18866/1899 May you go bust!

Galstonian

my only concern is that I do not know who they are where they are

I noticed Martin's article on the cheapest phone providers mentions telestunt.co.uk, telesavers.co.uk, telediscount.co.uk as well as call18866.co.uk and call1899.co.uk.  

All these websites are registered to:

       Finarea SA
       Viale Carlo Cattaneo 1
       Lugano
       6900
       CH

and a brief hunt the internet threw up the following phone number: +41 919225431 though I have not tried using it.  I also came across the the name Igor Tracchia associated with Finarea.

The same company owns budgetcom.co.uk as well.

I've not had any problems with any of these companies.

oap

Thank you all very much indeed,, will have a look at sites mentioned, and think we shall have a go, will use switch , never use our overdraft, and will reduce it to the minimum in case of problems, much appreciated, best wishes oap

derrick

The 0808 number is a recorded message,you will not get to speak to a human.

System

Hi there OAP.

I too am almost an official OAP, but am there in one respect due to being retired off due to several health issues. On your apprehension about signing up to anything on-line, I tend to think if it's good anough for Martin Lewis to shout about on every avenue of the media, then maybe, just maybe, it's good enough for me.

Through him, and this time consuming site of his, I have committed myself to change the way I/we telephone, changed the way we use our electricity/gas and water.

Our days out/holidays do not take place without consulting these threads.

My mobile phone tarif is in for more changes in a month or so, as I will be forarmed with spiel aquired from this site.

My fellow friends/relations etc are constantly being advised to visit this site if they sneer at me when I voice the benefits.

All those calls we have to make to government departments, tax/insurance/pensions/banks etc, all those people with telephone numbers starting either 0845 or 0870 which means long waits at higher than normal charges, all now a thing of the past. Simply via this site, find the regional number and go to it via 18866 and pay 1p connection and sit back and listen to all the music in the world while you wait, and it ain't costin' a dime !.

No, sit back and read this site, make it your daily dose of goodness. Welcome, Island man

cloud_dog

i switched to 1899 and everything was fine and they then stopped collecting my direct debits and blocked my account.

I didn't think 18866 (1899) collected payment via Direct Debits, i thought it was only by agreeing to a debit or credit card payment (with the possibly risks that go with that).

Anyway been with them for a little while and never had any issues. 18866 in conjunction with saynoto0870 website has saved me loads-a-money 8) In fact its really annoying now when a business does you a favour and provides a cheap-rate number (0845....) ;D

cloud_dog

cloud_dog

sergeant121

0845 'cheap rate'?

I don't think so.

They're Disguised Premium Rate AFAIAC.

oap

;DThanks for the very informative replies, well, we did it, signed up last night, very quick, was able to use the phone almost straight away, did a load of calls today, had a look at our invoice, there it was 28p!! so if it continues this way, a very efficient company. However,,we have asked for the voice beforehand to warn of charge, everything was free ie 1p connection charge, except one, phoned our bank as we do telephone banking, starting with 0845, this was told us as 4p a minute, so will keep those short, and will check what BT charge for this sort of number. We really appreciate how helpful you have all been, and just hope when we get charged, that will be all right. Cheers oap

derrick

Use this site to get geographical numbers to replace 0845 & 0870 numbers, if you have to use them B.T. are cheaper than 18866, just prefix your call with 1280 to access B.T.s service

cloud_dog

0845 'cheap rate'?

I don't think so.

They're Disguised Premium Rate AFAIAC.

Heinz, perhpas I used the wrong phrase. the 0845 numbers were introduced as 'local' rate equivillent for national calls - cheap maybe not, but cheaper than national rate.

cloud_dog

System

Hi OAP, glad you've made the change. I'm sure you will not regret it.

Yesterday, I made a discovery. I accessed the saynoto0845 site, something you will have seen referred to all over this thread. I knew it was there, but like so many other things I have to discover it at my own pace. Anyway, if and when you access this site, you will see that there is provision to enter either the 0845/ 0870 number, or alternatively the name of the organisation and after a clic, you will be presented with the real/regional number. Then, if you dial that number via your 18866, you simply pay 1p to speak to your bank (for example) and talk as long as you like. Instead of your quoted 4p per minute.

It is my intention to spend an hour, searching that site, making notes of the real/regional telphone numbers for saga/bank/pensions etc, all those people who have numbers commencing 0845 etc that we need to use. Then when I need to contact them, it will be cheaper.

OAP, you can take this a bit further, you can have more than one provider, you can join talktalk and get to speak every evening and weekends free.

and finally, if you have to make any international calls, we can guide you along that path, to 1899 for instance.