International Calls Extortionate... Please help!

katie_smiles

Hi, I have recently started to call a Spanish mobile frequently from my UK mobile (I am in the UK). I have tried to use Viber & Skype, but it often fails/cuts out/such poor connection, so I use my mobile to call instead... my bill has thus jumped from £20/month to £130! I am with Virgin Mobile on a Sim free, 30 day contract.... I found out they charge 90p/minute for these calls... I have 20 minute calls costing almost £20! Virgin do not currently offer International bundles. As making these calls to Spain will be a regular thing for me, can anyone please advise me on a cheaper way to call, without the internet please, as I find it just is not reliable when wifi is not available. I do not have a landline (nor can I get one)... and I do not really want to enter into a 12/24 month mobile contract. I have a new and unlocked iPhone 5, so do not need another phone. Any advice much appreciated!

grumbler

>> International Callchecker Finds the cheapest way to call any country

Also, IMO O2 International Favourites is a good option, but for calling to landlines mainly.

NFH

Switch to Giffgaff which charges 2p/min to Spanish landlines and 9p/min to Spanish mobiles.

Alternatively, is the poor data connection at your end or the Spanish end? I find when phoning people on Viber in Spain, the problem is at their end. If so, you might want to consider FreeVoipDeal which charges €0.017 to Spanish mobiles.

jhe

i used http://www.cherry-call.co.uk/europe/phone_spain.jsp

redux

jhe wrote: »

i used http://www.cherry-call.co.uk/europe/phone_spain.jsp

Dialling 0843 numbers from a landline might be worthwhile, but not from a mobile. Virgin mobile will charge 41 pence a minute for these.

jhe

redux wrote: »

Dialling 0843 numbers from a landline might be worthwhile, but not from a mobile. Virgin mobile will charge 41 pence a minute for these.

tbh i have only used cherry to phone dominican republic and that was from an 02 mobile which was a whole lot cheaper than 02 would have charged.i wrongly thought it might have been cheaper for the op to phone spain
i have just re read the link i posted and cherry say they are unable to provide service to virgin customers.
but for any one else looking for cheap rates it might be worth checking the charges for international calls http://www.cherry-call.co.uk/

katie_smiles

Thank you very much for all your comments... am very grateful. I will investigate the options available to me today.

d123

NFH wrote: »

Switch to Giffgaff which charges 2p/min to Spanish landlines and 9p/min to Spanish mobiles.

Alternatively, is the poor data connection at your end or the Spanish end? I find when phoning people on Viber in Spain, the problem is at their end. If so, you might want to consider FreeVoipDeal which charges €0.017 to Spanish mobiles.

I don't think you can beat GiffGaff for international mobile to mobile calls.

J_B

I use http://www.localphone.com/

Basically, it gives the (for example) Spanish mobile a 'local' UK number which then 'forwards' on to the correct destination.

Calls cost 5.9ppm to Spanish mobile.

It's a bit 'flaky' some times in the evening, but otherwise, it's ok.