Call18866 Questions and Answers

Johnny_Gibbon

Hi All, have joined 18866, and noticed that we are coming up on our friends' caller display phones as "International". After dialling 1471, they get the whole number read out to them (+44 etc.), and mobiles are ok as they seem to take everything as a potential international call anyway. This is quite vexing, as my mother-in-law for one has said she wont be answering when it comes up as International on her phone!
Does anyone know of a way round this? Think we might be finding a lot of people aren't in when we call... thanks, John.

wendyl1967

That does not happen when my friends who are on 18866 call. It gives the full number with the std code but not 44 for the uk.

Wendy

Johnny_Gibbon

Wendy, are your friends getting the number on a home caller display phone? do you know if its BT line or not? thanks John

daveram13

The caller id on 18866 is normal when I dial someone else.

My issues are:

1. Not everyone in the house remembers to pre-dial 18866 and so I end up paying full whack BT rates. Is there a pre-dialler box available to ensure 18866 is dialled everytime?

2. I think the message from 18866 should say there is a fixed charge of 3 Pence per call rather than saying 0 Pence per minute is charged. Then if the fixed price increases (like last time 1 Pence to 3 Pence) it is not hidden.

3. 18866 have also increased their mobile phone charges are they still competitive?

sergeant121

1. Orchid (see the Sticky above).

2. It's 1p per call (1899 is 3p).

3. 1899 is cheaper (3p connection and then 10p/minute during the week and 2p/minute at weekends).

Chaufeurse1956

Thank you for putting those questions to 18866 Martin - I had to set up a Hotmail account as I am on aol - I used to get my mail from 18866 until aol spat the dummy out!
Both operate an excellent service, I specifically like the way I can put as many phone numbers on the account as I want. It's great. I have to ring Florida on a regular basis and getting free calls to the USA (and Germany amonst others) with 1899 is awesome. I was on the phone for 30 minutes the other day - for 3p. BT must be feeling the pinch, they have just had to pay £94 back into my bank account because we no longer use their lines. I have reduced my rental to the cheapest at £10.50 a month and recommend 18866 for all UK calls and 1899 for all overseas and mobile calls to everybody I talk to. I hope my logic of the more customers they get, the higher the chance these companies have of maintaining these prices!

Chaufeurse1956

Johnny_Gibbon wrote:

Hi All, have joined 18866, and noticed that we are coming up on our friends' caller display phones as "International". After dialling 1471, they get the whole number read out to them (+44 etc.), and mobiles are ok as they seem to take everything as a potential international call anyway. This is quite vexing, as my mother-in-law for one has said she wont be answering when it comes up as International on her phone!
Does anyone know of a way round this? Think we might be finding a lot of people aren't in when we call... thanks, John.

Have you considered blocking your BT telephone number? I know that means that everybody is unable to know it was you who called if they dial 1471 but often that is a good thing. Try this first. Before you dial 18866 dial 141 and then make your call - your home number is blocked. If you like how it works ask BT to put you on a permanent block. Occassionally I get the message to say that anonymous calls are not accepted so I just dial 140 prior to 18866 and this unblocks my number to the person I am calling.
All the best to you.

Johnny_Gibbon

anyone else had the "International" experience coming up on other people's caller displays? really want to get o the bottom of this... thanks :O)

boxercrazy

regarding 18866, daveram 13, I have programmed most of the numbers we call with the 18866 pre fix and next to the name added a number 2, so weekdays we use 'name2' and weekend use just the name. (on one tel free at weekends)
Hope this helps

savalan

:rolleyes:
I was sihgned with 1899 about week ago. They advertise one price but in reality sometimes it is different. eg. US calls not for 0p but 1p/min. And when I call to 0845 or 0870 numbers, it is sometimes don't get throug and I try to call direct to those numbers, it works. May be this happened with somebody else. don't know.