International and UK CallChecker Discussion Area

benedetto

Just wondering if I'm missing something here, or has anybody else noticed this?

I just had my BT phonebill and was idly glancing through it when I thought I might actually check that Telesavers 1p per minute for UK weekday calls (I have verified the figure on their website as instructed by the way), which I use frequently, was correct.

A 37 second call was charged at 6p (plus VAT) but a 9min 40 sec call was charged at 13.5p (plus VAT). Certainly neither of them were 1p per minute INCLUDING VAT as claimed by Telesavers. :mad:

Any ideas anybody?
Should I complain and who to?
BT?

By the way, don't be caught out by BT's reduction in the cost of 0845 numbers - remember there's an initial 6p charge on top of the 2p per minute.

jinkssick

Just to let everyone know that since I found out about 18185 and 18866 I have stopped using matin callchecker because of inconsistency's in my phonebills with the prices.

Now I use 18185's 0p for landlines (5p connection fee only) and 6p mobile.
Now I use 18866 to call Colombia at 2p
All competitive prics in comparison to 0844calls, telesavers etc

Louisa_Jane_2

Hi, I have posted this on the Talk Talk thread as well, but no replies as yet - someone must be able to help me!!
I pay AOL Talk £24.99 a month for free calls and broadband. I need to ring USA as a one off (to make dinner reservations for my Disney trip). I rang AOL who said they would charge me £2 a minute:eek:. I have tried to understand all the free calls and 1p a minute calls with an access number, but will I get charged an extortionate amount by AOL to dial their number? I have had to bar calls to mobiles and 0900 numbers as my bills were coming in at £100 a month ish(kids - don't you luv'em!)
Help!
I've just had a thought - would it be easier to go round to my mums and use her BT phone?!

Heinz

Louisa_Jane wrote: »

I pay AOL Talk £24.99 a month for free calls and broadband. I need to ring USA as a one off (to make dinner reservations for my Disney trip). I rang AOL who said they would charge me £2 a minute.

You appear to be paying £5 more than AOL's most expensive broadband and talk package so I would assume you must be on one of their packages which allows free calls to the USA. Can you can name the broadband and phone packages you're paying for? Are you still paying BT line rental - if so, how much?

No matter though, assuming AOL charge BT rates for calling 0844 numbers, just use one of the 0844 gateway providers shown on the MSE Internationaal Callchecker and make the call for 1p/minute.

Better still, if you're still paying BT line rental (i.e. are only using AOL and your CPS calls provider [and paying them a lot for that]), just prefix the call with 1280 to send it via BT and be certain of only paying 1p/minute.

redux

benedetto wrote: »

Just wondering if I'm missing something here, or has anybody else noticed this?

I just had my BT phonebill and was idly glancing through it when I thought I might actually check that Telesavers 1p per minute for UK weekday calls (I have verified the figure on their website as instructed by the way), which I use frequently, was correct.

A 37 second call was charged at 6p (plus VAT) but a 9min 40 sec call was charged at 13.5p (plus VAT). Certainly neither of them were 1p per minute INCLUDING VAT as claimed by Telesavers. :mad:

Any ideas anybody?
Should I complain and who to?
BT?

By the way, don't be caught out by BT's reduction in the cost of 0845 numbers - remember there's an initial 6p charge on top of the 2p per minute.

Have you answered your own question - 6p connection fee?

Louisa_Jane_2

Heinz wrote: »

You appear to be paying £5 more than AOL's most expensive broadband and talk package so I would assume you must be on one of their packages which allows free calls to the USA. Can you can name the broadband and phone packages you're paying for? Are you still paying BT line rental - if so, how much?

No matter though, assuming AOL charge BT rates for calling 0844 numbers, just use one of the 0844 gateway providers shown on the MSE Internationaal Callchecker and make the call for 1p/minute.

Better still, if you're still paying BT line rental (i.e. are only using AOL and a CPS calls provider), just prefix the call with 1280 to send it via BT and be certain of only paying 1p/minute.

Thanks for your reply - it seems as though I'll be OK then, I was just worried that AOL will charge me double whammy or something - it has been a very costly mistake going to them (I was tempted by the 'free' laptop).
I am paying £24.99 a month on AOL broadband wireless plus for 24 months if that makes any sense!

Heinz

Louisa_Jane wrote: »

Thanks for your reply - it seems as though I'll be OK then, I was just worried that AOL will charge me double whammy or something - it has been a very costly mistake going to them (I was tempted by the 'free' laptop).
I am paying £24.99 a month on AOL broadband wireless plus for 24 months if that makes any sense!

With BT line rental on top?

OK. So the broadband is a rather expensive £19.99/month (see HERE).

It's the additional £5 for voice telephony I'm having a little trouble reconciling. As far as I can see (see HERE), you're probably on the £3.39/month Talk Evening & Weekends (the sort of package you could get free from BT now but that's another matter). That's a total of £23.98, not £24.99.

I'd recommend you review your options. You appear to be paying too much.

hjafary

Hi, I have a quick question from any Telesaver users..I have a Virgin landline and am aware of the 7p connection charge to 0844 numbers. Just wondering if I want to make a few calls in one go to save on several connections, is there any 'shortcut' while keeping connected to Telesaver to make another call? Usually its something like ** etc but I have checked on their website n found nothing.
Hope that makes sense...cheers for any help

tik33

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to phone a bank in Oz - it's number is 132221 and on its website it says to use that number for overseas too. However, with a couple of the discount phone providers I get a message that says this is a 'special number' and they don't offer calls to it. We speak to Oz a lot and normally use a discount provider (18185). Though recently I think that the calls haven't been connecting properly and we got a shock for a £10 phone call (just goes to show how much you take these 1p/min call providers for granted these days). So, reluctuant to call 132221 on a BT line - given the amount of time it can take to get through to someone in a bank. Anyone got any idea of how I can phone them without using BT?

Thanks very much in advance.

Gus

Heinz

tik33 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to phone a bank in Oz - it's number is 132221 and on its website it says to use that number for overseas too. However, with a couple of the discount phone providers I get a message that says this is a 'special number' and they don't offer calls to it. We speak to Oz a lot and normally use a discount provider (18185). Though recently I think that the calls haven't been connecting properly and we got a shock for a £10 phone call (just goes to show how much you take these 1p/min call providers for granted these days). So, reluctuant to call 132221 on a BT line - given the amount of time it can take to get through to someone in a bank. Anyone got any idea of how I can phone them without using BT?

Thanks very much in advance.

Gus

If you're talking about Commonwealth Bank, I think their number when dialling from abroad is
+61 2 132221.

However, I'd try their 'normal' number - +61 2 9768 1078 (24 hours, but no reverse charges)