SAYNOTO0870.COM - http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?

snaffler

Newbie

Offline

Its good to talk - even
better when its free.

Posts: 9
Gender: male

http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Jan 26^th, 2006 at 1:12pm

I have looked around at some of these services such as http://www.18185.co.uk/, until yesterday I was on BT Option 2 and when I took the time to work it out I was not really saving and in some cases loosing out being on Option 2.

Today I have gone back to Option 1.

Now I am looking at some of these pre-dial call providers all look atractive but http://www.18185.co.uk/ has caught my eye above the rest. I have looked through the site at great length but i can not find this info. Is their anyone on this already that could advise please.

1/ I am only going to make UK calls, so if it's as it says on the site 4p how long can I stay on that call for 4p ? e.g. BT 5.5p calls are ltd to 60mins.

2/ What is the pricing with non-geo numbers such as 0845 and 0870 and the like ?

3/ Could I pre-fix my pay as you go internet number with 18185, if thier is a saving to be had on 0845 numbers ?

4/ Finally can any one give this service the thumbs up or is their better still out their.

Many thanks for any advice or help that may follow.

Cheers

Jay

Back to top

"In the 80s we trusted a yellow bird to flog us phone calls, over 20 years on and we are still being fed a load of old trill by BT"

IP Logged

trevord

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 248
West Sussex, UK
Gender: male

Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Reply #1 - Jan 26^th, 2006 at 3:35pm

snaffler

If you do a search on this site (Search from the menu at te top of the page) for 18185 in Cheap Call Providers, you will find

80

messages referring to them. So you might like to have a look through some of those.

I use 18185.co.uk & 1899.com & used to use 18866.com - all the same company - all work the same way. All are fine on charging and accuracy - apparently not on customer service, but really that is rarely needed: I have never needed it. You can register several phone numbers with them; you can register with more than one of the compannies and use different ones for different calls, according to what is cheapest.

But they do have a tendency to increse the call charge or the connection charge without notice.

In brief answer to your questions:

1. Call duration is unlimited! - I have read of people leaving it on all night.
In fact, 1899.com is slightly cheaper for UK landline geographic calls - currently 3p connection charge + 0p/min.

2. These non-geo numbers are listed on their site. Currently 18185 is the cheapest I've found for these: 0845 - 3p/min weekdays & 1p/min wekends, always + 4p connection; 0870 - 4p & 2p respectively.

3. I think so - haven't tried because I use broadband.

4. Smiley

but 1899 for UK geographic calls.
For international calls, check both (& 18866 if you can be bothered) - some are cheaper with one and some with the other.

Hope this helps.

Back to top

IP Logged

bigjohn

Supreme Member

Offline

Posts: 2,316
Gender: male

Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Reply #2 - Jan 26^th, 2006 at 6:25pm

Cheapest way to route your UK calls at the moment other then voip is

www.call1899.com peak 01/02 calls just 3p a call .

Primus Saver 2. E&W. FREE Evening and Weekend Calls to 01/02 numbers.
http://www.planet-talk.co.uk/SaverProducts.aspx?source=saver

0870 peak. 18185. 0870 E&W BT.
0845 peak. www.dialaround.co.uk 0845 E&W BT.

0844/0871/090 Bt at all times.

Mobile Calls. 18185 their is a cheaper supplier but offer is likely to be pulled.

DQ. Free. 0800 0192 190.

Might be worth you investing in Orchid dialler.Does all the work for you.No need to remember what code to dial!

You have to CPS your calls to primus,but you just use BT override 1280 to go back to BT for cheaper ngn calls.

I am using 1899 and 18185 they are fine. Primus get good reports to.

Back to top

« Last Edit: Jan 26^th, 2006 at 6:32pm by bigjohn »

BJ.

IP Logged

erick.p

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 0

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Reply #3 - Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm

Before you jump on to these services, read the fine print for something like --

1. "Calls may be subject to connection charges of Xp", where X can range anywhere between 4p to 15! This effectively makes the call charge similar to competing providers.

2. They require your credit card info. Call me paranoid, but I prefer services like www.telestunt.co.uk, which do NOT require any contact from you at all. All call charges are announced, so it is transparent, but it is all added to your regular BT bill. They have nearly comparable prices anyway, and their prices seldom go up.

Back to top

« Last Edit: Jan 26^th, 2006 at 9:05pm by erick.p »

IP Logged

trevord

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 248
West Sussex, UK
Gender: male

Re: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably
Reply #4 - Jan 27^th, 2006 at 12:33am

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

1. "Calls may be subject to connection charges of Xp", where X can range anywhere between 4p to 15!

