International and UK CallChecker Discussion Area

engcbw

Can anyone help explain how I can use this call checker to discover the cheapest way my son can use his O2 mobile to make calls whilst he is travelling around eastern europe?

Many thanks

iamsam

engcbw wrote: »

Can anyone help explain how I can use this call checker to discover the cheapest way my son can use his O2 mobile to make calls whilst he is travelling around eastern europe?

Try the 'Roaming: Cheapest mobile calls when you're abroad' article.

engcbw

Thanks iamsam - have looked at this but it seems to imply that every time you cross a border you would have to put a new sim in your phone, is that really the case do you know?

iamsam

engcbw wrote: »

Thanks iamsam - have looked at this but it seems to imply that every time you cross a border you would have to put a new sim in your phone, is that really the case do you know?

If memory serves, it offers multiple suggestions depending on level of savings/hassle you want.

One of the more popular options seems to be getting a designated travel SIM. This would be used when travelling, but wouldn't need to changed crossing every border - just when back in the UK.

In your case, I'm not sure how their much their call charges cost compared to O2 (check what international options/bolt-ons O2 have). Crucially, they're free (in a lot of countries) to receive incoming calls.

This is an example of two sites offering travel SIM cards.
http://www.0044.co.uk/global-sim-card.htm (gives a +44 number)
http://www.sim4travel.com/ (gives a +423 number)

These are by no means the only examples (or necessarily the cheapest - that, I'm afraid, is just something you just need to research). It'll likely be cheaper for you to phone him on the +44 (which is an Isle Of Man number), as opposed to the +423 (which is Lichtenstein.

redux

engcbw wrote: »

Thanks iamsam - have looked at this but it seems to imply that every time you cross a border you would have to put a new sim in your phone, is that really the case do you know?

Read the discussion thread for that article, as there are some more ideas, and also new developments since the article was written, like O2's My Europe Extra (post #78).

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2530781#post2530781

am_bain

Hi can anyone help me please
daughter has moved to Spain to work and I can only phone her on the works mobile phone which starts 0034. I am on virgin media when I phoned them it was 49p a min or if I pay £1.50 a month they will charge me 22p a min I was wondering if I can use another number or is it only if you have a BT line.
very confused

Heinz

Virgin Media have started blocking gateway providers but you may be lucky for a while - there are some providers offering 9p/minute rates to call Spanish mobiles via 0871 gateway numbers on the MSE Callchecker.

satellitebadger

am_bain wrote: »

Hi can anyone help me please
daughter has moved to Spain to work and I can only phone her on the works mobile phone which starts 0034. I am on virgin media when I phoned them it was 49p a min or if I pay £1.50 a month they will charge me 22p a min I was wondering if I can use another number or is it only if you have a BT line.
very confused

Hello

The MSE Callchecker on this site suggests the following as the cheapest providers at 9p/min to call a Spanish mobile:

0844calls 9p/min
(0871 343 2727)

DiscountDial 9p/min
(0871 343 8282)

These are called dial-through providers - you dial the 0871 number first, wait for the welcome message to start, then dial the full international number which in your case starts 0034. You won't pay anything more for the call other than the 9p per minute charge, which will appear on your Virgin Media bill as a call to an 0871 number.

I read somewhere than Virgin were starting to block some of these numbers so I'm afraid it is going to be trial and error. If you can't get through to the 0871 numbers, let us know and I'm sure we'll think of something else for you.

Bufflowbill

satellitebadger wrote: »

You won't pay anything more for the call other than the 9p per minute charge,

Your pay Virgin Media 6p a call connection charge ,also your start paying for the call as soon as you hear recorded announcement,so your pay if your not connected at least 15p.

Another alternative is http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php not so cheap at 11p a minute ,4p connection .But you dont pay if not connected. You can access it free from Virgin Media using the 0808 Freephone Number.You can also use this service to reduce the cost of other calls you might make on Virgin Media.;)

smigger15

Hi, i'm going to Turkey this summer and would like to use my O2 mobile while i'm there to call and text the UK (another o2 mobile), which is the best method ? I'm a bit confused after reading all this Thanks in anticipation, Vicky