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Has Anyone Used 18866 to phone Channel Islands???

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Even though Channel Island number prefixes are 01 they are not included in any BT free weekend and evening scheme. They are charged on the National Tarrif.

I read in one of your earlier threads that someone found the
18866 tarrifs much cheaper. However one their website I could not find Channel Islands listed in their drop down area/price list and there is no search box or contact email or telephone number.

Has anyone used 18866 to phone Channel Islands and do you know the tarrif and if it has a cheaper evening and weekend tarrif etc.

Am spending ££'s phoning my daughter and family on Jersey with BT so would be grateful if anyone can help.

Comments

  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    edited 5 December 2010 at 7:56PM
    Surely, instead of wondering, the obvious thing to do* would be to dial the Jersey number with a 18866 prefix and listen for the tariff announcement?

    My money's on you hearing, "Zero p per minute" because I think that, unlike BT, they treat 01534 and 01481 as standard UK numbers; but I can't be certain.

    * Assuming you already have a 18866 account.

    If you don't have a 18866 account, may I recommend you open a www.18185.co.uk account instead (same company, better rates) and use that prefix (I changed my Orchid program to route such calls via 18185 in February 2008 and have not had any adverse comments).

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=8551627&postcount=214
    Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
  • Thanks for the reply Heinz and for all that good advice - I will certainly work on it. I had never heard of the 18866 account before I saw someone mention it on this forum and never come accross the 18185 account either.
    Thanks again - I will post back and report, if it works well, in the interest of others who have Channel Island families
  • Ypaymore
    Ypaymore Posts: 2,802 Forumite
    You can use 18185/18866 etc from your BT line to call Channel Island Numbers. Cost is exactly the same as calling a normal UK 01/02 Geographical Number. Just 5p connection and zero pence a minute.
  • Before registering with 18185 - could you tell me whether you can be selective about the calls you use 18185 for or do you have to use it for all calls.

    Also I belong to the BT Free Evening and Weekend tarrif - would I still be able to use this.

    Last question: Can Channel Islander use 18185 to phone UK?

    Sorry to keep questioning - I am rather ancient and not used to all this changing technology - you cannot contact 18185 and there is no search box either - could not find the answers listed.

    Many many thanks from Liz
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    edited 7 December 2010 at 11:21AM
    You just use the 18185 prefix to send individual calls via 18185 (if you don't use it, calls go via your normal provider, BT).

    In your case, you'd use the 18185 prefix for your weekday daytime UK 01/02/03 calls* but for your CI calls at all times.

    Can't answer you question about CI residents being able to use 18185 - it must be worth them trying to register though!

    * And, probably, for your calls to UK mobiles and to international destinations at all times.
    Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
  • SilverLiz
    SilverLiz Posts: 120 Forumite
    Thank-you Heinz - for all your time and trouble - obviously worth registering and will pass information to my daughter and report back.
  • using the 18185 t channel islands successfully but it does worry me that your bank details for direct debit are shown in full when you login. icould not see the secure padloc on this page.
    do you consider this is safe.
    excuse lack of punctuation - have a broken arm
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