Call 18866 Connection Fee Increase

bbb_uk

Hi All,

I Have just received an email from call18866 stating from 23rd March, the connection fee will increase to 2p (from 1p). The calls per minute are still 0p (except calls from non-BT lines).

It's a pain but as far as I'm aware they are still the cheapest as Call 1899 have a connection fee of 3p.

Does anyone know of a call provider that is cheaper?

Also, I came across, http://www.telesavers.co.uk, which do calls to mobiles for only 5p per minute. This is achieved by dialing a 0844 566... number which is charged by BT at 5p per minute (I have double-checked with BT price list and it is definitely charged at 5p per minute).

The link below is a link to BT's pricing information for calls to specialists numbers (ie, those beginning with 07, 08, or 09):-

http://www.bt.com/Pricing/pis_info.jsp?PRICE_OPTION=Residential/PIS_Specialised_Numbers/innertext/&showsub=PIS_Residential&showsub2=PIS_Specialised_Numbers&c_index=08

bbb_uk

Further to my thread, I have just noticed that this info has already been posted.

See thread, http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=37585.

Although, I'm not sure if everyone was aware of Telesavers doing calls to mobiles for 5p per minute!

Sorry!

Heinz

bbb_uk wrote:

..... I'm not sure if everyone was aware of Telesavers doing calls to mobiles for 5p/minute!

But that is Saturdays & Sundays only - when call1899.co.uk charge only 2p/minute and call18866.co.uk charge only 3p/minute.

bbb_uk

Heinz wrote:

But that is Saturdays & Sundays only - when call1899.co.uk charge only 2p/minute and call18866.co.uk charge only 3p/minute.

I've just checked telesavers website and it states that only 0845 & 0870 calls have a peak/offpeak rate with most other rates being one rate only.

I've just double checked BTs website (see my link above) and that access number 0844 566... is charged at 5p per minute daytime, evening and at weekend.

With telesavers, you don't have to subscribe (ie, provide payment details) therefore they only get a cut of the call and in this case its an 0844 which as mentioned before is charged at 5p per minute anytime.

I may have missed something on their (telesavers) website so i'd be grateful if you could point it out to me.

We are currently on Telewest and are in the middle of having our number ported to BT (to benefit from all these providers) so I can't confirm that Telesavers actually charge 5p per minute all the time to call a mobile (although I don't see how they can charge more as the call is billed by BT).

Can anyone confirm that Telesavers do only charge 5p daytime for calls to mobiles?

Smartasss

Telesavers charge 10p/min to mobiles Mon-Fri and 5p/min Sat + Sun.

At the moment they are well beaten by other providers at the weekend and equalled (but still bettered) by 1899 during the week.

(1899 still better them because they only charge if you get connected, whereas you always have to pay a connection charge for dialling the Telesavers access phone number)

allthatmularky

Forgot this was a l/l to mobile discussion - deleted the original post.

Telesavers website clearly states ( at the v.bottom of their rates table) - so may be not 5p anytime.

* UK mobile:
Sat-Sun: 5p/min
Mon-Fri 10p/min

Steve_xx

Looks to me that it is as bbb_uk says, ie Telesavers calls to mobile are 5ppm at anytime, if you have a BT line.

I can't understand how Telesavers say it will be 10ppm during weekdays, when clearly, BT will charge just 5ppm at anytime. As the OP says, you wuld be billed by BT.

bbb_uk

Steve_xx wrote:

Looks to me that it is as bbb_uk says, ie Telesavers calls to mobile are 5ppm at anytime, if you have a BT line.

I can't understand how Telesavers say it will be 10ppm during weekdays, when clearly, BT will charge just 5ppm at anytime. As the OP says, you wuld be billed by BT.

I've just checked the bottom of the rates page and I agree it does state that calls to mobiles are 10ppm daytime/evening but if you visit their FAQs, http://www.telesavers.co.uk/faq.php#5, then at the bottom of that FAQ it reads "For all other landline and mobile charges please check with your service provider."

As mentioned in an earlier post, you don't pay any money to Telesavers therefore they must take a cut of the call and BT's website clearly states that the access number (0844 566...) is charged at 5ppm all the time.

The only way, I can see telesavers charging more is that they change the access code during the daytime to one that is charged by BT at 10ppm. Either that or BT website is not correct and BT charge 10ppm for calls to that access number during the daytime in which case you would have cause to complain over misleading prices.

I'll email Telesavers and pose this very question to them and see what their reply (if any) is.

Steve_xx

bbb_uk wrote:

I've just checked the bottom of the rates page and I agree it does state that calls to mobiles are 10ppm daytime/evening but if you visit their FAQs, http://www.telesavers.co.uk/faq.php#5, then at the bottom of that FAQ it reads "For all other landline and mobile charges please check with your service provider."

As mentioned in an earlier post, you don't pay any money to Telesavers therefore they must take a cut of the call and BT's website clearly states that the access number (0844 566...) is charged at 5ppm all the time.

The only way, I can see telesavers charging more is that they change the access code during the daytime to one that is charged by BT at 10ppm. Either that or BT website is not correct and BT charge 10ppm for calls to that access number during the daytime in which case you would have cause to complain over misleading prices.

I'll email Telesavers and pose this very question to them and see what their reply (if any) is.

Telesavers can't charge 10ppm during the day, since they don't actually charge you directly anyway, ie BT do. The access 0844 number remains the same and either they connect the call or they don't. So, as I see it, you're right; it's 5ppm at all times unless BT's tariff is incorrect. It would be good if someone had online billing from BT and so was able to make a call and test the cost.

andy88_2

I suspect that their email reply will be to thank you for pointing out that the 0871 number for daytime use to mobiles does not appear on the site

spook

I've just tried calling a mobile through TeleSavers and it wouldn't connect me - I simply got a message telling me the 0871 number (10p/min) to call instead.

So the rates given on the site are correct. The 0844 access number must only work at off-peak times.

Hope that helps
Martin