Cheap International Calls 12 May 2020 at 2:25PM in Phones & TV 12 replies 10.3K views

TeacherJo

Hi. What's the best way to phone family in Canada from a BT landline? Asking for my parents who don't have internet/mobile/WiFi. 
Thank you. 
Jo

J_B

There used to be an MSE section to suggest the best landline call deals, but it doesn't seem to be there any more, maybe the kickback wasn't good enough! 

Look at the Finera companies - 18866, 1899, 18185. Maybe look at 'localphone.com' amongst others.

Secret_Lady

TeacherJo said:

Hi. What's the best way to phone family in Canada from a BT landline? Asking for my parents who don't have internet/mobile/WiFi. 
Thank you. 
Jo

If your parents have free local calls with BT, there are two companies that I use to call the USA, both of which can be used to call Canada. 

You have to dial an access number first, wait for the recorded message and then dial the number you want in Canada or in my case the USA followed by the # key.
Check the web sites for the details regarding calling landlines or mobiles as Canada may vary from the US.

I have used both companies and can vouch that they do not charge if you have free local calls with your landline, the calls appear on your bill as £0.00.
The companies are www.zipcall.com or www.doubledial.co.uk
There is no difference in call quality at all.

Worth looking at, they just need to remember to dial the access code first.

Hope this helps.

Ian011

Zipcall offers an inclusive 03 number for access. As long as the caller has unlimited anytime calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers as part of their phone plan there is nothing further to pay for each international call.

Doubledial mostly uses expensive premium rate 0843, 0844, 0872, 0904, 0905 and 0911 numbers. Avoid calling these numbers. 
Look for entries with inclusive 03 numbers and ensure the caller has unlimited anytime calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers as part of their phone plan. 

There are some other sites that offer 0845 and/or 0870 numbers for access. These are useful only for the small number of people who still have inclusive calls to 0845 or 0870 numbers as part of their phone plan.

Secret_Lady

Ian011 said:

Zipcall offers an inclusive 03 number for access. As long as the caller has unlimited anytime calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers as part of their phone plan there is nothing further to pay for each international call.

Doubledial mostly uses expensive premium rate 0843, 0844, 0872, 0904, 0905 and 0911 numbers. Avoid calling these numbers. 
Look for entries with inclusive 03 numbers and ensure the caller has unlimited anytime calls to 01, 02 and 03 numbers as part of their phone plan. 

There are some other sites that offer 0845 and/or 0870 numbers for access. These are useful only for the small number of people who still have inclusive calls to 0845 or 0870 numbers as part of their phone plan.

A good explanation and better than mine 😊
The numbers I use for the USA are 03 numbers with both Zip call and Double dial, however on closer inspection and for ease of use I agree Zipcall would be better and more straightforward.

donnac2558

I used 185185 yesterday to phone my brother in Canada(Skype was having a hissy fit), anyway it was 1.5p per minute.   Checked my account with 185185 and it was £1.50 for the hour.  Of course, they will add vat before billing me.

SpanishBlue

donnac2558 said:

I used 185185 yesterday to phone my brother in Canada(Skype was having a hissy fit), anyway it was 1.5p per minute.   Checked my account with 185185 and it was £1.50 for the hour.  Of course, they will add vat before billing me.

Canada is 1.5p a minute if you access the service using their freephone 0808 number, or 2p a minute if you dial 18185.

Their website clearly states "Prices are in pence per minute. Calls are billed per minute rounded to the nearest penny, include VAT and are subject to change. Calls are subjected to a 4p connection fee."

Either way, I don't see how you were charged £1.50 for a 60 minute call.

victor2

TeacherJo said:

Hi. What's the best way to phone family in Canada from a BT landline? Asking for my parents who don't have internet/mobile/WiFi. 
Thank you. 
Jo

You can set up a Rebtel account, which will give you an 02 number they will call to get through to a specified number you set up in Canada for 1.25p per minute. If they have free evening and weekend calls to UK numbers (or similar) they can make use of, that is all it will cost. You do have to put credit on the account first, to which VAT is added.

Been a year or so since I used it, but it worked pretty well when I did for international calls.

donnac2558

SpanishBlue said:

donnac2558 said:

I used 185185 yesterday to phone my brother in Canada(Skype was having a hissy fit), anyway it was 1.5p per minute.   Checked my account with 185185 and it was £1.50 for the hour.  Of course, they will add vat before billing me.

Canada is 1.5p a minute if you access the service using their freephone 0808 number, or 2p a minute if you dial 18185.

Their website clearly states "Prices are in pence per minute. Calls are billed per minute rounded to the nearest penny, include VAT and are subject to change. Calls are subjected to a 4p connection fee."

Either way, I don't see how you were charged £1.50 for a 60 minute call.

I signed into my 185185 account and that was the charge showing.

donnac2558

SpanishBlue said:

donnac2558 said:

I used 185185 yesterday to phone my brother in Canada(Skype was having a hissy fit), anyway it was 1.5p per minute.   Checked my account with 185185 and it was £1.50 for the hour.  Of course, they will add vat before billing me.

Canada is 1.5p a minute if you access the service using their freephone 0808 number, or 2p a minute if you dial 18185.

Their website clearly states "Prices are in pence per minute. Calls are billed per minute rounded to the nearest penny, include VAT and are subject to change. Calls are subjected to a 4p connection fee."

Either way, I don't see how you were charged £1.50 for a 60 minute call.

No idea.  I just went and checked my account with 18585 and it shows £1.50 to be charged.    I just have on my house phone Cheap Calls and hit that get the recorded message dial my brother then hit # and said 1.5p per minute.

hedgey77

Pocketdial is another good one for making cheap international calls from BT landlines. They charge 1p a minute to Canada including mobiles using an 0870 access number.