The International CallChecker discussion thread 2

Emma_kK

Hi all.... I'm new to this so sorry if I'm writing this in the wrong place! Anyway, my issue is that I used the MSE international call checker before Christmas to find an 0844 number which I could use to ring New Zealand from our BT landline for 1p a minute. I thought this was too good to be true so I checked the call company's website, but couldn't find any hidden charges so I went ahead with using the number and made a few "Merry Christmas" calls to NZ..... BUT we just received our quarterly bill from BT and I've been charged £27.03 for 40 minutes of calls!!!!!!!!! I wanted to check the terms and conditions of the call company's website to check if this was too good to be true but I can't find the company's website any more, and calls to New Zealand have been taken off MSE's international call checker.

I guess that all I really want to know is: Is there any way of getting my money back?!?!

Thanks all,

Em

Heinz

Emma_kK wrote: »

...... calls to New Zealand have been taken off MSE's international call checker.

??

http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/new_zealand/bt/all

For calls via 0844 'gateways' you will have been charged by BT. BT then gives the supplying company a small percentage of that 1p and that's how they make their money. The company cannot change the cost after you have dialled.

BT are the cheapest for such calls so you will have been charged BT's connection charge for each call plus the per-minute cost of the time you spent on each call. If it was a 1p/minute 0844 number, that's what BT will have charged you so I am having difficulty understanding how you could have racked up £27 worth of charges - unless you dialled via BT instead of via the 0844 provider. Even then, BT's standard charge is 37.2p/minute to New Zealand so, even assuming you made 10 calls, that's only a total of about £16.

What was the 0844 number you used?

suiko

I'm looking for info about the cheapest way to use a UK mobile to call (a) UK mobiles, but at present in Spain; and (b) Spanish mobiles, but at present in UK.

I imagine it involves buying a particular Spanish SIM, but I can't find anything on here about this - can anyone help, or point me in the right direction?

Thanks

oldharryrocks

suiko wrote: »

I'm looking for info about the cheapest way to use a UK mobile to call (a) UK mobiles, but at present in Spain; and (b) Spanish mobiles, but at present in UK.

I imagine it involves buying a particular Spanish SIM, but I can't find anything on here about this - can anyone help, or point me in the right direction?

Thanks

It costs you the same to call a UK Mobile whether its in the UK or roaming elsewhere. ( The owner of the mobile pays for the roaming part of the call).

The same applies on the Spanish Mobile roaming in UK. Get the cheapest price to call it here.
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert...ntcallchecker/

Thats the price you pay wherever its roaming. ( Again the owner pays the roaming part of call).

glenburn_2

If l use the cheap call numbers to call a malawi mobile, does the person l'm phoning have to pay anything?

jhp

glenburn wrote: »

If l use the cheap call numbers to call a malawi mobile, does the person l'm phoning have to pay anything?

No not unless they pay to receive incoming calls normally.Like they do in USA.

But be aware the call charge starts the moment you're connected to the access number,s so you're paying immediately, so if the person you're calling is engaged or out, you still pay.

diriso58

Hi there,

I'm considering moving my home phone service to plusnet from BT, however I make phone calls abroad using the cheap international numbers. I've tried to find how much plusnet would charge for use of these numbers but have not been able to. The International CallChecker does not include plusnet as an option among its landline providers. I've also checked the plusnet tariff guide but there's no reference to 0844 or 0871 numbers. Has anyone here used plusnet for this purpose or could guide me in finding out?

jhp

diriso58 wrote: »

Hi there,

I'm considering moving my home phone service to plusnet from BT, however I make phone calls abroad using the cheap international numbers. I've tried to find how much plusnet would charge for use of these numbers but have not been able to. The International CallChecker does not include plusnet as an option among its landline providers. I've also checked the plusnet tariff guide but there's no reference to 0844 or 0871 numbers. Has anyone here used plusnet for this purpose or could guide me in finding out?

The price of calls to specialised numbers is included but you need to know charge band the number comes under to work it out.

http://www.plus.net/residential/tariffs/homephone.html


To find out details of charge band/rate see: http://www.bt.com/pricing/current/Call_Charges_boo/1632_d0e5.htm#1632-d0e5

If its any help to you Plusnet offer a £5 a month call bundle

Free calls to UK landlines, 0845 and 0870* numbers at anytime
300 Anytime minutes to 20 top international destinations and mobiles in the USA and Canada

diriso58

That's fantastic, jhp, thank you very much! I'd seen the specialised services list on the plusnet tariff page but had not realised I needed to check those against BT bands. That's now resolved the issue, your reply's been real helpful! :T

Arthur_C

Hi Guys,

I know that this can be done via other methods etc but with specific regards to normal mobile monthly tariffs:

I know that with O2 you can opt for "International Call" Bolt Ons which for £10 month let you call up to 50 numbers for lots of minutes.

But does anyone no of any other mobile provide which offers something similar?

This is for my wife who needs to call the Czech Rep (one or two numbers) once a week but she is not very phone savy and would like it kept within her monthly contract (which is up for renewal).

Cheers

Arthur:beer: