International & UK CallChecker discussion

OldGreyFox

niamh2008 wrote: »

Does anyone know if the rate advertised for cheap calls the only amount that is paid, or do you also have to pay your landline provider the cost of a 0844/0871 call??
i.e. do you pay 1p per minute for international call, but also Xp/min connection plus Xp/min for calling 0844 number?

You pay your landline provider for the cost of the call and any connection charge they raise.

You dont pay the owner of the 0844/0871 number anything ,they get a share of revenue from landline/mobile providers.

Be aware though even if your not connected to your destination you start paying when you here recorded announcement.

cashflow

Heinz wrote: »

Assuming you have a BT line and you're talking about calling a Zimbabwe mobile and not a UK mobile roaming in Zimbabwe, it might be worthwhile opening a 1899 and/or 18866 account.

They're the cheapest and are not gateways so there should be no 'start paying halfway through dialling' problem.

Hello Heinz,

Thanks for taking the time to write about the 1899/ 18866 numbers. I've got a 18866 account, so I have just checked the online page again. In the 'Quick rate check' window at the top right side of the page it still only shows a call rate for landlines in Zimbabwe. I was curious about this, so I then had a look at the 'rate list' on the lower part of the page and it shows a rate of 6p./ minute for calls to both landlines and mobiles in Zimbabwe. I'll give it a try this weekend, and report back here...6p. a minute would be a real bargain if it does work. Thanks again.

cashflow

Ypaymore wrote: »

There is a rating system on the call checker.Click a star from 1 to 5.

Can you not use www.18185.co.uk

Hello Ypaymore,

Thanks for suggesting the 18185 link...I hadn't heard about them. I actually have a 18866 account, but the only rate shown on the 'Quick rate check' window of the the website has been for Zimbabwe landlines only. However, I've just checked the rates list on the lower part of the page and that shows a rate for both landlines and mobiles in Zimbabwe. I will try that number this weekend, and if it works I will be most impressed. If it doesnt I will open a 1899 or 18185 account...the 18185 rate for calls to U.K. mobiles is only 6p./ min too.

Lugh_Chronain

What's the current cheapest for W/E for calling UK mobiles via a BT landline. I've had a look on the UK CallChecker which only appears to give weekday prices. 18185 comes up as cheapest for weekdays, I've also had a look at 1899, this says 6p/min which is fine but would like to know if there's any cheaper all the same.

Thanks

jhp

Lugh_Chronain wrote: »

What's the current cheapest for W/E for calling UK mobiles via a BT landline. I've had a look on the UK CallChecker which only appears to give weekday prices. 18185 comes up as cheapest for weekdays, I've also had a look at 1899, this says 6p/min which is fine but would like to know if there's any cheaper all the same.

Thanks

Cheapest general way at weekends is 6p / min. However if you ring a mobile regularly get a cheap geo number from https://www.flextel.co.uk and point it at most UK Mobiles for 4p a minute anytime.

Lugh_Chronain

Thanks jhp, I thought cheapest generally might be 6p/min for calling mobiles a the moment though thought I'd see if there were anything cheaper. I'll have a look at FleXtel if I think I'll be using mobiles more frequently than I have been. Not really a heavy user though thought I'd ask all the same.

Thanks again

cashflow

cashflow wrote: »

Hello Ypaymore,

Thanks for suggesting the 18185 link...I hadn't heard about them. I actually have a 18866 account, but the only rate shown on the 'Quick rate check' window of the the website has been for Zimbabwe landlines only. However, I've just checked the rates list on the lower part of the page and that shows a rate for both landlines and mobiles in Zimbabwe. I will try that number this weekend, and if it works I will be most impressed. If it doesnt I will open a 1899 or 18185 account...the 18185 rate for calls to U.K. mobiles is only 6p./ min too.

Herewith an update on cheap access numbers to Zimbabwe mobiles: 18866 didn't work; 18185 no longer offers cheap calls to the mobiles. Although 1899 was showing 6p. per minute to both mobiles and landlines again this morning it gave out a recording about '...not possible to this destination.' I e-mailed both 18185 and 1899 three days ago about this problem ( trying to find an e-mail contact address for them is an exercise in itself ), but my enquiry has not been answered.

Heinz

cashflow wrote: »

I e-mailed both 18185 and 1899 three days ago about this problem ( trying to find an e-mail contact address for them is an exercise in itself ), but my enquiry has not been answered.

You have to go in via their website and report a fault on their web form.

cashflow

Heinz wrote: »

You have to go in via their website and report a fault on their web form.

In fact, that's what I did...the automated responses I received a few minutes later from each of the two 'Companies' are identical! ...I never subsequently received any more e-mails from either.

> Date: Sun, 22 May 2011 ...
> Subject: You have created a new helpdesk ticket
> From: noreply@18185.co.uk
>
> Dear customer,
>
> We have received your report. Thank you for contacting Customer Services. We will endeavour to reply as soon as possible should a customised answer be necessary.

---

> Date: Sun, 22 May 2011 ...
> Subject: You have created a new helpdesk ticket
> From: noreply@1899.com
>
> Dear customer,
>
> We have received your report. Thank you for contacting Customer Services. We will endeavour to reply as soon as possible should a customised answer be necessary.

---

Back to square one!

ykloke

cashflow wrote: »

I tried the 'Cheapest Calls ' access code now whilst trying to make a call to a mobile in France. After dialing the access code there was a recorded message saying, 'Due to over-capacity it is not possible...'. Was I charged the connection fee in this case?

I have had the same bad experience with "Cheapest Calls" on many occasions, and I get billed the connection charge as well as the 1 minute fee. This is roughly 15 p which makes into the coffers of the line provider plus the 'Cheapest Chat' operators, simply for me to hear a recorded message.

So, it's not in the interest of the 'Cheapest Calls' provider to improve their capacity, since they now get money for nothing without having to connect any calls to anywhere. Could work well as a nice little scam.
If lots of people have the same bad experience, then I hope MSE will be able to remove this bad operator from the Call Checker.