Help please!!

willow14710 · 18 February 2006 at 2:24PM

Hi to all on this fab forum!!
I'm a newbie and am looking to change from BT (currently paying £15.49 pmth line rental) to someone else who's cheaper. I've been told by a friend that "Homecall" is quite good but have been looking at various posts and am overwhelmed by information. Can any of you nice people out there help me????
Thanks Willow14710

willow14710 · 18 February 2006 at 2:33PM

Thanks for that but I do actually want to get rid of paying £15.49 per month to Bt as well as trying to find cheaper/free calls options as well
Willow4

Heinz · 18 February 2006 at 2:44PM

PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW SUGGESTIONS RELATE TO STANDARD (P.S.T.N.) TELEPHONY ONLY AND DO NOT CONSIDER INTERNET (VOIP) TELEPHONY OR 'BUNDLED' BROADBAND AND VOICE TELEPHONY OFFERS NOW ON THE MARKET. PLEASE REFER TO OTHER THREADS IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ANY OF THOSE.

A VARIATION OF THESE '6-STEPS' (see HERE) IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT (as recommended in paragraph [2] below) WISH TO or WHO CANNOT SIGN UP TO A CPS CALLS PROVIDER.

[1]. Stay with BT for your line rental but make sure you are on 'The Unlimited Weekend Plan' and don't pay extra for their Friends & Family Mobile, Friends & Family International or International Freedom Add-ons, they're not worth it (don't forget to cancel it/them if you have previously subscribed). The cost, which includes free basic 1571 (but please don't use that), Caller Display (see step [6] below) and Premium Rate call barring (if you want it/them), is currently ж£14.60 per month incl. VAT if you pay by Direct Debit.

You may be able to find cheaper line rental but, if you change, you may regret doing so because access to CPS (Carrier PreSelect) providers - such as step [2] below - will cease to be available and some of the other options below may cease to be available (e.g. [a] Talk Talk have barred access to indirect [4 or 5-digit prefix] providers like the one detailed in step [3] below.

BT Line Rental Saver is a possible option to reduce your BT line rental - you pay your annual line rental in advance and effectively reduce the cost to £10.75/month. However, BEWARE if you have a CPS calls provider and are considering taking this option - use of the online method of signing up for LRS almost invariably means automatic cancellation of your CPS arrangement by BT. As most CPS calls plans (e.g. Primus Saver) are no longer available to 'new' users, you may then not be able to get back onto your CPS calls package. However, it may be possible to avoid this by opting for LRS on the phone instead of online - see THIS POST.

[2]. Now that the availablity of Carrier PreSelect (CPS)Ф calls providers for new provision has dried up considerably (e.g. Primus no longer offer services without line rental), those who need inclusive weekday evening calls (bear in mind - see [3] below - they'd cost 5p each using 18185) in addition to weekend ones and who are not on the legacy Primus Saver Option 2 CPS or the similar Penny Mobile 2 CPS package, I am really left with no option other than to recommend BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan instead. However, it should also be remembered that BT's Unlimited Anytime Plan has now been reduced to £4.70/month and so is very good value.

[3]. Sign up online with 18185.co.uk (there's no monthly subscription charge) and use the 18185 prefix for:

(a) weekday daytime (7am to 7pm Monday to Friday) calls to UK 01, 02 & 03 numbers - 5p each (regardless of duration);
(b) all calls to 056 numbers - 5p each (regardless of duration);
(c) all calls to UK mobiles (075, 077, 078 & 079 numbers) - 5p connection + 6p/min. weekdays (6p**/min. weekends);
(d) weekday daytime (7am to 7pm Monday to Friday) calls to 0870 numbers - 5p connection + 3p/min.

** Use 18185's freephone access number, 0808 1 703 703, instead of the 18185 prefix for this price.

[4]. Use BT (dial a '1280' prefix to 'hop back onto BT' if you have a CPS default calls provider) for all 0500, 055, 080x, 0843, 0844, 0845, 0871, 0872, 0873, 00800 (international freephone) calls and weekday evening and weekend 0870 calls.

[5]. Use the MSE International Callchecker to find up-to-date details of the cheapest options available for your international calls.

