NTL line options ?

ps_live

Hi there, in my continuing quest to save money, I have now "found" the home phone area on MSE

I live in an NTL area, and have had an NTL phoneline for 7 years. I also get my broadband from them (2mb for £24.99).

After reading the "calls provider" advice, it seems to me that I could save a fortune if I went with One.Tel (no monthly fee), then 18866 for all my calls. We are currently paying between £30-£40 per month in calls. Is my logic flawed here, am I missing something? NTL are raising their line-rental from June, so I thought I'd take a look around.

My only concern is that if I go with One.Tel instead of NTL, NTL will remove my broadband also. My broadband and telephone bills arrive separately and have separate direct debits. Does anybody know if this is will be a problem? NTL Broadband availability MAY be dependent on using their phone service.

More questions to ponder ...

cheers :beer:

Pete

Edinburghlass_2

shouldn't be a problem with your broadband Pete although as you have been with ntl for so long it might be an idea to ring them to say you are leaving and see if they offer you a better combined deal. if they don't thats fine just switch over to Onetel and what ever happens sign up for 18866 for calls anyway.

it is slightly dearer for 18866 as a cable customer than with bt but you should still make substantial savings on the cost of your calls.

hth

hansi

ps_live wrote:

Hi there, in my continuing quest to save money, I have now "found" the home phone area on MSE

I live in an NTL area, and have had an NTL phoneline for 7 years. I also get my broadband from them (2mb for £24.99).

After reading the "calls provider" advice, it seems to me that I could save a fortune if I went with One.Tel (no monthly fee), then 18866 for all my calls. We are currently paying between £30-£40 per month in calls. Is my logic flawed here, am I missing something? NTL are raising their line-rental from June, so I thought I'd take a look around.

My only concern is that if I go with One.Tel instead of NTL, NTL will remove my broadband also. My broadband and telephone bills arrive separately and have separate direct debits. Does anybody know if this is will be a problem? NTL Broadband availability MAY be dependent on using their phone service.

More questions to ponder ...

cheers :beer:

Pete

There is no problem with that. I have just switched my ntl line to BT because I wanted 18866/1899 and it's cheaper with BT. I also have broadband with ntl and it's a separate item so you will be able to keep that, no problem. Also if you switch to BT, they contact ntl for you so you don't have to do anything. It went like a dream. Line switched at 12 noon, BT line live straight away, ntl line stopped at 3pm. Marvellous!

ajvj1812

Pete, my suggestion is that if you plan to stay with NTL (offered a good deal), register with 1899 for 0808 access. For UK landline calls they charge a 3p connection fee, but then its 0p per min. 18866 charge a 2p connection fee, but then its 0.5p per min (so you are only better with 18866 if your call is less than 2mins long).

In addition, you can get an Orchid dialler to take the pain out of dialling the full 0808 access number (or reprogramming your speed dials).

ps_live

Hi guys

Once again, you guys ROCK! After studying your replies, then reading the article again, it seems as if I have misunderstood the article.

I mentioned One-Tel as there was no monthly charge, this was without realising I would still need to pay either NTL or BT for line-rental (£10.50) to use 18866 anyway.

I have a "new plan of action" ...

1. Ring NTL tomorrow and threaten to go with BT. Hopefully, this will give me at least six months free line rental (maybe more juding by some threads I have read tonight). If they decline, I'll go to BT anyway.

2. Sign up for 18666/1899 right away.

I do have a question though, what is 0808 access? I see the benefit for cable customers to go with 1899, but 0808, whats that about?

cheers :beer:

Pete

BexTech

ps_live wrote:

I do have a question though, what is 0808 access? I see the benefit for cable customers to go with 1899, but 0808, whats that about?

cheers :beer:

Pete

As a cable customer you are unable to use the indirect short code 1899, you will have to use the 0808 1 708 708 number instead.

http://www.call1899.co.uk/mobilerates.php

ps_live

BexTech wrote:

As a cable customer you are unable to use the indirect short code 1899, you will have to use the 0808 1 708 708 number instead.

http://www.call1899.co.uk/mobilerates.php

Many thanks Bextech, I wish I'd gone to their website before I asked the question , it answered all my questions :T

I have my debit card here now, I'm signing up right now

cheers :j

Pete

ps_live

Just checked both websites before taking the plunge ...

18866 do NTL too ... and its only 2p connection, compared to 1899's 3p.

Phew! saving money is hard-work :rolleyes:

Just have persuade my wife that dialling a speed-dial before every call is the way forward.

cheers :beer:

Pete

Edinburghlass_2

ah but 18866 charge 1/2p a minute to cable customers for UK calls!

knuckledragger

ps_live,
Give NTL a ring on their disconnections (customer retention ) number 0800 052 0243 and tell them, hesitantly, that you are thinking of leaving as you can get better value elsewhere (have examples ready eg BT with Talk Talk or One Tel as they will ask). You may be able to get them to give you your line rental for free (like me). Make sure you are on their 3-2-1 tariff and use 1899. How long have you had your broadband with them? If you are over 12 months then they will also cut your monthly charge for that in order to keep you.

Edinburghlass_2

and I really would push for a better deal from NTL, most of the cable companies seem to be offering, television, phone and broadband in a £30 package....they will want to keep you