The UKs Cheapest Home Phones Solution Article Discussion Area

camperdown_2

I have just tried calling the same two TalkTalk numbers via 18185 and this time everything worked normally so, if my previous experience was the result of an attack, it is an intermittent one.

Slimeball20

Hi everyone,

Haven't had time to read the whole thread so apologies if this has been asked before!

I am happy with Virgin broadband - have had it for ages - and so don't have any BT lines at all.

What is the cheapest provider assuming that no BT lines are available - Primus Saver isn't available to non-BT customers.

We have used 1899 and 18866 in the past, depending on which was cheapest at the time but wondered if there were any other alternatives.

Thanks.

Heinz

Slimeball20 wrote: »

Haven't had time to read the whole thread so apologies if this has been asked before!

I am happy with Virgin broadband - have had it for ages - and so don't have any BT lines at all.

What is the cheapest provider assuming that no BT lines are available - Primus Saver isn't available to non-BT customers.

We have used 1899 and 18866 in the past, depending on which was cheapest at the time but wondered if there were any other alternatives.

http://wakeup.to/cheapercablecalls

camperdown_2

camperdown wrote: »

I have just tried calling the same two TalkTalk numbers via 18185 and this time everything worked normally so, if my previous experience was the result of an attack, it is an intermittent one.

More apparent jamming of 1899/1815 this morning when attempting to call Luton Airport 01582 405100. Warble tone. When dialled directly (without override) everything normal

creddish

camperdown wrote: »

More apparent jamming of 1899/1815 this morning when attempting to call Luton Airport 01582 405100. Warble tone. When dialled directly (without override) everything normal

In your original message you said "Recent attempts to use 1899 and/or 18185 have resulted in the usual "Zero pence per minute" announcement. Then, in place of the expected dial tone, there is a warbling tone which continues indefinitely". Firstly your wording above "...directly (without override) implies youe are dialling from CPSed BT line - maybe Talk Talk ). Secondly your original post quoted above implies that you first dialled the 18185 prefix and then waited for a dialling tone. If you do that you normally get a message to the effect that you have not entered a telephone number and are instructed to redial. If I have interpreted you correctly I would not expect your calls to succeed? Care to clarify?

Colin

camperdown_2

Sorry for the confusion. When I said I dialled 18185, I meant to imply 'followed by the required number' after which I would expect to get a ring tone and the 'zero pence per minute' announcement.
At the time I first posted about apparent jamming, I was a BT customer. I have since transferred to Primus 1 which presumably applied when I made my last post (yesterday) about warble tone when trying to call Luton Airport using either 18185 or 1899. I say 'presumably' because, since applying for transfer to Primus I, the only communication I have received about it has been from BT who told me the change would be effective as from 4th July. I was out of the country on that date and have not yet got around to chasing Primus about the status of my transfer.

creddish

camperdown wrote: »

Sorry for the confusion. When I said I dialled 18185, I meant to imply 'followed by the required number' after which I would expect to get a ring tone and the 'zero pence per minute' announcement.
At the time I first posted about apparent jamming, I was a BT customer. I have since transferred to Primus 1 which presumably applied when I made my last post (yesterday) about warble tone when trying to call Luton Airport using either 18185 or 1899. I say 'presumably' because, since applying for transfer to Primus I, the only communication I have received about it has been from BT who told me the change would be effective as from 4th July. I was out of the country on that date and have not yet got around to chasing Primus about the status of my transfer.

OK I see now. Actually it should not make any difference whether your on Primus or not as dialling 18185 or 1899 would route your call through the BT system and would not involve Primus at all.

Colin

Heinz

camperdown wrote: »

..... the only communication I have received about it has been from BT who told me the change would be effective as from 4th July. I was out of the country on that date and have not yet got around to chasing Primus about the status of my transfer.

No need to chase them - use the below procedure to check:

You can check if the service is active by using BT's Charge Advice service:

Lift handset and dial *411# and listen for message. Replace handset.

Make a UK 01/02 call (preferably evening or weekend so, if you're still on BT, it'll only cost 5½p [4½p from 1/8/07]).

If you receive an automated call back immediately after the call advising your of the approx cost of the call, you're still on BT. If there's no immediate call back, the call has gone (free) over Primus.

You can switch off BT Charge Advice with #411#

There is no need to use the 1280 prefix when switching Charge Advice on or off (even after Primus has gone live).