IP Telephony to normal phone

bohica

JJ_Egan wrote: »

I think that getting BB from someone else probably means over the BT wires .
Dont see how they should know anything about VM cable use .

Unfortunately I can't find the letter now but my recollection was that it said that if I had broadband from anyone I wasn't entitled to the rebate. If you (or anyone else) knows different I'd really like to know that.

Ian011

bohica wrote: »

I'm not getting any discount from BT for phone only service because their letter said I could only have it if I didn't have broadband from them or anyone else - I have broadband from Virgin.

Since early 2014 all of BT's landline-only customers have been eligible for a discount through their Home Phone Saver deal. Not heard of it? That wouldn't be surprising. Until this year, BT buried the deal on their website such that it was almost impossible to find.

The current version is Home Phone Saver 2020. This is a minimum 18 month contract, but with prices guaranteed to 2021. It is available to anyone who has not got BT Broadband. It IS available if you have broadband with another supplier. The only stipulation is that you cannot have it if you have BT Broadband. It originally had prices guaranteed to 2020 (hence the package name), but this date has been subsequently extended by another year.

For £21.99 per month, HPS 2020 includes line rental, unlimited anytime calls (for up to one hour) to 01, 02 and 03 numbers, and unlimited calling features at no additional charge. It also has inclusive calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers.

The previous version, HPS 2019, is no longer available for new sale, but also has prices guaranteed to 2021 (this has been extended twice, each time by an additional year). It also costs £21.99 but did not have as many additional included calling features.

Likewise for both HPS 2018 for £20.99 and the original HPS (2017) for £19.99, those prices are also now guaranteed until 2021. Note that the package contents are different to the later versions. For example, the original HPS deal (with prices originally guaranteed until 2017, and subsequently extended annually to, currently, 2021) has half price calls to mobile numbers.

The original HPS (2017) deal was a minimum 12 month contract. Subsequent offerings (i.e. HPS 2018, HPS 2019 and HPS 2020) all have a minimum 18 month term.

thefirs

Porting procedure from BT to sipgate: https://basichelp.sipgate.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/204155912-Porting-my-existing-telephone-number-to-sipgate-basic?mobile_site=true. Costs £30

If you want to go back: https://basichelp.sipgate.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/207176009-Can-I-port-my-sipgate-phone-number-to-another-provider-?mobile_site=true. Costs £29.

In your circumstances porting looks a better option than keeping the existing line going, even at the rebated rate.

Ian011

Be aware that Sipgate does not use Access Charge plus Service Charge pricing for calls to 084 and 087 numbers. This appears to be in contravention of Ofcom regulations.

Their tariff sheet makes no mention of prefixes such as 03, 055, 056, 070, 076, 080 or 09, hence no confirmation that the rates for calling 03 numbers are the same as for calling 01 and 02 numbers and no confirmation that calls to 080 numbers are free-to-caller.

Ofcom regulations require the charges for calling 070 numbers to be declared alongside the rates for calling ordinary mobile numbers. The prefix isn't mentioned at all, and neither is the 09 prefix.

There is also no reference to numbers such as 101, 105, 111, 112/999 or to numbers starting 116 or 118. Presumably these numbers cannot be called?

[Deleted User]

@Ian011
Sipgate definitely allow the use of 999 and there is a section on your account to configure it for your number. It has to be configure at their website, just like all the other VOIP providers as you must confirm the physical address for the emergency services to come out to.

03 numbers are charged the same as 01/02 - taken from https://basichelp.sipgate.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/204162212-sipgate-basic-call-rates

Calls to 03xx numbers are charged at the same rate as calls to UK landline 01xx and 02xx numbers.

Also numbers not supported are given at https://basichelp.sipgate.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/207244969-Are-there-numbers-that-can-t-be-called-from-sipgate-

bohica

Thank you to all for replies. I've gone IP telephony with sipgate and a cisco box and I'll be free from the BT tax next month.