Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users - Discussion

charlieheard

Apologies if this is slightly off-topic, but I've had no replies when I've asked this elsewhere.

I use the Heinz program with BT/Primus Saver 2. I'm currently with Tiscali for broadband, running only 1Meg. We can now get up to 4 Meg (we're a fair way away from the exchange), but most companies now seem to include switching to their phone service as part of the deal.

What broadband providers are people using with their BT/Primus setup?

will-in-estoril

My Orchid dialler arrived yesterday, duly preprogrammed with the Heinz programme and my dialling code.

Aside from updating time and date (using the enclosed leaflet) will the above problems affect my dialler, or is it ready to use?

I (will) use BT for line rental, Primus Saver CPS and am signed up to www.18185.co.uk

Heinz

will-in-estoril wrote: »

My Orchid dialler arrived yesterday, duly preprogrammed with the Heinz programme and my dialling code.

Aside from updating time and date (using the enclosed leaflet) will the above problems affect my dialler, or is it ready to use?

I (will) use BT for line rental, Primus Saver CPS and am signed up to www.18185.co.uk

It used to be just a question of connecting the new dialler up and then forcing it to call home. Unfortunately, the recent problem means it is now necessary to perform a small programming task as well.

When you have connected up your new dialler, there are 2 things you have to do:

(1). Change the force home telephone number - see HERE;

and then

(2). Force your dialler home (by dialling * * * 1 2 # 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 * 3) and leave it for 5 minutes or so (during which time, the red LED will flash about once a second, your home STD code will be uploaded and your program will be downloaded).

Heinz

signman wrote: »

Well tonight tried to sign up to Primus Penny Mobile 2 - Indian rep says they no longer do this option - Seems Heinz they have pulled the option

I emailed their CS asking:

As you know, I changed from your Primus Saver Option 2 CPS package to your Penny Mobile 2 CPS package in October 2007.

I have found that extremely useful and effective (particularly the ability to use BT's Call Diversion Calling Feature to divert calls to my mobile for 20p each - provided such diversions don't go over 20 minutes) and, as a result, I have been recommending Penny Mobile 2 CPS to many others.

However, since your call centre was moved from Glasgow to India, potential customers are being 'fobbed off' with comments such as "there's no such package" when they try to sign up.

As I am on the package, I know it does exist but I am now in a quandary as to whether I should continue making (unpaid) recommendations or just warn people off.

Perhaps you could enlighten me please.

I received the unintelligible reply:

We are glad that you are referring customer to use our services.

If do provide the Penny Mobile 2 plan.

We are sorry for the misinformation provided to you.

Please call our Sale Team on 0800 036 0094 and they will be glad to assist you with required information.

You can also visit our website www.primussaver.co.uk

Looking forward for your business with Primus Telecommunications Ltd

Customer Service
Primus Telecommunications Ltd

However, I persisted:

I'm sorry, I do not understand what you are trying to say in your second paragraph ("If do provide the Penny Mobile 2 plan").

Please can you explain. Is Penny Mobile 2 CPS still available?

The next reply was unequivocal:

Yes we do offer the Penny Mobile 2.

Thanks,
Customer Service.

I think the message is, keep trying. The Indian CS people haven't got a clue but Penny Mobile 2 CPS is still available.

usenetz

Looks like some reprograming of our Orchid dialers may be in order for some users.

DC09-002 January 8, 2009

BT £24M GIVEAWAY HELPS 14m CUSTOMERS SAY NO TO 0870!

BT today offered some New Year cheer to 14 million customers by becoming the first UK telephone company to make calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers free.!
Customers have often complained that their calling packages did not include the 0870 and 0845 numbers which are frequently used by banks, insurance companies and even doctor’s surgeries. Calls to these numbers cost more than usual, with Sky and Virgin charging around 10p a minute for a daytime 0870 call.
BT has always charged much cheaper rates, but has now decided to go even further. In a move costing BT tens of millions, the company has decided to give customers what they want by including 0870 and 0845 numbers in call packages.*

An Anytime customer will now get their calls to these numbers for free as well as all their calls to UK landlines and great rates on mobile calls – for just £4.85 a month, which works out at less than the cost of a second class stamp a day.!
A customer who is on the Evening and Weekend package will get their 0870 and 0845 calls for free, as well as their UK landline calls, after 6pm every day and all weekend.
No UK phone company has ever included these call types in their packages before, because 0845 and 0870 numbers generate large revenues for the banks, utility firms and other organisations that use them.

