18185 and Plusnet

neon013

Registered with 18185 and receive the messages 0p per minute etc so presumably its working with a pre-dial of 18185 provided from my phones handset (my Dectsys phone allows 6 digits).

My problem is that I just received my bill from plusnet and 18185 and they are now BOTH billing me for the same calls - 18185 at reduced rate and plusnet at 12.5p connection and 12.5p for first minute. Therefore I have lots of call from plusnet at 25p per minute plus the 18185 charges.

On contacting plusnet support the best answer I can get is to try using the 0808 1 703 703 as a pre-dial.

I had assumed (perhaps wrongly) that as plusnet used a BT line AND the calls went through correctly that the 18185 prefix was working.

My question is therefore:-
Q1/ Has anyone got 18185 working with plusnet (and not been billed twice) and if so how?

If I am forced to use the 0808 1 703 703 prefix (which will not be possible to program in with my current phone) my second question is:-

Q2/ Does anyone know of a phone (preferably DECT) that can predial a long number or a dialer/PABX which will do the same job?

Thanks in advance..

malamute

no option this is what you will need to do, same as 1899 (im with TalkTalk)

Especially for all NTL, Telewest, other non-BT landline and mobile customers we have dedicated the freephone number 0808 1 703 703* for cheap international calls. Mobile users can also use our local rate access number 020 81 80 2828*.
How does it work?
Please ensure your mobile number is registered with your existing customer number or if you aren't a customer yet join now .

Once registered you can call our access number 0808 1 703 703 (freephone) or 020 81 80 2828 (local rate). Wait for the voice prompt and dial the number you would like to call. That's all! (A 4p connection fee applies to all international calls. For national calls this will be 5p)

neon013

Thanks malamute,

If this is the only option then its really no good to me without hardware/software to do the pre-dialling - the 0808 number is simply too long to be doing it manually for each call and my current phone can't handle such a long pre-dial itself.

Its also seems a bit of a con that the 18185 number gets through (and hence you're billed twice). Surely plusnet are aware of this number and hence if its not the right one to use should block it.

Finally, does any one have any ideas on hardware / software/ phone to overcome this?

barak

neon013 wrote: »

Thanks malamute,

If this is the only option then its really no good to me without hardware/software to do the pre-dialling - the 0808 number is simply too long to be doing it manually for each call and my current phone can't handle such a long pre-dial itself.

Its also seems a bit of a con that the 18185 number gets through (and hence you're billed twice). Surely plusnet are aware of this number and hence if its not the right one to use should block it.

Finally, does any one have any ideas on hardware / software/ phone to overcome this?

Not for storing on your phone, but I make most of my home calls from my Lotus SmartSuite's address book which allows me to store [I've just checked!] up to 31 digits for a phone number. I don't suppose many people have Lotus SmartSuite, but there may be other PC address books that are similar.

OldGreyFox

If Plusnet allow you to call indirect access numbers which they currently do they should not be charging anything to do so.When you call 18185, the call leaves them and goes to the 18185 network.No charge should be raised by the originating network, only by 18185.

The 0808 and 02 access number,s are for use when indirect access is blocked by your supplier.

neon013

Thanks again for the replies.

I have put the reply received from OlgGreyFox to plusnet and I'm awaiting a reply. Would I be correct in thinking OFCOM could give a definitive answer?

Plusnet_company_representative

Hi Neon013,

Any chance you could advise of a ticket ID at all? Happy to take a look at things and see if we can get you an answer, if you're willing.

Regards,

Matt Taylor
Customer Support

neon013

Matt,

Thanks for stepping in as basically plusnet support have stated they are not trained to give me an answer.

Ticket Id's are #52424773 (closed by mistake)
+ #52568470

Thanks in advance..

Stompa

neon013 wrote: »

Q2/ Does anyone know of a phone (preferably DECT) that can predial a long number or a dialer/PABX which will do the same job?

On an Android Mobile I use an app called Phonecard Express (there are other alternative apps):

http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.phonecard_express

to simplify the dialling of the access number etc.

Now I believe you can now get Android DECT phones, so maybe it might also work with them.....?

Phones4Chris

neon013 the 18185 prefix should work fine with Plusnet. I use it no problem. Whoever responded to your ticket clearly hadn't a clue and gave you incorrect advice and presumably didn't consult anyone more senior to check the facts. Now you have Matt on the case it should get sorted with no problem. You do not want/need to use the 0808 number - you'll get charged by the minute for UK calls instead of the 0p/min.
Matt should also be able to look into the "training" issue of whoever incorrectly responded to the ticket.

tplunkett

Q.I am currently considering moving my landline to Plusnet. Will I be able to use 18185 for calls to mobiles from my landline.
BTW.This is important as Plusnet mobile rates are way more than I pay with my current BT deal.