International & UK CallChecker discussion

EG1

I have just taken the next down on the list, Simply Fone, and got a recorded message telling me to go elsewhere (they presumably do not connect you with the USA - so the callchecker list is wrong).

Heinz

EG1 wrote: »

Just now I was trying repeatedly to call the USA using 1899 (08081708708) and every time it rang UK style, not with the USA ring tone, and nobody replied.

Did you pause and wait for the welcome announcerment after dialling 08081708708?

If so, did you add a # to the end of the USA number?

sallysave

nedsheridan wrote: »

Hi there, I’ve found that one of the calling companys in the callchecker Foo call has made an error on a voucher code. Well I say me, it was my sister actually She got a foo call code for 50% free extra credit but when she used the code on the foo call iphone app it doubled her credit! The same code worked for me to! Its clearly an error by them, so get in there quick before they fix it the code is: FCFIFTY

Thanks nedsheridan, this worked for me!

sailorchief

Using 18185 (which I find the best and cheapest) or any low cost system, when calling my sister in the US I call her 'cell' (mobile) number as their mobiles have the same area code etc. and providers therefore do not know that you are calling a mobile as the system cannot differentiate. Well it works for the States of Montana, Tennessee and Louisiana anyway which probably means nationwide.

NonGeographicalMan

sailorchief wrote: »

Using 18185 (which I find the best and cheapest) or any low cost system, when calling my sister in the US I call her 'cell' (mobile) number as their mobiles have the same area code etc. and providers therefore do not know that you are calling a mobile as the system cannot differentiate. Well it works for the States of Montana, Tennessee and Louisiana anyway which probably means nationwide.

The USA quite deliberately set up their mobile phone network this way from the start by making the party receiving a mobile phone call pay a certain amount per minute (or having a certain number of incoming minutes per month included in the subscription price if it is a contract mobile phone) for the privilege of using their mobile phone to receive a call and by not charging the caller extra when they clearly had no control over and received no benefit from the decision of the called party to use a mobile phone.

That is why mobile phone numbers in the USA use the same area codes as landlines for a person based in a particular state and do not cost any more to call than a fixed landline phone number. They do still have true premium rate numbers in the USA such as adult chat phone services.

jhp

sailorchief wrote: »

Using 18185 (which I find the best and cheapest) or any low cost system, when calling my sister in the US I call her 'cell' (mobile) number as their mobiles have the same area code etc. and providers therefore do not know that you are calling a mobile as the system cannot differentiate. Well it works for the States of Montana, Tennessee and Louisiana anyway which probably means nationwide.

If you have inclusive minutes http://www.localphone.com/call/united_states

is slightly cheaper and easier to to make the call.

They dont charge a connection charge like 18185 and they give you a UK 01/02 number to call which points directly at the target number.

Ms_Mouse

Hi - I am having problems making sense of the rates quoted on some of the sites, Localphone being one.

I looked up rates for calling UK landline numbers, looking for a cheap way to call them from a landline in the UK, rather than from outside the UK:

localphone DOT com -> call -> united_kingdom

(Sorry, I as a "new user" I am not allowed to post links - though I first posted a message in 2007 so must take a while to get let out of the "is-it-a-newbie-or-is-it-spammer" holding-pen.)

These are the Localphone landline rates quoted (ex-VAT):

Landlines - All Landlines - 0.4p

Local Numbers - All numbers - 8.2p

National numbers:

- 03 Non-geographic - 0.4p

- All others - 4.1p

- Higher rate - 8.3p

If there is a rate for "All Landlines" at 0.4p, why are the other rates listed as well?

Does the first rate apply to calls that start and end in the UK and the others apply to calls that start outside the UK?

Localphone did not crop up in the list of cheap alternatives when I checked the automated call-checker but I saw that it had been mentioned in some messages in this forum and/or the MSE VOIP forum.

It sounded a better deal than 18185 due to not having a fee per call, even when the call is unanswered. Also, the "Sign Up" link on 18185 did not do anything and the "latest news" was dated 27-05-2010 so I wondered if it was still accepting new registrations.

I would be very grateful for any advice,

Thanks in advance,
Liz

ps. Sorry - I seem to have replied to another reply rather than to the original message . . . definitely still qualify as a "newbie" :-/

jhp

Ms Mouse.

Local Phone is no good to you for calling UK 01/02 Numbers from a Landline. Because they use 01/02 numbers to access the service.So you would have to pay your suppliers rate to call it which would defeat the object.

If your supplier allows indirect access 18185 is the best bet. 5p connection charge includes the total cost of the call. www.18185.co.uk


If it doesnt access via 0808 freephone number 5p connection 1p a minute.
http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php

Do you not make enough 01/02/03 calls to warrant having a inclusive call bundle ?

Ms_Mouse

@JHP - many thanks for the explanation :-) It is all a bit baffling starting to look at different options.

Do you not make enough 01/02/03 calls to warrant having a inclusive call bundle ?

I don't know - thank you for the tip - I will check.

If your supplier allows indirect access 18185 is the best bet. 5p connection charge includes the total cost of the call. www.18185.co.uk


If it doesnt access via 0808 freephone number 5p connection 1p a minute.
http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php

I have had a look at that one and it took me ages to find a page where the Registration Button would work but I found one eventually :-)

One of the things that I have noticed going through this and related threads is that people seem to have such mixed experiences with companies - from 100% happy with no problems to all sorts of bad-billing and failure to reply to customer issues.

I guess the only way to go is to give it a go with one of the ones that has some good recent reviews and keep my fingers crossed :-)

Thank you again for your help,
Best wishes,
Liz

headhoncho

There is a cheaper way to call a Sri Lankan Cell phone using Best Minutes. (6p a minute plus a 13p connection charge) 08717543838.