SAYNOTO0870.COM - 18866/1899.......All lines busy?

Derek_Trotter Newbie Offline Posts: 6	18866/1899.......All lines busy? Sep 6^th, 2004 at 10:37am Bonjour, I have started to use 18866/1899 instead of my Toucan account but have encountered 'all lines' busy on a number of occassions. Are they overwhelmed with demand for their cheap calls and upon reflection, should i stick with Toucan? Anyone else had the same problem? Cushty Del Boy.
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Rick_B Newbie Offline Posts: 8	Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy? Reply #1 - Sep 19^th, 2004 at 9:08am Sounds like you're working for BT Del!
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DaveM

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Du vin, du pain, du
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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #2 - Sep 19^th, 2004 at 9:40pm

If it was "All lines busy" then perhaps it was BT's fault and

all lines were busy

, but more likely the Exchange was !! That's not unusual for BT to do that at various times of day, though personally I have never had a problem with 18866 yet (touching wooden cabinet), but pigs DO fly so I await my first ! Lips Sealed

I don't often get a problem with OneTel, yet over the last year or so I've had a few, and I'm not talking about Admin (had some of those), just connection type problems, but I still find them very good overall.

I have looked at Telesavers for my overseas calls, as it seemed cheaper than 18866, but the 0844 on BT is charged /min unlike 18866 /sec overseas call charges, even if they do add a 1p connection charge.

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It stops hurting when I stop banging it against the wall !!

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Derek_Trotter

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #3 - Sep 20^th, 2004 at 8:44am

Bonjour! Thanks for your replies. I have been using Toucan for the last 4 months and never had a problem making calls. I had previously used One Tel and TalkTalk and these have also been fine. It's only when i have tried 18866/1899 that i have encontered problems in dialling out, this has been at different times of the day. Can all you other customers out there stop using their service so that i can use it freely!! And NO, i don't work for BT.......i'm a entrepreneur market trader.
Lovely jubbly!

Del Boy.

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« Last Edit: Sep 20^th, 2004 at 8:45am by Derek_Trotter »

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reggie Full Member Offline Posts: 199	Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy? Reply #4 - Sep 26^th, 2004 at 1:38pm I too have started getting busy signals on 18866 just after dialling 18866,before dialling the actual number I am trying to reach. As of this week the price to France has gone up from 1p to 2p per minute. I wonder how long the cheap calls will last!!
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omy Full Member Offline I came - I saw - I went home. Posts: 129	Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy? Reply #5 - Sep 26^th, 2004 at 2:05pm Will still take some time before it reaches BT's charges for France etc, though - so let's enjoy it while we can!
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Heinz

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #6 - Sep 26^th, 2004 at 3:56pm

Quote:

I too have started getting busy signals on 18866 just after dialling 18866,before dialling the actual number I am trying to reach. As of this week the price to France has gone up from 1p to 2p per minute. I wonder how long the cheap calls will last!!

At least the price announcement made you aware (and gave you the chance to hang up) before the call was connected. Imagine BT doing that when they put their prices up!

It appears we're now into a 'shop around' era and I found the below link on another site very useful in that regard (ways to still get your French calls for 1p/minute).

http://niftylist.co.uk/

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After years of ignoring govt. guidelines & RIPPING OFF Council Tax payers using 0845 numbers, Essex County Council changed to 0345 numbers on 2 November 2015

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reggie

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #7 - Sep 27^th, 2004 at 9:30am

Thanks for the niftylist. I think that the 1p to France is on telediscount at weekends only. The main drawback with telediscount is that you are charged from the moment the number you dial starts ringing so that even if no one answers or the line is engaged there is still a charge, while this happens at the weekend 1p rate this doesn't matter but at other times if you are trying repeatedly to connect it could be a bother. Does the minimum 5p BT call charge apply to telediscount calls?

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Heinz

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #8 - Sep 27^th, 2004 at 9:42am

Quote:

Thanks for the niftylist. I think that the 1p to France is on telediscount at weekends only. The main drawback with telediscount is that you are charged from the moment the number you dial starts ringing so that even if no one answers or the line is engaged there is still a charge, while this happens at the weekend 1p rate this doesn't matter but at other times if you are trying repeatedly to connect it could be a bother.

It looks like 1899 is your best bet then (as you're not on a cable landline).

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« Last Edit: Sep 27^th, 2004 at 9:43am by Heinz »

After years of ignoring govt. guidelines & RIPPING OFF Council Tax payers using 0845 numbers, Essex County Council changed to 0345 numbers on 2 November 2015

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bgezine

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #9 - Sep 28^th, 2004 at 10:41am

BT charges for everything except FEEE calls.

One reason they stopped itemising bills was because customers got so upset about all those 4.4p charges.

I still have not worked out what the 'other charges' are on my statements because I do not make any 'other' calls. I suspect that I am being charged for that funny sound I sometimes get when I phone a mobile and do not get connected.

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Use a mobile? Then you need&&http://morecall.2u.co.uk&&http://www.80550.co.uk

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robert5988 Newbie Offline Posts: 19	Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy? Reply #10 - Sep 28^th, 2004 at 5:58pm On another forum several people are reporting difficulties getting connected.
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Heinz Ex Member	Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy? Reply #11 - Sep 28^th, 2004 at 6:28pm Quote: On another forum several people are reporting difficulties getting connected. I was one - but that was yesterday. Certainly 18866 is working fine again today.
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shaunhoward

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #12 - Sep 28^th, 2004 at 10:54pm

A real problem with 18866 today - dropped connections, dreadful sound quality and automated messages - some in bad English whilst others were in German (I think!). Is this because all calls are routing outside the UK? Whilst a 1p connection charge is great, it really musn't be at the expenses of a reasonable quality of service. Are 18866 victims of their own success - I think we should be told! Regards SH.

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Derek_Trotter

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Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy?
Reply #13 - Sep 29^th, 2004 at 8:45am

Bonjour!

Thank you for all of your replies..........i have tried 18866 on a number of occassions recently and have been having calls dropped, poor quality etc... I think i'll stick with Toucan Telecom until things improve with 18866. I know that £9.99 for my usage of unlimited calls is more than i would pay on 18866/1899, but at least i have NEVER had a problem with them. Saving a few pence here and there is fine but being unable to dial out is VERY frustrating and far outweighs any saving. Plat du jour !!!!!!!

Del Boy.

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« Last Edit: Sep 29^th, 2004 at 8:47am by Derek_Trotter »

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hughesapc Newbie Offline Posts: 2	Re: 18866/1899.......All lines busy? Reply #14 - Jan 4^th, 2005 at 4:38pm for calls to France try ratebusters which is 1p all the time
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