On virgin phone-cheap international calls?

hotcookie101

Hi

I have a virgin landline, with the medium package (free weekend calls)
My family is in Ireland and I tend to ring via telestunt, which is supposed to be 0.5p per minute but costs about 4p per minute plus 11p connection on virgin.
Can anyone recommend the cheapest way to call Ireland from a virgin line?
Thanks

Ypaymore

The rate of 0.5p is only from a BT line as indicated on their website and the Intl Call Checker. Other suppliers can and do charge more to call non geographical numbers. Virgin take it to the extreme.

For use with your inclusive weekend minutes have a look at http://www.localphone.com/call/ireland who will provide you with a local UK access number.

At other times consider http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php via their freephone 0808 access number. This service can also help you cut the cost of your Non Weekend UK Calls and any Mobile Calls you might make.

If your family ring you get them to look at sister company. http://www.13434.ie/index2.php

Stuart_W

As a cable customer, you can join the Phone Co-op's Caller Plus tariff. This is free, you get a freephone 0800 number to dial before all calls you wish to put on your phone co-op bill.

The caller plus tariff has NO CONNECTION FEE, a 1.175p minimum call charge and 0.5p/min 0844 numbers are charged at 0.5p/min. Similar 0844/0871/09xx numbers are charged at official "BT" rate.

See the appropriate question form this page -
http://www.thephone.coop/support/landline-support
Their special numbers list confirms the Telestunt number (0844 200 xxxx page 35 of special number list) is charged at rate g22. The price list document then confirms g22 calls cost 0.5p/min. The documents are not the easiest to read, but at least they do actually provide this information!

Special numbers list: http://www.thephone.coop/images/stories/support/price_lists/Call_Type.pdf
Price list: http://www.thephone.coop/images/stories/support/price_lists/Residential_Rates.pdf

You actually end up with a better deal than BT customers for all the 0844/0871 access number services as you get to avoid the connection fee. And don't forget to dial direct and not use the Phone Co-op override 0800 number for your free weekend calls direct on Virgin.

https://www.topupnow.co.uk should also be worth looking at as you can top up for the normal £1.50 via a phone co-op account (don't know how much Virgin would upmark this) and then call for just a 5p connection fee on your topupnow balance as the current rate to Ireland is 0p/min.
Can't vouch for this particular company, as I haven't used them. I;ve used the phone co-op for years.

Hope this helps.