International & UK CallChecker discussion

jhp

DaveyP2004 wrote: »

Due to the fact O2 Broadband has been bought by SKY I am looking into the implications of switching our landline from BT to SKY (as I can get a decent broadband offer from SKY but only if I switch my landline to them).

The only calls we make on our BT landline are to Romania using the phone numbers listed on the "International Call Checker".

At first I thought we would be able to make similar calls if we switched our landline to SKY as if I use the International Call checker and change the "Landline Provider" to SKY I can see lots of cheap numbers listed.

However looking at SKYs term and conditions it says "Indirect Access Calls
From 1 July 2010, Sky Talk Customers on the Sky Voice and Broadband Network will no longer be able to make calls using a prefix number to access a different telephony provider (known as Indirect Access Calls)."

So my question is do phone numbers such as CheapestCalls 0844 200 6565
work on SKY landline and if so is the only charge incurred the 0.51p/min (13.87p connection) or are there additional charges from SKY.

Sky are referring to indirect access numbers like 1899/18185.

0844 access numbers still work and would normally charged as indicated here http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/romania/sky/easy

DaveyP2004

Thanks for answering that ;-0 Much appreciated.

poorbabe

I'm a former 02 person who has moved to Sky for broadband and home telephone line as I already have Sky TV. I did wonder if I would be able to use my 1899/18185 accounts with them so made a 28 minute call to a family member's mobile phone in Jamaica. Seems to work perfectly but I'll give it a few days then check my account to see what the cost is.

Just to clarify, I used 18185 access number which is 0208 180 2828 which I also use from my mobile and have done for a number of years now.

HTH.

Ypaymore

poorbabe wrote: »

I'm a former 02 person who has moved to Sky for broadband and home telephone line as I already have Sky TV. I did wonder if I would be able to use my 1899/18185 accounts with them so made a 28 minute call to a family member's mobile phone in Jamaica. Seems to work perfectly but I'll give it a few days then check my account to see what the cost is.

Just to clarify, I used 18185 access number which is 0208 180 2828 which I also use from my mobile and have done for a number of years now.

HTH.

Yes you can still use 18185/1899 via their geographical access number on sky,or better still the 0808 freephone number if you have not got inclusive minutes.Its only the indirect access number eg 18185 that are blocked.

buglawton

Just remember that the 0808 and 0208 access has much higher call costs than 18185. I am a Virgin Media customer and use 0808, it still works out vastly cheaper though - Virgin charge about 10p/min for ordinary landline evening calls! Someone in the family dialled direct, forgetting to use 0808 and the one call cost around £9! Virgin charges more than many pay as you go mobiles,this gouging attitude can only alienate their customers.

LesD

For Virgin customers, cheap international calls are a minefield!

18185 is NOT always cheapest - even using the 0808 freephone number! South Africa mobiles are 12p pm. TopUpDiscount works out at about 7p using weekend inclusive 01/02 numbers.

oldharryrocks

LesD wrote: »

For Virgin customers, cheap international calls are a minefield!

18185 is NOT always cheapest - even using the 0808 freephone number! South Africa mobiles are 12p pm. TopUpDiscount works out at about 7p using weekend inclusive 01/02 numbers.

No one ever said it was did they?

But try beating 18185 via 0808 for Virgin landline calls to UK Landlines then.:D

Also these peeps http://www.localphone.com/call/south_africa beat Topupdiscount rates.

Blue_Max

oldharryrocks wrote: »

No one ever said it was did they?

But try beating 18185 via 0808 for Virgin landline calls to UK Landlines then.:D

Also these peeps http://www.localphone.com/call/south_africa beat Topupdiscount rates.

Localphone has offer various options to make a call. To call from your mobile, they have an app which use either wi-fi or 3G. No minimum charges; you just pay by the minute.

camomile_smile

Hi all
I am currently calling Grenada mobile from a BT landine, I have been using the access numbers without a problem up until a couple of weeks ago when despite using the different companies no calls would get through to the destination number. Can anyone suggest what might be going wrong please?

buglawton

LesD wrote: »

For Virgin customers, cheap international calls are a minefield!

18185 is NOT always cheapest - even using the 0808 freephone number! South Africa mobiles are 12p pm. TopUpDiscount works out at about 7p using weekend inclusive 01/02 numbers.

Just remember that 0844 access number are unreliable and confusing, as you have to remember various numbers for various destinations.

Make an 0844 call that fails to work for any reason (like the provider changed it - happens often) and you pay a hefty connection fee plus a minute's call charge (depending who provides your landline).

Make an 0844 call that lands on a busy line or no pickup and again those charges.

On top of everything else, the non-BT landline providers have differing and confusing 0844 access prices.

This is why I prefer the likes of 18185 or it's 0808 access, plus the 0208 access can even be uses with spare mobile minutes. You can even set it to read out the per-minute charge before the call connects!

0844 providers can be of use if you only usually call one type of service in one country and make long calls.