[6]. Call 0800 121 8000 and use the automated service to get 'free' Caller Display - OK, this isn't a cost reduction item per se (unless you've been paying BT for that service), but it is very handy. Bear in mind though that BT impose a £3/month charge for this facility if you don't make at least 2 chargeable or inclusive calls via them per month if you are billed monthly (or 6 per quarter if you are billed quarterly).

N.B. I do not imply that the above are always the cheapest options (e.g. the MSE UK Callchecker sometimes shows providers that offer 1p/minute cheaper weekday rates to 0870 numbers and, from time to time, providers offering cheaper rates than 18185 to call mobiles pop up) but, as sensible compromises between money-saving and ease of use, I believe they'll suit most people.

If you follow the above recommendations and use one or more Orchid LCRs (now only available secondhand) to implement their use, a suggested program is shown HERE. The no-cost alternative, of course, is to simply cut and paste the relevant parts of this post and print out a sheet to keep by the phone.

willow14710 · 18 February 2006 at 2:57PM

Thanx Heinz I'll start looking into it.

Willow4

matrix999 · 18 February 2006 at 8:17PM

Heinz wrote:

Stay with BT for your line rental but make sure you are on BT Together Option 1. The cost is currently £11 per month incl. VAT if you pay by Direct Debit. You may be able to find (slightly) cheaper line rental but, if you change, it's likely you'll regret doing so because the first of the below options will cease to be available and some of the others may cease to be available to you.

Phone 0800 036 0094 and sign up for Primus Saver Option 2 (there's no subscription charge) - for free evening and weekend calls to UK 01/02 numbers.

Sign up online with call1899.co.uk (there's no subscription charge) - for calls to UK 01/02 numbers at other times for 3p each (regardless of duration).

Sign up online with 18185.co.uk (there's no subscription charge) - for calls to UK mobiles (077/078/079 numbers) for 4p connection and 5p/minute weekdays (2p/minute at weekends) and to 0870 numbers* for 4p connection and 4p/minute peak.

Use a '1280' prefix to 'hop back onto' BT for your 084/087 calls (except 0870 peak, see above) *if you have to make them and if you can't find a geographic alternative on SayNoTo0870.com.

Use the free MSE Callchecker to find up-to-date details of the cheapest options available for your international calls.

Call 0800 916 55 44 and get free Caller Display - OK, this isn't a cost reduction item per se (unless you've been paying £1.75/month for that service), but it is very handy!

Hi Heinz!!

Just wanted to say thats a great post!!

helentroy_2 · 28 March 2006 at 2:01PM

Hi all- this is my Ist time in any forum ever and there's so much to get a handle on that forgive me if I'm repeating a question that's already been answered and entering a thread as I still can't work out how to start a new one?..... I'm with BT and thinking of going to Primus Option 2 plus 18185 for daytime etc. Problem is I have a dial-up ISP (1p/min) which suits me for the time being but it's an 0845 number. What will happen if I go to Primus/18185- will I have to reset the dialling modem in my Mac with 1280 (back to BT) before the number or what? And who will I be paying for the internet time? Hope someone can help. Ta!
Ps. Wondering if it's worthwhile going for the Primus option1 initially through Uswitch- get the £60 then later ask to upgrade to Option2 via Primus- I'm happy with on-line billing etc.

Heinz · 28 March 2006 at 2:10PM

Welcome to the MSE forums helentroy.

Yes, if you leave your line rental with BT, you can 'hop back onto' BT for any call by adding a 1280 prefix. Do that with your 0845 ISP number and nothing changes (BT will bill you for those calls). If you don't add that 1280 prefix, the calls will go via Primus and they charge the same as BT undiscounted rates (i.e. more than BT Together Option 1 customers).

BTW, I'd recommend 1899 for daytime 01/02 calls - their connection charge is 3p whereas 18185's is 4p.

