Sky telephone

akh43

Sky rang me up the other night offering me a telephone deal. I already have sky tv & broadband, but didn't take up the phone part when I signed up as it was, I think, £2 a month. I make most of my calls through 18185 and use one of the 0844 numbers when calling abroad. My BT bills are covered by my £13 a month direct debit. I pay about £3-£4 every couple of months to 18185 and my 0844 numbers go on my BT bill.

They offered me free evening/weekend calls (normal landline calls only, not 0845, etc), which I assume is to compete with BT's new deal. They also offered me line rental @ £10 a month, which is cheaper than BT. I currently pay £28.07 + vat line rental and spend approx £5 a quarter on calls. They say I could cancel/change back at any time if I was not happy/saving money.

I was considering changing to BT's online to save some line rental, but I know you are committed to a 12 month contract if you do that.

They were very keen to sign me up and offered me a month trial to see how I liked it. I declined until I found out more about it and they have said they will ring me back later.

Does anyone have the Sky telephone?


Can I still use the 18185 to ring numbers during the day or when ringing mobiles?

Will I still be able to use the 0844 numbers when calling abroad?

I don't want to move and then find out I am restricted in what I can do.

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks

Heinz

Leave your line rental with BT - it's 50p more than Sky (after paper-free billing discount and if you pay by DD) but you are guaranteed to be able to continue to use the likes of 18185 if you don't move your line rental away from them (Sky could block such access if they wanted to).

You can opt for Sky Talk Freetime (those free UK 01/02/03 evening and weekend calls you mentioned) as a Carrier PreSelect service and then be able to use 18185 etc. prefixes and also 1280 CPS override (to hop back onto BT for calls for which they're cheaper).

Because Sky's prices are difficult to find, I always advise using the 1280 prefix for 0844, 0871 and 0872 calls and some (see HERE) 0845 and 0870 calls too.

Please see also the HERE link in my signature below.

jhp

akh43 wrote: »

I was considering changing to BT's online to save some line rental, but I know you are committed to a 12 month contract if you do that.

They were very keen to sign me up and offered me a month trial to see how I liked it. I declined until I found out more about it and they have said they will ring me back later.

Their is not a 12 month contract if you switch to paper billing.

If you move your line rental to Sky for any length of time,BT will require you to sign a 12 month contract on your return.

matrix999

I've moved my calls and line rental to Sky.

Very smooth transfer process, also when your line rental is transfered over to Sky its possible to contact Sky Customer Services Free of Charge on 150.

The Sky Talk advisors are also UK based!!!

Highly Recommended, BT have ripped so many people of for years!! Its time to hit them where it hurts and leave!!

jhp

matrix999 wrote: »

I've moved my calls and line rental to Sky.

Very smooth transfer process, also when your line rental is transfered over to Sky its possible to contact Sky Customer Services Free of Charge on 150.

The Sky Talk advisors are also UK based!!!

Highly Recommended, BT have ripped so many people of for years!! Its time to hit them where it hurts and leave!!

But Sky block 18185 which the OP wants to use to get cheap peak geographical calls, and cheap mobile calls.

matrix999

jhp wrote: »

But Sky block 18185 which the OP wants to use to get cheap peak geographical calls, and cheap mobile calls.

I will test this tomorrow at some point and report my findings.

matrix999

Just an update re my last post.

I have today registered with 18185 and tried to dial a number from my Sky Talk Line Rental Phone using 18185, they do not block access to these overide numbers. I dialled my own O2 mobile number and got straight through.

As I said it is working the now, it may stop in the future but I've no need to use it but hopefully this will help others who are considering moving to Sky Talk Line Rental and using 18185 etc etc

HTH

jsg2

I have line rental with BT (at £10.50 a month) but have sky talk for calls. Because i don't make any calls via BT they are going to charge me £1.75 for caller display! So in total £12.25 a month!

With sky talk line rental i would get line rental, with caller display included. For £10 a month. So a saving of £2.25 a month.

Worth bearing in mind if you use caller display.

matrix999

jsg2 wrote: »

I have line rental with BT (at £10.50 a month) but have sky talk for calls. Because i don't make any calls via BT they are going to charge me £1.75 for caller display! So in total £12.25 a month!

With sky talk line rental i would get line rental, with caller display included. For £10 a month. So a saving of £2.25 a month.

Worth bearing in mind if you use caller display.

A good saving!!

Just for anyone who is considering changing to Sky Talk Line Rental from BT I thought you might like to know that I tried calling 150 from my Sky Talk Line Rental phone and got straight through to Sky Talk Customer Services within 15 seconds and the operator was based in Dunfermline.

This is also a positive note to consider when changing to Sky as BT is terrible for call waiting times.

HTH

Heinz

jsg2 wrote: »

I have line rental with BT (at £10.50 a month) but have sky talk for calls. Because i don't make any calls via BT they are going to charge me £1.75 for caller display! So in total £12.25 a month!

With sky talk line rental i would get line rental, with caller display included. For £10 a month. So a saving of £2.25 a month.

Worth bearing in mind if you use caller display.

............... and do not wish to make the necessary 6 calls with the 1280 prefix per quarter (i.e. via BT).

MrsTee_2

As we have Sky TV and broadband I've been thinking of taking out their phone too. Ive had different dates given me by BT for when my contract ends, the latest is May (and that was by someone in India), when do I need to contact sky about the transfer?