MoneySavingExpert.com International Calls Checker

tonyslade

Dear Martin,
I have been using, without any hassle, simply-call.com which lists various numbers you have to ring before the actual number required. There are no contracts or signing-on fees. Numbers differ according to destination or whether calling to/from land line or mobile. Land-line to land-line to Spain, (whee I phone fequently) for example is 5p per minute. To a mobile is 20p, regardless of time of day. This is very useful if having to call in the daytime.
The "voice" when you phone welcomes you to "Phone Direct", which I suspect is the umbrella organisation for several such offers. There is no other preamble but the call is charged from the moment you call - so if the line is engaged you have been charged.

kah22

Tonyslade

I also phone Spain quite often - one, maybe two times a day. Like you I have just discovered MoneySaving and like you I am very impressed.

Heinz pointed me to 1899.com they are doing Spain at the moment for 1p min 24/7. No contracts, just dial the access number.

I think it is not great for numbers that you may have to ring several times before getting a reply. I think they charge 3p every time they make a connection i.e. when the phone rings

Let me know what you think

Kevin.

PTLD

I use https://www.simply-fone.com for call to spain landline:

just 4p [fully-inclusive, no minimums etc]

dial: 0844 901 4333

there are cheaper but quality is v.good

Omega_1

I have a Nokia 6230 Orange mobile that is now 'any sim' and wish to use this is the US and also the caribbean. Is there any particular PAYG sim card that you/anyone can recommend that I should purchase for either/or both areas ? Thanks for any tips.

kah22

Soicher

Thanks for the post, but am I reading simply-fone prices correctly.

I'm reading it that they charge 4p per min to phone a landline in Spain from a landline in the UK. A twenty min conversation would therefore cost 20*4 = 80p.

Or are you saying that it would cost 4p min to phone a land line in Spain for a Mobile in the UK

If I use 1899 then the cost is 3p connection charge plus 1p per min: a total of 23p.

If my reading is correct then why go with simply-fone?

Kevin

iceburn

for the simcard in USA / Cabi... I can't say which network but what I could say is probably better get a local simcard. There is a site (I have to think of the url now for it) that actually sell one.

oh here it is

http://www.0044.co.uk/america.htm

Now you will reduce your incoming and outgoing call charges. Also you can get say an 0870 number before you go that is diverted to your USA mobile number. Than people who want to reach you from UK whilst you are there, can just call that 0870 number and it will call your number over there. Which would be cheaper for you and in quite a few cases cheaper for the caller as well than calling a mobile.

But for the cabi... card I do not know where you can get that before arriving :-(

Saying all that, it depends how long you are going for, and how much you think you are going to use it.

Dowell_2

Martin, I noted a couple weeks ago your suggested best low cost call provider for the UAE was telesaver at 13p min. Today you show another provider at 18p min. For info note that I have used telesaver today and they remain at 13p
Thanks for a great read and money saving magazine.
D Dowell

TonyB

"The advantage of SDPs is they’re quick and easy as no account needs setting up. The problem is you're paying as soon as you dial the provider’s system, so even if the person is engaged, you pay." (SIMPLY DIAL PROVIDERS)
MARTIN,
WHEN BACK FROM HOL'S DO YOU THINK THIS COULD BE EMPHASISED MORE STRONGLY AS A CONNECTION TO ENGAGED FOREIGN No. COSTS BT'S MIN 5p

NOW BT HAVE IMPROVED THEIR ONLINE BILLING SITE YOU CAN NOW ACTUALLY DISCOVER WHAT "OTHER NUMBERS" ARE!! IN MY CASE I HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE PREMIUM RATE No's REF AMSTRAD E-MAILER 09xx
OR 0844 USED TO TRY TO CONTACT FRENCH RELATIVES AT 4 DIFFERENT ADDRESSES ALL NO REPLY & MIN 5p EACH

marylee

I use cheapestcalls for my international calls. It's great if the person is in. Like one of the members said, you get charged if the person is not availabe and BT minimun charges is 5p. It can be quite inconvenient but still worthy, for I can ring France for 1p instead of 2p through 18866. Thanks, Martin, I have saved loads through this forum esp as I ring Mauritius at 5p instead of 15p. now I can afford to talk to my relatives very often, thanks to all your tips.

Han_naH

OK - tell me which provider is not banned or surcharged from an ORANGE mobile?

I was looking at the list of cheap providers, and I examined each website. I see that all of them say "Your mobile operator may surcharge - ask them". I did and found that where Orange know about a budget provider's numer, they exercise their anti-competitive policy by surcharging.

So which do you recommend I use with Orange?

Thanks in anticipation...