I am paying a fortune to ring 0870 numbers from my BT Option 1 line.  Is it worth signing up to 18185?

sochmil1 wrote on Mar 10^th, 2007 at 9:46am:

I am paying a fortune to ring 0870 numbers from my BT Option 1 line.  Is it worth signing up to 18185?

At one time, I think that the answer was a resounding 'yes'.

Now you may still save on a longer call, which 0870s tend to be. Definately use BT during the weekday evening and weekend.

During the weekday daytime BT charges 7p/min charged to the nearest second with a 3p connection charge. 18185 charges 6p/min charged to the next whole minute with a 4p connection charge.

By charging to the nearest whole minute rather than second, the charge for the call will be, on average, longer by half the length of 1 minute charge. As an example, see here. This is for BT's charges of geographical numbers and shows how changing from per second billing to per minute has actually increased charges.

Although you start paying as soon as you hit the announcement using one of the 5p a minute 0844 gateway numbers is in fact cheaper at peak rate to 0870 from a BT line.

EG Telediscount 0844 (0844 566 43 43)  5p a minute,BT second billing.and 3p  Call Connection.

try using 18185's London access number instead - 4 pence a minute