering a good deal of up to 8Mb unlimited per month (same calls deal) but it does involve switching line rental to them, plus an 18-month contract with first month's line rental free. Noting your advice to leave line rental with BT I tried but they will not offer any deal except to continue at £17.99 per month for BB and the calls package. (this was discounted in the 1st year). Should I accept the 18-month deal? Have looked around and there are so many complaints about Customer Service with many of the other ISPs, I am a bit worried about changing. Your advice would be very welcome.
Sorry theloft, I don't think I can advise on that.
I live in a village of about 2½ thousand homes and take the cowards' option of sticking with BT for landline and broadband (but you know my calls provider choices). When there's no competition, getting a reliable service is top of my list.
Having said that, I have managed to negotiate the cost of my (approx 8mb) BT Total Broadband 1 down a fair bit (I'm currently paying the equivalent of £11.99/month on an 18 month contract and have recently received a new router f.o.c.).
The only thing I would mention to you is that, if you 'hand over' your line rental to Primus, they would then have the ability to bar your access to the likes of 1899 and 18185 and you'd lose the ability to dial the 1280 prefix to send certain calls out on BT (e.g. some 0845/0870 calls - for which Primus charges BT's un-discounted rates).
Additionally, if you ever wanted to return to BT, it's (increasingly, it seems) possible that they'd charge you £124.99 (or the going rate at the time) for reconnection.
Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
Sorry theloft, I don't think I can advise on that.
Heinz, hope you don't mind the edit, but thought I would let you know that Primus have now got a new deal (started this week). Phone line stays with BT, 12-month contract BB, unlimited download with speeds up to 8Mbps for £14 per month. Free evening and wek-end calls with the Option 2 plan. You have to agree to electronic billing, but I am happy with that and their service, so have decided to stay put.
The disadvantages of remaining on BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Call Plan - formerly known at BT Together Option 2 (i.e. not opting for Primus Saver Option 2 / Penny Mobile 2 CPS too) are:
a) Free UK 01/02/03 evening and weekend calls are limited to 60 minutes each instead of 90 minutes; b) Calls to UK mobiles of up to 20 minutes for a flat rate 20p are not available
c) You have to sign to sign up to a 12 month rolling contract to get the free evening calls without paying the additional monthly fee, which for all intents and purposes is contract in perpituity! Why tie yourself in (and possibly restrict yourself with other options) when with Primus you only need a month's notice?
d) The free evening weekday calls end at 6am with BT. With Primus they end at 8AM. No contest!
I meant to ask with my last post whether this still applies (ie: unable to "hop back onto BT") if you have Sky Talk CPS.....BUT.....your line rental is still with BT?
I meant to ask with my last post whether this still applies (ie: unable to "hop back onto BT") if you have Sky Talk CPS.....BUT.....your line rental is still with BT?
Welcome to the MSE forums Pugazerila.
Yes, it appears BT Wholesale is now offering a calls package to CPS providers which somehow allows them to 'ignore' a 1280 prefix dialled by the end-user. I believe Sky and Talk Talk are making use of the new money-making opportunity.
I think it would be an interesting test case if someone challenged BT Retail, who sells the line rental with at least their Unlimited Weekend Calls Plan to the CPS customer, alleging they are in breach of contract in that the customer is prevented from making use of that Calls Plan.
I can't be bothered at the moment though - Primus are not changing to that system (yet).
Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
Thanks for helping a newbie.
Does Sky Talk CPS also "ignore" 18185 prefix calls. I'd like to be able to have the the FREE calls to UK Landlines and 20 various countries for only £5.00 per month through "Sky Talk Unlimited" but still be able to use 18185 for other countries. Also, assume I would still be able to route 0844 "callthroughs" via SKY at the same prices I'm currently paying BT.
Thanks for helping a newbie.
Does Sky Talk CPS also "ignore" 18185 prefix calls. I'd like to be able to have the the FREE calls to UK Landlines and 20 various countries for only £5.00 per month through "Sky Talk Unlimited" but still be able to use 18185 for other countries. Also, assume I would still be able to route 0844 "callthroughs" via SKY at the same prices I'm currently paying BT.
