Cheap calls though 18185 - experiences please?

youreds

I'm soon to start my annual Phone & BB negotiations, currently with Sky for line rental & BB with my year ending in 3 weeks.

I used to use 18185 with BT, but Sky gave me a years free line rental which was too good to refuse so I now mess with the 0808 18185 access number.

Looking at the guides it's clear that Primus, Plusnet & BT allow 18185, it then gets unclear, Post Office allows override providers but for phone customers only not BB, eh?
For EE who I'm tempted by it doesn't say one way or another but a forum post I read on here indicates that you can use 18185.

Then we have Pop Telecom, but their pricing seems too good to be true, but their T&Cs indicate override providers are allowed.

Is there a definitive answer?

donnac2558

I use it with VirginMedia, its a must for me.

youreds

donnac2558 wrote: »

I use it with VirginMedia, its a must for me.

Via the 0808 number at 0.5 p a minute I presume? That's what I do now, although it takes a while to connect with the woman saying "one moment please".

I meant using the direct number on a BT exchange which costs 5p per call no matter how long.

jhp

youreds wrote: »

Via the 0808 number at 0.5 p a minute I presume? That's what I do now, although it takes a while to connect with the woman saying "one moment please".

I meant using the direct number on a BT exchange which costs 5p per call no matter how long.

Its actually 5p connection and 1p a minute via the 0808 number, and as of recently either method of access only offers calls to 01/2 numbers calls to 03 are no long supported.

Whilst all landline suppliers would normally allow access via a freephone. None are required to offer access via an indirect code. Not even BT anymore.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/nmr-13/statement/statement-summar


So their is no definite answer as such,and anybody could pull out of allowing indirect access at anytime. Talk Talk did a a fair while ago.

Stuart_W

I use telesave via 0800 0662266 for 1p/min evenings and weekends and 1.5p/min daytime with no connection free (just a 4p minimum call charge). They support 03 calls.

Quentin

OK with Phone co-op.

Stuart_W

Quentin wrote: »

OK with Phone co-op.

I transferred over to a LLU Phone Co-op line (from a non-LLU Phone Co-op line) a year or so ago and short codes don't work any more. You must have a non-LLU phone co-op line if they still work for you.

Quentin

They do work fine on a bt type line from the co-op. (You can ask to have one)


Is there an advantage to swapping to LLU?

Stuart_W

Quentin wrote: »

They do work fine on a bt type line from the co-op. (You can ask to have one)


Is there an advantage to swapping to LLU?

If you're with the Phone Co-Op there is no advantage moving from Non-LLU (OpenReach) to LLU (talktalk) if you only have a phone line. I got cheaper broadband by moving.

polly_tunnel

youreds wrote: »

I'm soon to start my annual Phone & BB negotiations, currently with Sky for line rental & BB with my year ending in 3 weeks.

I used to use 18185 with BT, but Sky gave me a years free line rental which was too good to refuse so I now mess with the 0808 18185 access number.

Looking at the guides it's clear that Primus, Plusnet & BT allow 18185, it then gets unclear, Post Office allows override providers but for phone customers only not BB, eh?
For EE who I'm tempted by it doesn't say one way or another but a forum post I read on here indicates that you can use 18185.

Then we have Pop Telecom, but their pricing seems too good to be true, but their T&Cs indicate override providers are allowed.

Is there a definitive answer?

Just spoke to EE and was told that they do allow override providers such as 18185. Prices for 0844 etc numbers (see International call checker) vary slightly from the BT prices. The only way to check is to download EE_Home_Price_Guide.pdf, search for the access code (first 6 or 7 digits) then look up the prices based on the code (e.g. G6) in a price table in the guide. BTW, don't be tempted to print the Price Guide, it's 298 pages!