However, customers resented the high charges for 0870 and 0845 numbers, especially as the organisations using them were seen to be making a profit from them. Campaigners even set up a web site to let customers know other numbers to call the same companies, called saynoto0870.
The Government recently announced a review of doctors and NHS departments using 084 numbers, because customers complained they should not be charged more to call for medical help.

John Petter, managing director of BT’s Consumer business, said: We know that the public is frustrated by having to pay higher charges for these numbers, even though BT’s rates were cheaper than our rivals, so we worked out a way to go further and include calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers in our call packages.
These numbers are widely used by banks, utilities and even NHS Direct, and our customers spend 30 minutes a month on average calling these numbers. We hope we have taken a sting out of the price of these calls, but also removed one of those irritations that customers believed was an unfair anomaly.

All of our 14m calls customers have free calls included in their package and now all 14m have free calls to 0870 and 0845 at times that fit with their calling plan, which is something not offered by any of our competitors.

*excludes ISP dial-up numbers and indirect access numbers. Full details at bt.com.

The table below shows how much you can save on a 10-minute call made on a Saturday morning:

BT Virgin Media Talk Talk Tiscali Sky Post Office
0845 Numbers FREE 75p 26p 45p 67p 10p
0870 Numbers FREE £1.04 65p 85p £1.07 20p

Prices correct at time of going to print. Comparison based on pence-per-minute rates and set-up fees charged after 8am at the weekend (correct December 2008). Competitor monthly line rental costs from £11 (Virgin Media), £10.50 (TalkTalk), £10.99 (Tiscali), £10 (Sky) and £10.72 (Post Office). Content of packages vary and prices quoted exclude calling circle discounts, where applicable.

Inquiries about this news release should be made to Michael Jarvis on 020 7356 6045 or the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK, dial +44 20 7356 5369.

All BT Group news releases can be accessed at our web site: www.bt.com/newscentre.


About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2008, BT Group’s revenue was £20,704 million with profit before taxation and specific items of £2,506 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

BT have confirmed that this will take effect from Friday 16th January 2009.
This does not include business customers.

john

mbailey

Is it just me, it is the Orchid server broken again tonight? When I call the number I just get no response, no usual modem tones...

Heinz

mbailey wrote: »

Is it just me, it is the Orchid server broken again tonight? When I call the number I just get no response, no usual modem tones...

01536 207810 is working fine for me.

Speedee

Heinz wrote: »

The Indian CS people haven't got a clue but Penny Mobile 2 CPS is still available.

Thanks for finding that out Heinz.

I have finally signed my parents up to 18185, but I DON'T want to sign them up to Primus as a CPS as they don't want another direct debit, and now the Primus Customer Service is overseas they wouldn't want yet more potential grief understanding yet another off-shore call center, BT is bad enough!

So could you confirm, as I suspect, but am only 99% sure, that just using BT Weekends and Evenings Plan with BT line rental and 18185 and your "Heinz programme" with a Orchid V4+ dialer will still work OK?

Thanks, Speedee

Heinz

Speedee wrote: »

So could you confirm, as I suspect, but am only 99% sure, that just using BT Weekends and Evenings Plan with BT line rental and 18185 and your "Heinz programme" with a Orchid V4+ dialer will still work OK?

Yes indeed - the use of the 1280 prefix in the program will have no effect if you don't have a CPS calls provider.

Speedee

Heinz wrote: »

Yes indeed - the use of the 1280 prefix in the program will have no effect if you don't have a CPS calls provider.

Thanks Heinz. I phoned Orchid today to order a V4+ dialer. The lady was very helpful. They have an offer on - 3 for 2, with the 20% MSE discount, so I bought 3 and will give one to a sceptical relative, who was going to get one after I proved it works OK :rolleyes:; the third one can be fitted upstairs in the office; saves me having a sheet of paper to do my dialing!

They don't sell the V4+ anymore, so I got V4's instead! The lady said the difference was you don't get a power supply, but there is more than enough from the BT line, so I hope we haven't got a dodgy BT line (it'll be just our luck :rolleyes:). I told her they were to be put on the "Heinz program" and she put us on the list! :beer:

Thanks, Speedee

Update: See next post for comment on Orchid Telecoms news.