The 18185 part of your post is interesting. I believe you can still use the prefix but, logically. if they can ignore the 1280 prefix, what's to stop them ignoring the 18185 prefix too?
With regard to 0844 gateways, I don't know whether Sky charges the same as BT (some @ ½p/minute, some at 1p/minute and so on) but bear in mind Virgin have blocked some - so, again, Sky appear to have that option available too.
Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
Replies
I'm going to assume you have opted for the free Sky Talk Freetime package and have (sensibly IMHO) left your line rental with BT (i.e. are just using the Sky package as your CPS calls provider).
If so, just the 1280 prefix will allow you to 'hop back onto BT' for an individual call (i.e. one for which BT is cheaper) and just the 18185 prefix will allow you to make an individual call via 18185.
Opting for a CPS means you have the BT exchange programmed to, by default, send your calls via the CPS provider instead of BT. Using a 1280 prefix overrides that programming for a single call and sends that call via BT. Similarly, using a 18185 prefix overrides that programming for a single call and sends that call via 18185.
Only chargeable calls prefixed with just 1280 will 'count' towards 'nearly free' caller display.
I always recommend gateway providers' numbers (0844/0871) are prefixed with 1280 so that the well-published BT charges for such calls appear on your BT bill, rather than the difficult-to-find (and possibly more expensive) CPS providers' rates being charged.
The 'short mobile calls' comment in paragraph [3] in my 6-steps only applies to those who are on Primus Saver Option 2 CPS with the Penny Mobile 2 add-on as recommended in paragraph [2]. As you're on Sky Talk CPS instead, I'd recommend all your calls to UK mobiles are routed via 18185.
I live in a village of about 2½ thousand homes and take the cowards' option of sticking with BT for landline and broadband (but you know my calls provider choices). When there's no competition, getting a reliable service is top of my list.
Having said that, I have managed to negotiate the cost of my (approx 8mb) BT Total Broadband 1 down a fair bit (I'm currently paying the equivalent of £11.99/month on an 18 month contract and have recently received a new router f.o.c.).
The only thing I would mention to you is that, if you 'hand over' your line rental to Primus, they would then have the ability to bar your access to the likes of 1899 and 18185 and you'd lose the ability to dial the 1280 prefix to send certain calls out on BT (e.g. some 0845/0870 calls - for which Primus charges BT's un-discounted rates).
Additionally, if you ever wanted to return to BT, it's (increasingly, it seems) possible that they'd charge you £124.99 (or the going rate at the time) for reconnection.
The disadvantages of remaining on BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Call Plan - formerly known at BT Together Option 2 (i.e. not opting for Primus Saver Option 2 / Penny Mobile 2 CPS too) are:
a) Free UK 01/02/03 evening and weekend calls are limited to 60 minutes each instead of 90 minutes;
b) Calls to UK mobiles of up to 20 minutes for a flat rate 20p are not available
c) You have to sign to sign up to a 12 month rolling contract to get the free evening calls without paying the additional monthly fee, which for all intents and purposes is contract in perpituity! Why tie yourself in (and possibly restrict yourself with other options) when with Primus you only need a month's notice?
d) The free evening weekday calls end at 6am with BT. With Primus they end at 8AM. No contest!
Yes, it appears BT Wholesale is now offering a calls package to CPS providers which somehow allows them to 'ignore' a 1280 prefix dialled by the end-user. I believe Sky and Talk Talk are making use of the new money-making opportunity.
I think it would be an interesting test case if someone challenged BT Retail, who sells the line rental with at least their Unlimited Weekend Calls Plan to the CPS customer, alleging they are in breach of contract in that the customer is prevented from making use of that Calls Plan.
I can't be bothered at the moment though - Primus are not changing to that system (yet).
Does Sky Talk CPS also "ignore" 18185 prefix calls. I'd like to be able to have the the FREE calls to UK Landlines and 20 various countries for only £5.00 per month through "Sky Talk Unlimited" but still be able to use 18185 for other countries. Also, assume I would still be able to route 0844 "callthroughs" via SKY at the same prices I'm currently paying BT.
With regard to 0844 gateways, I don't know whether Sky charges the same as BT (some @ ½p/minute, some at 1p/minute and so on) but bear in mind Virgin have blocked some - so, again, Sky appear to have that option available too.