Use BT free 0870 calls to make international calls

Paul_Varjak

Use http://www.precaller.co.uk/ to build up credit (utilising BT's free calls to 0845 numbers).

Basically, you call 0845 611 8700 to build up credit and leave your phone off-hook. You can set a maximum time limit to help you keep within BT's fair usage limits (1000 mins/month, 150 calls/month, 60 mins/call).

Once you have credit, you make calls to your chosen international desitnation via the access number 020 3328 1355, using the same phone line that you used to build credit.

This seems to be the only way to make FREE calls to any international destination. I don't think it will let you call UK premium rate numbers but you can use it to call UK mobiles.

Precaller is run by www.my0870.com but enables you to reach many more international destinations than my0870.com by building call credit.


EDIT PRECALLER IS NOW AVAILABLE ON AN 0845 NUMBER ONLY AS REVENUE SHARING ON 0870 NUMBERS EFFECTIVELY CAME TO AN END 31/08/2009

I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY USED PRECALLER ON MY TALK TALK LANDLINE WHERE THE ONLY FAIR USAGE LIMIT IS 60 MINS PER CALL. PRECALLER AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATES THE CALL AFTER 59 MINUTES.

ON BOTH BT AND TALK TALK LANDLINES YOU SHOULD ONLY USE PRECALLER TO BUILD CREDIT WHEN CALLS TO 0845 NUMBERS ARE FREE WITH YOUR CALLING PLAN. YOU CAN ONLY BUILD CREDIT 8AM-6PM MON-FRI. YOU GET 2 UNITS OF CREDIT FOR EVERY MINUTE YOU ARE ON THE LINE

YOU MUST ENSURE YOUR NUMBER IS SENT TO PRECALLER OTHERWISE IT WILL NOT BUILD CREDIT. TO DO THIS DIAL 1470 0845 611 8700.

Heinz

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

This seems to be the only way to make FREE calls to any international destination.

Well, not the only way, but certainly a new way (although the number of destinations is limited on the alternative - http://www.callsdiscount.com/uk/).

Paul_Varjak

Heinz wrote: »

Well, not the only way, but certainly a new way (although the number of destinations is limited on the alternative - http://www.callsdiscount.com/uk/).

Hello, Heinz. I did not know about www.callsdiscount.com - that is a real Finarea/Betamax killer for free destinations but www.callsdiscount.com only has a few free international destination whereas www.precaller.co.uk can/could offer free calls to ALL international destinations with their system.

As I am not with BT, I will certainly try out www.callsdiscount.com but will probably still revert to Betamax on chargeable international destinations, simply because I would not get charged for an unconnected call. With callsdiscount.com I would get a connection charge and a per minute charge even on unconnected calls.

jhp

From the 3/6/09 could also be used by Talk Talk Customers out of their free/inclusive 0870 minutes.

londonchap

This service seems to use the same 0870 access but allows you to dial direct (no building up credits). Have tried using it and no charge appeared on my bill? http://www.call2abroad.com/services/offers/

Thoughts? Do you think BT can charge me for these calls?

jhp

londonchap wrote: »

This service seems to use the same 0870 access but allows you to dial direct (no building up credits). Have tried using it and no charge appeared on my bill? http://www.call2abroad.com/services/offers/

Thoughts? Do you think BT can charge me for these calls?

Yes they can charge you and will possibly do so as its an indirect access number which are precluded from free/inclusive 0845/0870 calls.

DrScotsman

This seems genius, but I'd be so worried BT would make it chargeable. But it isn't technically an indirect access number, is it? Or do BT have a get out clause saying they can make any 0870 number non-inclusive whenever they want?

Heinz

DrScotsman wrote: »

This seems genius, but I'd be so worried BT would make it chargeable. But it isn't technically an indirect access number, is it? Or do BT have a get out clause saying they can make any 0870 number non-inclusive whenever they want?

BT was quick to close the loophole - they've now changed their definition to include direct access into their definition of indirect access!

See HERE.

DrScotsman

BT wrote:

1. You first dial an 0870 or 0845 number, and then, while still connected, you dial the intended destination number to be connected
2. You are connected directly to the intended destination number by dialling an 0870 or 0845 number, having previously routed the destination number through an 0870 or 0845 number, which can be done via the internet or by other means

Precaller definitely does not fit either of those two definitions though, you do not dial an 0870 or 0845 number for the actual access. But if all BT have to do is quickly add another definition to the list to close the loophole...

jhp

Nothing new about this concept http://www.qxcall.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=113 have been doing it for ages.

They also allow you to build up points/credit by calling a geographical number out of your inclusive minutes.
http://www.qxcall.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=105

londonchap

Thanks for the feedback all.

I guess the issue here is not what BT's definition says, but rather whether they have classified the relevant 0870 number correctly. If it's not classified as being excluded then I suppose it will continue to be free.

On http://www.call2abroad.com/services/offers/ it says:
How to check it's free: We would recommend making a few calls then checking your online bill to prove that BT are not charging you. We have tried this and found that the call was listed as costing £0.00

Am going to keep using cautiously for a while. If BT where to end up charging, presumably they'd only charge 1.5p/min at the weekend as this was their rate to 0870 before this change. Anybody know?

Cheers.