The International CallChecker discussion thread 2

jhp

ohit wrote: »

You should include Skype prices in the International CallChecker, especially as now anyone can use it from normal phones using its SkypeToGo service (which I am using for no extra charge other than standard Pay-As-U-Go) credit.

Its not a direct dial service you need to buy credit or take out a subscription.They operate minute billing. Calls made through your Skype To Go number are charged at standard Skype rates plus the standard rate charged by your operator. If the call is not included in your Skype subscription there is a small connection fee.

www.localphone.com no connection second billing is probaly better or www.cheapcallsdiscount.com via their 020 number.

redux

ohit wrote: »

You should include Skype prices in the International CallChecker, especially as now anyone can use it from normal phones using its SkypeToGo service (which I am using for no extra charge other than standard Pay-As-U-Go) credit.

I believe that (certainly in the past), new providers would be considered for inclusion if they have demonstrably cheaper rates for any or several destinations

Skype would be unlikely to qualify on those grounds, as its rates are generally some way higher than the best available

DavidP24

In your article on international calls you refer to a cheapest Euro and cheapest world package, the latter points to Skype.

I do wish you would NOT refer to this as a WORLD package, there are over 180 countries in the world and this is just a selection of just 40 countries.

For example it does not include Cuba and to call Cuba on this package would cost €0.832, currently I pay 0.42p a minute.

In future please label these as popular or selected countries.

Thanks

achan891

I have used phonecheap to call family and friends overseas for a few months now (0.5p per minute). We have a Virgin Media broadband package and it all seemed to be fine. However, VM upped their charges a month or so back, so I have now made a couple of calls which were charged at nearly 3ppm. VM did notify me of this change in the cost, but to an email address that I never check (even though they had my main email address as my preferred email).

Anyway what I am annoyed about is that when I dial the phonecheap access number, there is a tariff announcement which says "Calls cost half a p per minute". Thus I was informed that the call would still be 0.5ppm when in fact I was being charged at nearly 3ppm. It seems to me that I was given false/misleading information - but I don't know whether to take this up with phonecheap or VM. Does anyone know whose responsibility it is to make sure that the tariff announcement matches the actual call charges?

Thanks!

utilitybroker

achan891 wrote: »

I have used phonecheap to call family and friends overseas for a few months now (0.5p per minute). We have a Virgin Media broadband package and it all seemed to be fine. However, VM upped their charges a month or so back, so I have now made a couple of calls which were charged at nearly 3ppm. VM did notify me of this change in the cost, but to an email address that I never check (even though they had my main email address as my preferred email).

Anyway what I am annoyed about is that when I dial the phonecheap access number, there is a tariff announcement which says "Calls cost half a p per minute". Thus I was informed that the call would still be 0.5ppm when in fact I was being charged at nearly 3ppm. It seems to me that I was given false/misleading information - but I don't know whether to take this up with phonecheap or VM. Does anyone know whose responsibility it is to make sure that the tariff announcement matches the actual call charges?

Thanks!

PhoneCheap are responsible for their recorded announcement but it does say on their site at http://www.phonecheap.co.uk/info.php

"Our access numbers are available from BT, Telewest and NTL landlines, mobile phones, pay phones and other call providers. The rates stated are based on BT rates, for all other operators, including mobile operators, please check with your provider for the rates they charge to our access numbers. Calling from a mobile phone or payphone may be surcharged by your operator. We cannot influence the rates charged by other operators as non BT operators set their own charges on their billing systems."

Have a look at http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php via their 0808 freephone number.(free to call on VM) to see if this cheaper.

buglawton

This is why I refuse to take Virgin Media's phone line, I stick to BT.

flower1967

I think I may have come across a bit of a gem....

We all know about Skype, and how much money it can save on phone calls both at home and abroad.

Well, recently I came across Rebtel, a provider of cheap international calls. This is a bit tricky to explain at first (for my little brain at least! hehe), so please be patient with me, and read carefully!!

Skype calls from my laptop to my fiancee's mobile in the Philippines usually cost 16.2 pence per minute. Now, that's pretty good, for a call to a mobile phone overseas. However, if I use Rebtel as well, then it quite literally cuts that cost in half!!

How it works: first, you need to join Skype, and pay the monthly subscription of £1.95. (With this subscription, by the way, you also get a free incoming calls number, so my laptop can receive calls just like a landline; you also get free voicemail with it; and unlimited FREE calls to UK landlines.)

Rebtel works by allowing you to call a local UK number which it then routes through the internet at very low rates.

So, if you use Skype to call the local rate Rebtel number, the call is free! Remember, you get unlimited FREE calls to UK landlines with Skype. And the Rebtel number is of course a local number! So, you literally only pay the 8 pence per minute that Rebtel charges for the international part of the call.

The call quality is excellent, crystal clear, and reliable - much better than some of the 0871 numbers I've used before, and cheaper too. (With those ones, I was always having to pay the local call rate on top, which was much, much more than the very reasonable £1.95 monthly fee I now pay to Skype.)

Just to recap, then: calling from a landline or a mobile, you would usually either be paying line rental of anything upwards of £10 per month (for a landline), or a monthly fee of anything in excess of, let's say, £20 per month (for a mobile on contract), or a call rate of not less than 15 pence per minute (for a PAYG mobile), or thereabouts. So the true cost of a call abroad, or any call for that matter, must of course include these costs.

All of these are exorbitant when compared to Skype's £1.95 per month. So get dialling!

No, I don't work for Skype. No, I don't work for Rebtel. I'm just desperately in love with a beautiful Filipina who I can't wait to marry, and I need to keep in touch with her a lot! Oh, and we need to save as much money as possible for the wedding of course...

Happy Skyping! Or should that be happy Rebtelling? Or both??!!!



PS Do please note that you do have to key in your phone number when you use Rebtel. However, I consider this a minor inconvenience when you're getting unlimited half price calls!!

buglawton

This would make sense if the Skype 'in' number was worth having for other reasons. If Skype offered fax inwards on the same number I'd be straight in (for home office use) but it does not. Anyhow wanting a simple solution to call Philippines - Mobile for 8p could try 0871 881 0222 then dial the full international mobile number - but check with your operator that 8p is what they charge you.

OldGreyFox

buglawton wrote: »

This would make sense if the Skype 'in' number was worth having for other reasons. If Skype offered fax inwards on the same number I'd be straight in (for home office use) but it does not. Anyhow wanting a simple solution to call Philippines - Mobile for 8p could try 0871 881 0222 then dial the full international mobile number - but check with your operator that 8p is what they charge you.

Only 7p a minute plus 8p connection from a BT Landline via
Primus Saver http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/philippines-mobile

OldGreyFox

flower1967 wrote: »

So, if you use Skype to call the local rate Rebtel number, the call is free!

Their not free their inclusive. You have to pay to get them

Just to recap, then: calling from a landline or a mobile, you would usually either be paying line rental of anything upwards of £10 per month (for a landline), or a monthly fee of anything in excess of, let's say, £20 per month (for a mobile on contract), or a call rate of not less than 15 pence per minute (for a PAYG mobile), or thereabouts. So the true cost of a call abroad, or any call for that matter, must of course include these costs.

So in that case it should include the cost of the broadband you need to use skype.

See my comments.:D