Apologies if it's already been mentioned but I've just had an email from 1899 and at the bottom a note is put to say, and I quote: "Please note: from the 20th of July calls via 1899 will be billed per
minute."

Is this the beginning of the end?

Wally wrote on Jul 18^th, 2006 at 7:13pm:

Apologies if it's already been mentioned but I've just had an email from 1899 and at the bottom a note is put to say, and I quote: "Please note: from the 20th of July calls via 1899 will be billed per minute." Is this the beginning of the end?

Thanks for the warning Wally as I nearly missed that and started potentially paying loads more without knowing.  But I have not had this email from 1899 myself and there is no mention of the change to their prices on their website.

I had an invoice from 1899 on 6th July and from 18185 on 17th July and there is also no mention of this proposed change there though.

And don't forget they do say the pence per minute in their call price announcements so if they made this change most of us would know straight away unlike their sneaky attempts to up the unannounced connection fee without telling us previously.

Could you post a copy of the email, obviously after having removed your own email address.

Many thanks.

NGM

I read somewhere else that at least one of the 'others' is doing the same. We need to get it confirmed, though. I wouldn't trust them to announce it on their website, would you?

Here's the email:

Dear customer,

We have selected some new offers just for you!
Call the following countries for only 1 penny per minute*!
Argentina
Czech republic
Finland
New Zealand
USA (USA mobiles as well!)

These offers are also available from your mobile via our access number
020 81 804 804.
For more details and free online registration please visit
www.call1899.co.uk/index2.php.


*Please note: from the 20th of July calls via 1899 will be billed per
minute.

Wally,

I think you may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick here.

They aren't ending the flat rate uk calls at 0p per minute plus 3p connection (they know if they did that most customers would stop using the service) but rather charging the already chargeable per minute calls outside the uk and to mobiles etc rounded up to the nearest minute, rather than charged to the exact second as they presently are.

So no change in my opinion on the UK geographic calls situation but an increase in the real costs of other 1899 calls.  And like the connection charge increases one that most customers won't pick on or if they do probably won't stop them using the service.

So like I say I really don't think the 3p flat rate call deal is coming to an end in two days time.

It will of course affect Cable and Mobile users who use their 020 and 0808 access numbers.But not those using 1899 to make 01/02 calls.

It does already say on 1899 site.

"Prices are in pence per minute. Calls are billed per minute rounded to the nearest penny, include VAT and are subject to change. 1899 calls are subject to a 3p connection fee."  

So they are rounding to the nearest whole penny then and not nearest whole minute?  Almost as bad but not quite as expensive.  Or is it both rounding by the minute and by the penny.

What about 18185 though as I only use 1899 for my 3p flat uk calls and use 18185 for my mobile, 0870 and international phone calls.  Are they also changing their charging structure in this way?

Just received the 1899 email you mentioned.  Although calls are now to be charged rounded up to the nearest minute it seems clear that 0p per minute still comes to 0p even when it is rounded up. ;) :D

So nothing to worry about there for uk geographic calls and I don't use 1899 for anything else.

I have a nasty feeling though that 18185, with whom I do make calls chargeable by the minute, might also try to pull the same stunt? :'(


-----Original Message-----
From: julie@1899.com [mailto:julie@1899.com]
Sent: 19 July 2006 12:06
To: julie@1899.com
Subject: New special buys from 1899!

Dear customer,

We have selected some new offers just for you!
Call the following countries for only 1 penny per minute*!
Argentina
Czech republic
Finland
New Zealand
USA (USA mobiles as well!)

These offers are also available from your mobile via our access number
020 81 804 804.
For more details and free online registration please visit
www.call1899.co.uk/index2.php.


*Please note: from the 20th of July calls via 1899 will be billed per
minute.

wrote on Jul 19^th, 2006 at 11:47am:

I have a nasty feeling though that 18185, with whom I do make calls chargeable by the minute, might also try to pull the same stunt? :'(

- didn't have to wait long, and 18866 did this about a month ago

Dear customer,

We have selected some new offers just for you!

Canada 0.5p per minute * (Canada mobiles as well!)
Greece 1p per minute *
Lithuania 1p per minute *
Malaysia 1p per minute *
Spain 1p per minute *

For more details and free online registration please visit
http://www.18185.co.uk/index2.php.


*Please note: from the 20th of July calls via 18185 will be billed per
minute.

wrote on Jul 18^th, 2006 at 9:32pm:

Wally, I think you may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick here. They aren't ending the flat rate uk calls at 0p per minute plus 3p connection (they know if they did that most customers would stop using the service) but rather charging the already chargeable per minute calls outside the uk and to mobiles etc rounded up to the nearest minute, rather than charged to the exact second as they presently are. So no change in my opinion on the UK geographic calls situation but an increase in the real costs of other 1899 calls.  And like the connection charge increases one that most customers won't pick on or if they do probably won't stop them using the service. So like I say I really don't think the 3p flat rate call deal is coming to an end in two days time.

NGM, I so hope that you are right. I just wouldn't put it past them particularly after the way they have upped the 1p connection charge with 'minimal' notification, if any.

I know that I am right on this issue Wally.

But just make an 01/02 call tomorrow and check your bill if you don't believe me.

It isn't you that I don't believe ;) I will be making a 01/02 call tomorrow, or rather 'er indoors will be, and indeed checking my bill.

Wally wrote on Jul 19^th, 2006 at 9:32pm:

It isn't you that I don't believe ;) I will be making a 01/02 call tomorrow, or rather 'er indoors will be, and indeed checking my bill.

I think they did an expriment with 18866 to see how many customers they would lose by going on and on upping the connection charge.  The fact they didn't follow suit with 1899 says that they know 3p per call is a critical cut over point for many users beyond which they will leavem.

Well I use 1899 via NTL and I have to pay 1ppm for UK calls by dialling that cumbersome 0808 number, and it is still worthwhile (even if they do put the connection fee up to 5p). Mind you, its easy because I have installed a router now.

Hugh wrote on Jul 27^th, 2006 at 7:42am:

Well I use 1899 via NTL and I have to pay 1ppm for UK calls by dialling that cumbersome 0808 number, and it is still worthwhile (even if they do put the connection fee up to 5p). Mind you, its easy because I have installed a router now.

Useful site for cheaper cable calls  info  http://wakeup.to/cheapercablecalls

Had a quick look at the cheaper cable calls site.
The page you have linked to is extremely out of date. February 2006.
You could do better by looking at the niftylist site and its forums.

a very nice man wrote on Jul 27^th, 2006 at 4:23pm:

Had a quick look at the cheaper cable calls site. The page you have linked to is extremely out of date. February 2006. You could do better by looking at the niftylist site and its forums.

The prices are not bang up to date.But it does give a list of alternative cable suppliers of calls. I dont recall ever seeing such a list on the niftylist.

i recieved an email from 18185 mentioning that they are charging perminute for international calls and i confirmed that with my bill