Primus questions

Alot_does_not_exist

Anybody know:

1. whether Primus would take over a standard landline where the service is currently supplied by Utilities Warehouse (Telecom Plus)?

2. whether Primus will allow the use of 'prefix numbers' for calling overseas at cheaper rates than their own?

Very grateful for any help on this.

Heinz

1. I don't know but, if there's a problem doing so, it's most likely to be UW dragging their feet.

2. Primus previously gave Martin an assurance that they would permit us of the likes of 18185 "until the end of the year" but my mind's gone blank now on whether that meant the end of 2010 or 2011.

In any case, it's largely irrelevant because only BT must allow such access and, if the still do, Primus will be about the only other line rental provider doing so - so how much longer will they?

Alot_does_not_exist

Heinz wrote: »

1. I don't know but, if there's a problem doing so, it's most likely to be UW dragging their feet.

2. Primus previously gave Martin an assurance that they would permit us of the likes of 18185 "until the end of the year" but my mind's gone blank now on whether that meant the end of 2010 or 2011.

In any case, it's largely irrelevant because only BT must allow such access and, if the still do, Primus will be about the only other line rental provider doing so - so how much longer will they?

No idea what your '18185' business is. What I mean is prefix phone numbers which usually start with 0845 and are offered by dozens of companies at 1p/minute or suchlike for calling abroad.

Heinz

There are two main types of override provider, both are very cheap but they work in slightly different ways.

Simply Dial Providers. You access the service via a special type of phone number which can be dialled from any phone. This access number is at a fixed tariff (e.g. 0844 123456 costing 2p/min) and billed via your home phone company, then all you pay is the call costs (i.e., 2p/min) plus whatever connection cost your main provider charges eg BT is 12½p. The override company then gets a cut of your phone provider's call revenue.
Pros: No account needed, simple system, easy to change override provider.
Cons: You start paying as soon as you're connected to the override provider, thus even if the person isn't in, you'll have paid for a minute's call. You need a different access number for each different country.

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Account Needed Providers. Here you set up an account, access their service via a freephone access number (e.g. 18185), and then are billed for the call.
Pros: One number for all calls, you only pay when connected. Quality and reliability is usually better.
Cons: You need to set up a web account.

The ones to which you refer (typically using 0844 or 0871 numbers) are what Martin calls Simply Dial providers. You dial the 08 number, wait for the voice prompt and then dial your target number. You are charged your provider's connection fee and start paying the per minute rate for the call immediately after you have dialled the 11th digit (i.e. before you even start dialling your target number). You do not have a separate account and the calls are billed by your normal telephone calls provider at whatever rates they decide upon (e.g. after their connection fee, some 0844 numbers are charged at just over 5p/minute by BT but at other rates - sometimes double the BT rate - by some others).

On the other hand, 18185 (and 1899 and 18866) are what Martin calls Account Needed Providers and are really true 'prefix' providers because you dial the prefix immediately followed by your target number and you are billed by the prefix provider, not your line provider. You pay 18185's connection fee (5p for UK calls, 4p for overseas calls) and then 18185's per minute rate (e.g. 5p connection and 0p/minute for UK 01, 02 and 03 calls).

You will see that 18185 is recommended by Martin in his telephone articles.

jhp

Alot_does_not_exist wrote: »

No idea what your '18185' business is. What I mean is prefix phone numbers which usually start with 0845 and are offered by dozens of companies at 1p/minute or suchlike for calling abroad.

Dont you mean 0844/0871 http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/


Primus dont publish what they charge to call those numbers. http://www.primussaver.co.uk/HomePhone.aspx