My experience with 18185

MothballsWallet

Following the MSE advice, I tried signing up for 18185. At first, I used Firefox, and was having problems, so I contacted their tech support people.

I then came here and found the suggestion to use Internet Explorer, which worked.

Anyway, their tech support comes back with "Maybe you computer is blocking our website."

You what? No, it isn't - their site sign-up form isn't Firefox-compatible. Has anyone here who runs another browser such as Opera tried signing up for their service?

Also, I wanted to dial my in-laws in Russia on a landline - their website says 1p/min, the rate message when I dialled the access number said 3p/min.

I know there's a minimum call charge, but surely if a company advertises one rate on their website (or any other advert medium) that is the rate people get when they use the service? Or the website should be updated. Or are there 0 laws on this here because this is Britain?

I think I'll stick to Telediscount - their rate to a Russian landline is 2p/min. Yes, twice the price, so not so much Money Saving, but at least you pay the rate they say on their website, and they're quick to update the site when they have to change the access numbers or rate.

moonrakerz

Strange ! I've used Firefox for years and never had any problems with signing up to 18185 or accessing their site since.

About the only time I ever need to use IE is when I am downloading updates from Microsoft who are trying to catch up with Firefox, Opera etc, etc.

BritBrat

My computer blocks loads of sites, I know because I have set it to do so.

So long a you are aware of how it does it, it's not a problem. Take quidco for example if I click the links they never work, I shut down my hosts file and firewall and they do.

So before you blame others they may be right and it's at your end.

Paul_Varjak

MothballsWallet wrote: »

Also, I wanted to dial my in-laws in Russia on a landline - their website says 1p/min, the rate message when I dialled the access number said 3p/min.

I use 18185 all the time to call Russia. Are you sure you are not calling a mobile? If it is mobile you dial '007 9xxxxxxxxx'. That is 3p/min on 18185!

You can call Russian landlines for 0.50p/min with BudgetCom on: 0844 200 40 40

Another alternative is to sign up with one of the Finarea offerings and make calls using your PC. To Russian landlines the calls are free and you can also call UK landlines and about 30 other countries for free as well!

MothballsWallet

BritBrat wrote: »

So before you blame others they may be right and it's at your end.

I've double-checked - and my browsers only block known bad sites, such as !!!!!!, scammers and phishers. There is no block listed for 18185.co.uk, so it's something else. The site was opening, just that the first page of the sign up form didn't display with labels for the input boxes, so you didn't know what you're being asked for.

However, it now goes straight to the info about Direct Debit rather than a blank-looking page that asks for information.

Paul_Varjak wrote:

I use 18185 all the time to call Russia. Are you sure you are not calling a mobile? If it is mobile you dial '007 9xxxxxxxxx'. That is 3p/min on 18185!

No, it's definitely a landline. I've since found out that I need to wait for a prompt first, which I didn't do. So, I'll try that next time (I have to dial a different access number since I'm with TalkTalk) - hopefully it will work better.

I think their support attitude is a little off (yeah, maybe mine is too) - would you send a single line email if someone described a problem to you with as much information as you could provide and just leave it at that?