International & UK CallChecker discussion

buglawton

giltbrook wrote: »

I have tried to check the cost of dialling a Spanish landline from a Virgin Media landline using Dial123.co.uk, which is the cheapest reported provider listed in the MSE UK CallChecker, at 1p per minute. When I search the very complicated Virgin Media call price list for the number provided by Dial123, 08437 152000, that number does not seem to be in the Virgin Media price list, so the call price cannot be verified, and I do not want to risk dialling a number that cannot be verified.

P.S. Why does it have to be so complicated to find out the cost of a call dialled from Virgin Media? Why can't they have a system where you can dial a free number, input the required number that you want the cost of dialling, and an automated voice tells you the call price for that number? At present, customers have to search for, find, and download two spreadsheets, the first one to find the number, that then gives a code for the price, and the second one with the codes, that give the actual prices corresponding with the code. This system seems designed to confuse customers so that it is nearly impossible to find the cost of calls, unless the customer is adept at using computers and spreadsheets.

Someone at VM marketing thinks that obfuscation is the way to get money from punters.
An attitude that will bite VM on the butt long term.

Blue_Max

After a long time, I started using Localphone.com again, after they cut their rates.
No connection charges, minimum fee or any hidden charges.
Need to pay £5 in advance at sign up. Currently there is 10% free credit offer. And free 5 min test call to try them out.

Reliable service, good customer service, no charging errors like some from this UK based company.

Various ways of calling from mobile, landline or computer.
Also local call numbers, calling card for making calls from where ever you are, etc.

UK land 0.5p, mobile 4.8p incl VAT
Calling to and from abroad are also cheap.
India land/mobile 1p incl VAT
For some strange reason, calls to China land / mobile are free.

buglawton

Grim reviews, wonder if its a Betamax product (or whatever Betamax renamed themselves to due to their reputation).
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews260147.html

buglawton

Had a look at the site... has iPhone & Android apps, good...I could not spot any Betamax/Delmont connection, good...

But no FAQ to say what the minimum topup is or how it gets consumed - min call charges? Monthly fee? Credit expiry? Payment methods?

Most reputable companies would tell you this info upfront.

Blue_Max

buglawton wrote: »

Grim reviews, wonder if its a Betamax product (or whatever Betamax renamed themselves to due to their reputation).
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews260147.html

Localphone is not part of Betamax.
I have been with a few Betamax/Delmont/Finera offerings in the last four years or so.
I have had many problems with all except one.
Was surprised to see many angry customers of Localphone at the reviewcentre.
I haven't had any issues with Localphone so far. Hope that it stays that way!

Blue_Max

buglawton wrote: »

But no FAQ to say what the minimum topup is or how it gets consumed - min call charges? Monthly fee? Credit expiry? Payment methods?

Most reputable companies would tell you this info upfront.

Its all there but not easy to find as is usual with most of these companies. Better than Betamax though!
Minimum top up is £1. But I topped up for £5 to get their current 10% bonus offer.
Not sure but you pay £6 incl VAT at sign up, I think!
No monthly fees.
I paid online using credit card. They have a 'how to pay' button under 'rates'
Credit may expire if there is no activity for 12 months. But they did not do that with me.
There are many ways of making calls. I have only tried VoIP and Calling Card when abroad. Have had no issues.

redux

buglawton wrote: »

Had a look at the site... has iPhone & Android apps, good...I could not spot any Betamax/Delmont connection, good...

But no FAQ to say what the minimum topup is or how it gets consumed - min call charges? Monthly fee? Credit expiry? Payment methods?

Most reputable companies would tell you this info upfront.

The previous person posting here is a customer, and without looking more closely, or even if you do later on, there isn't a reason to question the accuracy of what was said, especially after a false guess in your previous post.

I opened an account and then barely used it for quite a while, but with no credit in it the very occasional incoming test calls still worked. So the account was not closed through lack of use.

Then I at last added some credit when I'd decided I would use it from time to time, prodded into it by a special offer.

Even then I didn't start using it much for several months. My credit has not expired or diminished, which confirms there are no standing monthly charges.

Minimum top-up £1 + vat when using credit and debit cards, or £10 + vat using Paypal Ukash or Moneybookers

None of this information is difficult to find

http://www.localphone.com/how_to_pay

buglawton

Ooh teacher sorry!
No reason to question the accuracy nor did I.
But got some useful informative responses which is exactly what makes MSE forums great. So i'm glad that I posted as I did.

Been looking for a VoIP to replace Skype for a long time and practically every single post/review by real user customers has put me off. So far. What Blue_Max says might just persuade me to give this one a spin.

Blue_Max

buglawton wrote: »

Been looking for a VoIP to replace Skype for a long time and practically every single post/review by real user customers has put me off. So far.

Been using Skype for a long time?! It is so expensive that it is for losers and the ill informed.
There are many alternative VoIP service providers who offer superior service and value.
There are articles at the main site and many threads on this topic. There are also a few other sites and forums that specialise in VoIP. Obviously you missed them or did not read carefully. So I am not going to waste any more of my time going into details on this thread.

buglawton

Been using Skype global flat rate monthly for years as it worked out better than 18185 for lots of short business calls. Avoided anything to do with Betamax aka Delmont since being stung by them before - totally unaccountable. So I do keep an eye out for genuinely different providers. Thought I'd give Localphone a trial with a few quid of credit when I saw they accept Paypal, so no need to lodge card details with yet another merchant. Then noticed the deal-breaker - £10 minimum if PayPal or £1 minimum if card. May email them pointing out this is not smart marketing to folks who want to trial the service properly but who don't want to commit £10.