Thought of another question about Primus - sorry :o)

Allanon

Right, I go live with the "Heinz Program" and Primus sometime today. My question this time regards BT services such as Call Diversion, Call Waiting etc., etc.

I activated Call Waiting and switched it on about 5 years ago and I leave it permanently switched on - will the switchover to Primus today affect that? Will it have to be re-activated or what? Call Waiting is the only service that I've got permanently activated - the other services are just used as and when needed.

When I'm going away I usually set Call Diversion to forward all incoming calls to my mobile and to do that on BT, you dial *21* then my mobile number #. Now that I'm going on Primus, I assume I'll have to dial the BT access code of 1280 before I can do the *21* bit - is that correct or can I dial and activate BT services directly from Primus?

And finally, irrespective of whether I have to dial from BT or Primus, can I now set Call Diversion to go through 18185 because they are cheaper, ie, *21*18185 then my mobile number #?

Cheers folks,

John.

Heinz

Primus Saver Option 2 is, like many others, is a CPS (Carrier PreSelect) provider.

That means that, although you keep your BT landline and your incoming calls still arrive on BT (so 'Calling Features' like Caller Display, 1471 and 1571 work normally), you will have opted to have the BT exchange programmed so that, by default, (nearly) all your outgoing calls are sent via the CPS provider (and BT don't even 'see' the calls even though they carry the first leg).

The 'default' part of that sentence is the key to CPS. It means that, if you want, you can use a prefix to send an individual call via another provider (i.e. override the CPS programming for a single call). For example, using just a 1280 prefix will send that call out via BT, using just a 18185 prefix (not 128018185) will send that call out via www.18185.co.uk and so on.

In other words, CPS allows you still to pick the best carrier for your calls even though you've opted, normally, to use one provider (in this case, Primus Saver Option 2 because of the free evening and weekend UK 01/02 calls).

You'll have to use the 1280 prefix to switch call diversion on/off. Be aware that, because *21* etc programs the BT exchange to do the diverts, the diverted part of the calls will go on BT - at their rates. Making your mobile your Best Friend in your Friends & Family list reduces the cost by 20%.

BT does not allow use of prefixes on 'divert to' strings.

Allanon

Thanks Heinz - once again, you're a mine of information :T

John.

Hazzanet

Heinz wrote: »

You'll have to use the 1280 prefix to switch call diversion on/off. Be aware that, because *21* etc programs the BT exchange to do the diverts, the diverted part of the calls will go on BT - at their rates. Making your mobile your Best Friend in your Friends & Family list reduces the cost by 20%.

Heinz - Are you sure about this? Calls diverted to my mobile by doing *21*number# appear as mobile calls on my Primus Bill. No mobile calls ever appear on my BT Bill.

Hazza

Heinz

Hazzanet wrote: »

Heinz - Are you sure about this? Calls diverted to my mobile by doing *21*number# appear as mobile calls on my Primus Bill. No mobile calls ever appear on my BT Bill.

Hazza

Now I'm confused. Call Diversion is activated on the incoming call (obviously). I assumed (I can't see how it can be otherwise but you've shown me to be wrong) that the diverted part of the incoming call must therefore go out on the carrier on which it arrived.

I'll PM Allanon to tell him I was wrong. Thanks.

Hazzanet

My understanding is (and it may not be correct as I don't work for BT or have a great knowledge of their systems) is that a call arriving at the exchange on one line meets the diversion request and is routed back out on another line from your exchange via your call preferences (i.e. via your CPS).

It was the same as this when I had Sky Talk - diverted calls appeared on the Sky bill, and now they appear on my Primus bill. Dialled mobile calls appear on my 18185 bill as the Orchid routes them all out via 18185.

I've tried to look up call diversion on the BT Sinet site, but it doesn't explain how the call is handled at the exchange. Heinz - you may want to look at SIN 354 as it has a comprehensive list of Star Service codes that may be of use - some of them I didn't know about... e.g. 1471 erase (1475)

Hazza

Heinz

Thanks for that.

I think I made a wrong assumption based on what happens with 1471 - 3 and 1571 - 0 calls (BT adds 7.5p and 'returns' the call via their own network).

Your explanation of the sequence with Call Diversion sounds logical though - I've updated Allanon by PM and asked him to try a divert and report back.

Do you have to use the 1280 prefix before the *21* part - to tell the exchange you're communicating with BT and not Primus or does the fact that the 'call' starts with a * make that unnecessary?

Hazzanet

I just dial the *21* without 1280 prefix and it works fine. The automated voice from the exchange just announces "Telephone number X will receive your incoming calls".

I'm assuming this is the same with all the * prefixes (eg *55*HHMM# for a reminder call - charged for by BT) and 17070 works without 1280 too.

As an aside - I have an SMS phone, and NOBODY seems to be charging me for outgoing SMS's. I'm going to have to keep any eye on this one!!!