Click the 'HERE' link in my signature below (or scroll up to post #3 in this thread) for more thoughts.

helentroy_2 · 28 March 2006 at 2:50PM

Thanks so much for your reply- worried that no-one would find it as I was responding to another's question. I've read your previous suggestions- it was my dial-up that was holding me back- Primus never told me that I would be charged more then a 1p/min for my ISP connection (wonder why?) but from reading the various sites I had my concerns. So if I've read you right- I'd need to go into my Macs Internet preferences and change the field to 1280 0845 etc....and then reconfigure my wireless station where the modem is for the number to include 1280 beforehand. And then that would be it? Would the connection to Primus automatically be re-established whenever the internet connection was terminated?

Heinz · 28 March 2006 at 3:04PM

PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW SUGGESTIONS RELATE TO STANDARD (P.S.T.N.) TELEPHONY ONLY AND DO NOT CONSIDER INTERNET (VOIP) TELEPHONY OR 'BUNDLED' BROADBAND AND VOICE TELEPHONY OFFERS NOW ON THE MARKET. PLEASE REFER TO OTHER THREADS IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING ANY OF THOSE.

THIS VERSION OF THE '6-STEPS' IS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO USE BT's UNLIMITED EVENING & WEEKEND CALL PLAN INSTEAD OF A CPS CALLS PROVIDER

The disadvantages of remaining on BT's Unlimited Evening & Weekend Call Plan (i.e. not opting for Primus Saver Option 2 CPS too) are that free (inclusive) UK 01/02/03 evening and weekend calls are limited to 60 minutes each instead of 90 minutes.

[1]. Stay with BT for your line rental and make sure you are on 'The Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan'. If you are willing to agree to a 'renewable 12-month contract', this is a free option (otherwise, it costs £3/month). The cost, which includes free basic 1571 (but please don't use that), Caller Display and Premium Rate call barring (if you want it/them), is currently ж£13.90 per month incl. VAT if you pay by Direct Debit or £15.70 per month if you pay any other way. ж£12.65 if you have already opted for online only billing too and so qualify for the £1.25/month paper-free billing discount (not available to new customers). Line Rental Saver reduces the cost considerably BUT you lose the £1.25/month paper-free discount if you opt for that.

[2]. Not applicable to those not using a CPS calls provider.

[3]. Sign up online with 18185.co.uk (there's no monthly subscription charge) and use the 18185 prefix for:

(a) weekday daytime (6am to 6pm Monday to Friday) calls to UK 01, 02 & 03 numbers - 5p each (regardless of duration);
(b) all calls to 056 numbers - 5p each (regardless of duration);
(c) all calls to UK mobiles (075, 077, 078 & 079 numbers) - 5p connection + 6p/min. weekdays (6p**/min. weekends);

** Use 18185's freephone access number, 0808 1 703 703, instead of the 18185 prefix for this price.

[4]. Not applicable to those not using a CPS calls provider.

[5]. Use the MSE International Callchecker to find up-to-date details of the cheapest options available for your international calls.

[6]. Call 0800 121 8000 and use the automated service to get 'free' Caller Display - OK, this isn't a cost-reduction item per se (unless you've been paying BT £2.70/month for that service), but it is very handy. Bear in mind though that BT impose a £2.70/month charge for this facility if you don't make at least 2 chargeable or inclusive calls via them per month if you are billed monthly (or 6 per quarter if you are billed quarterly). N.B. Inclusive evening or weekend 01/02/03/0845/0870 calls of up to 60 minutes each, which are free within the Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan, do count for this purpose.

N.B. I do not imply that the above are always the cheapest options (e.g. the MSE UK Callchecker sometimes shows providers that offer cheaper rates than 18185 to call mobiles) but, as sensible compromises between money-saving and ease of use, I believe they'll suit most people.

helentroy_2 · 28 March 2006 at 3:13PM

Thanks again- you've really helped. I'm going now to get a strong coffee and work out my plan of action. Might even keep in mind getting one of those 'Orchid' dialers that keep being mentioned if I can't be doing with dialling the prefix codes all the time.

an1179 · 6 April 2006 at 11:45AM

Hi

I've just signed up to Primus I have already got 1899.com

Primus told me that to use 1899 i first need to dial 1280 to get back to BT line then dial 1899 followed by the full number.

I didn't have to do this for talktalk or for justdial

Is the operator at Primus correct or not please?

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