NTL charges

Katykat

After reading Martins advice re landline telephone charges, I signed up to 1899. As I was on NTLs eve/w/end deal ( £4.99 p/month & calls during this time are free) I rang to cancel the deal. On checking NTL website later ( I was comparing various phone charges, I found that ALL NTL customers get free weekend calls. How come customer services never told me this, & how long have I been paying £4.99 for "free" calls. Apparently free weekend calls is a new service, but NTL didn't rush to tell their customers that did they?, just carried on taking my money.
Anyway, if anybody is still paying this charge, check the website for up to date charges. You might save some money!!!! :beer:

zzzLazyDaisy

Just checked the website -

The free evening and weekend calls are only to other NTL users.

The 'free evening and weekend calls package' that allows you to make calls to geographical landlines is an extra £6 over and above the line rental.

I am interested because I am thinking of going to NTL for Broadand, but from what I have seen so far, Iam probably better off sticking with BT for calls.

jpieter

Instead of using NTL ,use them just for the phone line and Call1899 for calls, you will get FREE calls to local and national fixed line numbers at ANYTIME unlike NTL ,which are just at the weekends and you have to pay them for the privelige as well!!!
I have had NTL basic phone package since Cable and Wireless days (ages ago) and I NEVER use NTL for ANY phone calls. I have been using Call1899 ever since they started and have saved myself an absolute fortune. I keep the NTL phone line but use Call1899 for all my calls.

knuckledragger

zzzLazyDaisy,
You should be able to get 1mb BB from NTL for £9.99pm. I'm currently paying £8.50pm but I am an existing customer who expressed an interest in leaving
You could think about signing up for Phone, TV and BB. As such, your phone line rental should be free- then use 1899, as recommended above.

Maisie

All the above is very interesting but how do I get on to 1899.?

Do I have to register somewhere? I'm with NTL too. On their 321 package but costs keep rising. I haven't got broadband. What's best for me?.

Thanks for any advice.

redfox

Maisie wrote:

All the above is very interesting but how do I get on to 1899.?

Hi Maisie. You can sign up here

Maisie

Thanks Redfox. I'll do that.

knuckledragger

Maisie,
A while back some people had trouble registering with 1899. I think the glitch has been resolved now. But if it hasn't, try registering your mobile number first with 1899, then add any home numbers to your account.

Wombat

On reading the blurb on 1899's site, it looks like calls are not free:

Especially for all NTL, Telewest, other non-BT landline and mobile customers! Due to great demand you can now also benefit from cheap 1899-rates via our dedicated freephone number 0808 1 708 708 *! Mobile users can also use our local rate access number 020 7001 9696 *.

A 3p connection fee applies to all calls.

This still might work out cheaper than NTL's charges, depending on how you use your phone. A few, long phone calls will work out cheaper than a lot of short ones. But I think this was worth pointing out.

What is very interesting is that 1899 now have their own VOIP software for free download, which allows free phone calls from your PC to UK landlines!!!

http://www.voipcheap.co.uk/en/instructions.html

There are also discounted calls available using this software to lines outside the UK.

This is of interest to me because I still have unresolved problems with both X-ten and Firefly. So thanks for the heads-up.

Wombat

Just to let others know that I downloaded and installed the 1899 VOIP software and was talking on it within 5 minutes. Easy as pie to set up - just select a username and password and you're away. Absolutely brilliant.

Had a bit of a shock at first because my call was cut off after 2 minutes. But this is a feature 1899 have built in to prevent overcrowding of the network. However, if you go on to their VOIP site, register and deposit £1 into your account, the 2 minute cap is removed (they say 1 minute on the site).

Still early days and I have only made 2 calls so far. One was crystal clear while the other had a slight delay and stutter on it. But I've got further with this software than either X-ten or Firefly.

redfox

Wombat wrote:

This still might work out cheaper than NTL's charges, depending on how you use your phone.

NTL have a 5p connection charge on calls as far as I know so it's cheaper already, isn't it