call18866/1899 and ntl phones query please.

escapee

I have been looking into registering to use one of these providers using my ntl phoneline and the 0808 freephone number, after looking at both websites i have noticed that to other uk landlines:

18866 charge a 1p connection charge and 0.5p per minute and
1899 charge a 3p connection charge and 0.0p per minute

Have I misinterpretted these or can anyone who use these services on ntl confirm my investigations. Obviously if both correct then I will look into how long usually i use the telephone and make calls, although I think 1899 would be cheaper in the long run (based on my findings above being correct).

Many thanks in advance to anyone who responds to my queries.

escapee

sergeant121

THIS other thread appears to confirm what you say.

From a cable landline - 18866 - 1p connection and 0.5p/minute;

From a cable landline - 1899 - 3p connection and 0p/minute.

daveoc22

Escapee,

I'm on NTL and joined these two around three weeks back.

I can confirm that the prices are as you think and the first bill I've just received shows that I've been charged on that basis.

I work out how long I expect my call to take and then decide which service to use.I'm finding 1899 particularly good for calling my daughter at the weekends on her mobile, only 2p a minute.

Dave

Paul_Varjak

I always assumed that 1899 had a per minute charge from non-BT landlines to UK landlines. But it seems they do not!

So, for non-BT customers at least, 1899 is cheaper on calls to UK landlines providing the call lasts at least four minutes. (18866 charges 1p connection plus 0.5p/min from non-BT landlines on calls to UK landlines).

escapee

Thank you all for your replies, I did check other topics to try to confirm my answer and did read that particular topic seargant but it did not seem definitive, so I thought I would ask for feedback from current registered ntl users of these services. I think I will go with 1899, if i can subscribe, as at least for now the price is fixed and non dependant on time used.

Thanks again
escapee

sergeant121

escapee wrote:

Thank you all for your replies, I did check other topics to try to confirm my answer and did read that particular topic seargant but it did not seem definitive, so I thought I would ask for feedback from current registered ntl users of these services. I think I will go with 1899, if i can subscribe, as at least for now the price is fixed and non dependant on time used.

Thanks again
escapee

Register with them both - you've nothing to lose.

stellagypsy

Escapee - try Onetel also for free weekend calls to landlines for £0.00 charge per month (I think they are currently doing a deal where you get free evening calls Mon - Fri also for new subscribers) plus you get a £20 call credit if you sign up online. Like Sergeant says, you have nothing to lose.......

escapee

stellagypsy wrote:

Escapee - try Onetel also for free weekend calls to landlines for £0.00 charge per month (I think they are currently doing a deal where you get free evening calls Mon - Fri also for new subscribers) plus you get a £20 call credit if you sign up online. Like Sergeant says, you have nothing to lose.......

Thanks Stellagypsy

And onetel is compatible with ntl? I will look into it. Sergeant121 I am dubious about giving my debit card details (as i do not own a credit card) to both companies due to not being technically able to cancel the contract if the need arose.

escapee

Edit* Just looked into onetel offer, Stella and its not really for me, currently even with ntls rates I only accumulate around £2 per month in call charges, to pay £3.99 just to gain it back as call credit instead and then adding on the £20 free online credit also, I would not use it so would end up spending money for nothing! Thanks anyway.

Edinburghlass_2

escapee wrote:

Thanks Stellagypsy

And onetel is compatible with ntl? I will look into it. Sergeant121 I am dubious about giving my debit card details (as i do not own a credit card) to both companies due to not being technically able to cancel the contract if the need arose.

escapee

Edit* Just looked into onetel offer, Stella and its not really for me, currently even with ntls rates I only accumulate around £2 per month in call charges, to pay £3.99 just to gain it back as call credit instead and then adding on the £20 free online credit also, I would not use it so would end up spending money for nothing! Thanks anyway.

escapee, the Onetel offers seems confusing BUT you don't pay the £3.99 and then have to use it in calls, they just debit and credit your account on a monthly basis and then any calls you make are free in the evenings and w/ends. The £20 is a straight credit which you could use up over time on any 0870 or 0845 calls you may have to make.

HTH

escapee

edinburghlass wrote:

escapee, the Onetel offers seems confusing BUT you don't pay the £3.99 and then have to use it in calls, they just debit and credit your account on a monthly basis and then any calls you make are free in the evenings and w/ends. The £20 is a straight credit which you could use up over time on any 0870 or 0845 calls you may have to make.

HTH

Are you sure about this edinburghlass? It states in Martins original post

"In a nutshell

One.Tel* has a special offer for new customers signing up during Feb. Usually it charges £3.99 for its 'free landline calls evenings and weekends' package, yet sign up this month and it's available for no charge (actually what it does it charges you then gives you a £3.99 call credit)

Plus it'll give you a £20 call credit to be used as well (and existing customers may be able to switch over to this too, see note later)

How to use your call credits

Both the 'free' £20 and 'free' £3.99 a month from One-Tel are in the form of call credits rather than just discounts. So if you use One.Tel only for the free calls and then call18866 for others, you'll never feel this call credit benefit"

Which insinuates to me that £3.99 is debited from your bank and given back as call credit on your onetel account, if what you are saying is correct then it is worth having, it also seems they have extended the offer till the end of March (Martin states the offer expires at the end of February).

sergeant121

The relevant part is:

"(actually what it does it charges you then gives you a £3.99 call credit)"

If you (semi) ignore the word 'call' in that extract, all becomes clear.