Best option without using DD?

zippy75

Hi folks,

I have a question regarding what would be the best option for my parents to save money on their phonecalls.

A bit of background -

I myself have been using Heinz's standard method for the last few months now; BT line rental plus Primus,1899/18185 etc. (thank you Heinz!!:T :T ), so that's great for my circumstances.

HOWEVER-

(1) My parents are not fans of using Direct Debit, so I need an option where that won't be used.

They are currently with the Post Office Home Phone, so I'm obviously going to sort out for them to switch back to BT.
(BTW, has anybody any idea of how to get them to cough up copies of past bills that I've asking for since early June, as I'm convinced they haven't the £50 call credit, and ideally I'd like this sorted before they swich back to BT)

(2) The routing of their calls needs to be as "complication-free" as possible; I've explained the method I use, but they would like a method where they're just using one prefix that they can program in with their numbers in the phone memory (e.g - 1899,area code, phone number; same for all their numbers). I'm happy to use the standard method, but only because I'm used to it now, and I'm no big fan of complicated stuff (who is!:rolleyes: ). However they wouldn't be able to remember what to use when to get maximum savings.

So I'm wondering if this would be the best method:

*BT for line rental (pay bill when it comes)
*Route all landline and mobile calls through 1899.co.uk - having registered THEIR phone number on MY account (am I right in thinking you can do this?)
*Use BT (dial 1280) for all calls to numbers beginning 08

I would think about registering them with Primus saver to get the free off peak calls, but then if they were dialling 1899 every time they wouldn't get the benefit of that anyway.

I hope I've covered everything-

the main calls they make are,

local and national landline calls at all times of day
calls to one mobile number (sister with no landline) at all times of day, and the odd one to my mobile
very occasional 08-- calls, i.e the odd call to internet Customer Services,and any others that I don't know about (that I haven't badgered them into letting me check out through saynoto0870!!)

Hope all that makes sense; if any of you marvellous MSEs have any ideas for the best method that'd be fantastic!!- I've been promising parents I'll sort it out for ages.

Regards,

Zippy:j

Heinz

zippy75 wrote:

*Route all landline and mobile calls through 1899.co.uk - having registered THEIR phone number on MY account (am I right in thinking you can do this?)

Yes, my elderly mother's number has been registered on my 1899 and 18185 accounts for many months.

BTW, there've been a few updates to my '7 steps' today - mainly because, IMHO, 18185 is, ignoring cumbersome dial-through providers, now in the lead for calls to 0845, 0870 and UK mobile numbers at all times. Because of that, you may consider just getting your folks to use the 18185 prefix for calls to all except 0800/0808 numbers. It's 1p more expensive on the connection (4p instead of 1899's 3p) but they'd (you'd) recover that on the saving they'd (you'd) make on their first call to your sister's mobile.

P.S. Check your PMs for a possible source for an Orchid V2 LCR for your folks.

zippy75

Many thanks Heinz,

I've sent you a PM

Zippy:)

ginger_nuts

I got my parents an orchid dialler . They have free E&W calls and use 1899 for daytime landline calls and 18185 for mobiles and some international calls .

zippy75

Hi ginger_nuts

Your point made me wonder -

To get them free Evening and Weekend calls;

in the same way that I'm going to put their phone numer on my 18185 account; would I be able to register them with Primus Saver, using MY bank account details - i.e THEIR name and address but MY details showing up as payment details (even though I know you don't actually pay for Primus Saver).

Would that be workable??

ginger_nuts

zippy75 wrote:

Hi ginger_nuts

Your point made me wonder -

To get them free Evening and Weekend calls;

in the same way that I'm going to put their phone numer on my 18185 account; would I be able to register them with Primus Saver, using MY bank account details - i.e THEIR name and address but MY details showing up as payment details (even though I know you don't actually pay for Primus Saver).

Would that be workable??

The primus phone account has to be in there name but the bank details and email for billing can be anyones .Primus told me that they give free calls between customers but its not on there website . I think in your situation an orchid V4 dialler or orchid ranger phone would be very usefull.My parents are 78 & 82 and havent a clue about dialing 1899 or 18185 an orchid dialler was needed ,but well worth the money .