The International CallChecker discussion thread 2

terricfan

Hi all,

I'm considering moving my home phone & broadband from PlusNet to Sky.

I currently use override services such as Teletop and 18189 to call Canada for as little as 0.5p/minute.

Does Sky allow the use of these cheap call providers?

Thanks for any help.

buglawton

It does not allow the short codes. 18189 (maybe you meant 18185?) will have an 0800 and 02x access very likely, the 0800 one would be free to access, not blocked by Sky, but costs more and the famous pay connection charge then talk free does not exist on 0800 access.

OldGreyFox

terricfan wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm considering moving my home phone & broadband from PlusNet to Sky.

I currently use override services such as Teletop and 18189 to call Canada for as little as 0.5p/minute.

Does Sky allow the use of these cheap call providers?

Thanks for any help.

Yes if use freephone access numbers. Or you can use 01/02/03 access numbers which are only worthwhile if you have 01/02/3 inclusive minutes.You cant use short codes like 1899 etc.

If you have inclusive minutes you can use https://www.callsdiscount.com to call Canada via their 0161 number at no extra cost to you.;)

Sbarkia

For some time I've been calling Tunisian mobiles at 13p a minute via access 0911 677 7777 and used to be greeted by "Hello Mortal" though I can't remember the name of the company. Recently I have dialled the same number, got a different message and then told that they couldn't connect me through this number, followed by the number I should dial, which was exactly the same. :mad: Any idea of what is going on?

Ian011

Be aware that the cost will no longer be 13p per minute.

You'll need to look up the Access Charge for your landline or mobile provider plus the Service Charge advertised by the service you're calling.

A google search using that number may reveal the company you have been using and their website may list the real new number.

[Deleted User]

It seems as though we're in a worse state than we've been for years on international call costs although I freely admit this is based on my frustrated attempts to research just now - I may be missing something.

The ability to pre-select an international service went long ago, Ofcom has let the telcos off from supporting indirect access numbers so those went. Then we went to 0844 and the like numbers.

The MSE International Call Checker has a warning because Ofcom changed the way these numbers were charged. This means the call checker is broken but that was back in July.

The MSE article on the subject was archived in 2009.

I'm actually trying to switch phone and BB at the moment but the cost of international calling is key as its almost the only type of landline call we make now with relatives abroad.

Its frustratingly difficult to figure out. If I look up an international call service provider (Cheapie calls ltd (made-up)).

Let's say the number I need to dial is 0844 896... (from a real provider whose name would confuse this post).

To figure out the cost, I need to:-

(Sky as an example and then BT)

- Find Sky's tariff guide
- Fine Sky's specialised numbers guide

I find that 0844 896 is in "Service Charge - 8"
I can then look this up in Sky's tariff and find that there's an 11.50p per min charge from Sky and that the maximum from a service provider is capped at 7p/pm. Actually "Cheapie calls Ltd" charge 3p per minute for the service I looked up.

So I think my cost is now 14.50p (there's no connection charge with Sky (any provider?) for 084 type calls).

Not exactly quick and easy but at least possible.

With BT, I found the relevant guide I think:-

http://www.bt.com/pricing/current/Call_Charges_boo/1632_d0e5.htm#FrameworkImpl1352619

which is an ugly hard to navigate document. The trouble is there are entries for 0844 895 and 0844 897 numbers, but not for 896.:mad:

Even if there was, I'd then need to link to the price guide to find the service charge (and that section is not straightforward). I then need to link to one of two other documents to try and find the access charge, but neither provide this (possibly because I seem to have landed up in the business price list).

If I go to the price lists section and search I get nothing. I've just downloaded the price list for exchange calls (11 MB) and will now have to try and work my way through that.

Privatisation and Ofcom's ongoing changes seem to be making things worse and worse.

Ian011

The first step is to look up the Access Charge imposed by your landline or mobile provider. This will cover calls to all 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers. There's a list here:
http://www.saynoto0870.com/costofcalling.php

Next, look up the Service Charge that applies for the number that you want to call. This step should be unnecessary as the service provider is required to declare the Service Charge everywhere their number is advertised or promoted.
http://www.ukcalling.info/industry
https://www.cap.org.uk/Advice-Training-on-the-rules/Advice-Online-Database/Chargeable-08-numbers-General.aspx
The Service Charge stays the same irrespective of which landline or mobile provider you use to make the call.

Previously, this method of calling abroad was cheap from a BT landline and expensive from everywhere else, especially from mobiles. Following BT's price rise on 1 July 2015 it's now also expensive to call these numbers from BT landlines. My post (20 February 2016) in this thread has a lot of background detail:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5417067
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70172325#Comment_70172325

Nowadays, your choices are:
- indirect providers such as 18185, etc, from some landlines
- dial-through providers offering 01, 02, 03 or 080 numbers with international leg on account
- dial-through providers offering 03 numbers with no additional charge
- dial through providers that still fall within your inclusive 0845 or 0870 allowance
- calling direct using a mobile provider that offers cheap international calls.



See also
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5219071
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5292529

Alloneword

I am missing something?
I can't seem to find the cheap international call checker, has it been taken down or moved all i get is this link

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-overseas-calls?_ga=1.235291649.1200433904.1431449802

All1

stu369

Alloneword wrote: »

I am missing something?
I can't seem to find the cheap international call checker, has it been taken down or moved all i get is this link

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-overseas-calls?_ga=1.235291649.1200433904.1431449802

All1

It's a shame no one has answered you yet. I can't find it either?

Victors_Bruvver

I have just been looking for Call Checker and going around in circles. It has been a very useful tool in the past and I would be sorry to see it go. Has MSE removed it?