Phones with a pre-dial facility for 18185 and the like.

Croft12

I'm sure I'm not the only person using a 18185 or similar service. I've used it for LD calls so it was trivial to change the number I needed to add the pre-dial code. However I was debating using it for all calls and junking my calls included package with my telco. However my existing phone has no facility to set a pre-dial code for all calls (and I'd rather not have to change all the manual entries each time I change between the discount services.) So I'm looking for a new phone (preferable portable) that allows me the pre-dial and is nice and cheap. I've tried googling but its very hard to find the right term to search for. Anyone in the same boat and found a good solution?

Heinz

Check your PMs.

Quentin

You can get a dialler which is programmed to insert whatever you want (eg 18185) before each number you dial. You connect it between your phone and the socket.


Orchid CPS dialler (around £25)

brewerdave

...But be aware that OFCOM have removed the obligation from BT to allow these types of service;they haven't done so........yet!!!!

Croft12

brewerdave wrote: »

...But be aware that OFCOM have removed the obligation from BT to allow these types of service;they haven't done so........yet!!!!

Ok thanks all - be useful to know when notice BT has to give before they can cancel these services.

brewerdave

I'm not sure that BT would have to give any notice to customers... ..presumably the likes of Finerea have some sort of contract with them however??

Croft12

brewerdave wrote: »

I'm not sure that BT would have to give any notice to customers... ..presumably the likes of Finerea have some sort of contract with them however??

Depends on what is buried in BTs terms and conditions.

SpanishBlue

If/when BT do ban us dialling 18185, I'm guessing they won't be able to stop us using the service by dialling the 0800 number?

polymaff

brewerdave wrote: »

...But be aware that OFCOM have removed the obligation from BT to allow these types of service;they haven't done so........yet!!!!

Don't be so sure. There's something going on at 18185 - currently 03 is not supported. Might this be the first evidence of muscle-flexing by BT as a result of the removal of this obligation? Shame if so, but I suspect that BT might prefer to make life difficult for 18185 rather than just cut them off.

brewerdave

polymaff wrote: »

Don't be so sure. There's something going on at 18185 - currently 03 is not supported. Might this be the first evidence of muscle-flexing by BT as a result of the removal of this obligation? Shame if so, but I suspect that BT might prefer to make life difficult for 18185 rather than just cut them off.

...but of course, "18185" never supported 0844/0845/0870 access -and many of these 03 numbers are former users of these.

polymaff

brewerdave wrote: »

...but of course, "18185" never supported 0844/0845/0870 access -and many of these 03 numbers are former users of these.

18185 has, and still does, support 0845 and 0870. They also supported 03 at the same rate as 01 and 02 until somewhere between the 9th and the 17th July, then at a premium rate until a few days ago when they discontinued support entirely.