As I said above, 1899 currently have a connection charge of 3p and 18185 have a connection charge of 4p. Bt have a minimum charge of 5p. Yes you do need to keep an eye on on the connection fee with 18185 & 1899 etc, but for UK inland calls that is all you pay at any time of day irrespective of the length of the call.

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

1. "Calls may be subject to connection charges of Xp", where X can range anywhere between 4p to 15! This effectively makes the call charge similar to competing providers.

I don't personally know of a "similar ... competing provider", unless you have an inclusive package, or maybe BT one-hour off-peak calls.

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

2. They require your credit card info.

or Debit card, and with some of them I understand you can now use Direct Debit.
In my experience - and from others I have seen on this site - they are very reliable with the credit card billing.

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

Call me paranoid,

erick.p is paranoid!

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

but I prefer services like www.telestunt.co.uk, which do NOT require any contact from you at all.

Well you have to have contact with someone to pay for the calls!
I've just looked at the telestunt site - you top up your credit with a premium call and then they presumably deduct your calls from it - but (from my brief look) you have no record of your calls, no record of their cost, and no guarantee that they have used your credit and deducted amounts directly.

With 18185 & 1899 you have an itemised bill available on-line; you can check it immediately after making your call (yes, you can check calls not yet billed); you are paying for the calls in arrears, not in advance like telestunt; and if you don't spend much in a month, they don't always bill you every month because it's not worth their while until the amount os over about £5.

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

All call charges are announced, so it is transparent,

All call charges (except the connection charge) are also announced with 18185 & 1899.
It is even more transparent because, as I said above, you get an itemised bill and can even check it immediately after each call if you're that paranoid.

I don't consider myself paranoid, but I wouldn't trust a firm that sounds as if they are trying to pull a "stunt" and which doesn't give you itemised bills. Roll Eyes

But clearly, you pays ur money and you takes ur choice!

erick.p used the title "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"
- but you could equally apply that to telestunt!
Roll Eyes

I have used 1899 for several moths now, and 18185 for 2-3 months and would unhestitatingly recommend them.

Back to top

IP Logged

trevord Full Member Offline Posts: 248 West Sussex, UK Gender:	Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ? Reply #5 - Jan 27^th, 2006 at 12:55am bigjohn wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 6:25pm: 0870 peak. 18185. 0870 E&W BT. 0845 peak. www.dialaround.co.uk ; 0845 E&W BT. Thanks for this bigjohn. Didn't realise BT could be so cheap!
Back to top	IP Logged

snaffler

Newbie

Offline

Its good to talk - even
better when its free.

Posts: 9
Gender: male

Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Reply #6 - Jan 27^th, 2006 at 9:46am

Well thanks all for the very helpful advice.
I have just this minute signed to http://www.18185.co.uk call me paranoid Wink

but I found the site the easiest to navigate and find info on out of them all, something I look for when doing any net based buisness.

The registration was very quick and very simple, an earlier poster mentions Direct Debit, you are spot on, this is the option I have taken for the simple reason I work for a charity that uses DD for it's donations and I know for a fact the law is tight as a ducks arse on this, the consumer has good protection, if we screw up as a charity we can be banned from the DD scheme and I can tell you it takes a lot of work to sign up for the DD scheme.

Also as a consumer who uses tel and net banking if they screw up with costings which I doubt it after reading many posts here about them and many posts on The Martin Lewis site I can stop the DD straight away.

To test them me and my g/friend are going to test the water by calling just our parents numbers for the first billing period so we can monitor how spot on the billing is.

If that is good then hay ho onwards and upwards I guess.

As another poster has mentioned paranoia about CC details to a serivce with no real contact I can understand that, that is why I was happy to see DD option, otherwise I may have thought twice.

Back to top

"In the 80s we trusted a yellow bird to flog us phone calls, over 20 years on and we are still being fed a load of old trill by BT"

IP Logged

snaffler Newbie Offline Its good to talk - even better when its free. Posts: 9 Gender:	Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ? Reply #7 - Jan 27^th, 2006 at 11:47am Just to follow up on this I have just had my Welcome email detailing everything including the full DD agreement, all looks fine and in good order, I have also just logged in online and that is all fine.
Back to top	"In the 80s we trusted a yellow bird to flog us phone calls, over 20 years on and we are still being fed a load of old trill by BT" IP Logged

trevord

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 248
West Sussex, UK
Gender: male

Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Reply #8 - Jan 27^th, 2006 at 1:21pm

snaffler wrote on Jan 27^th, 2006 at 9:46am:

I can tell you it takes a lot of work to sign up for the DD scheme.

That's no doubt why, initially, the Finarea companies (1899, 18866, 18185, and others) did not offer Direct Debit, but only Credit/Debit card payment. But I don't dispute that DD is safer where available.

Back to top

IP Logged

bigjohn

Supreme Member

Offline

Posts: 2,316
Gender: male

Re: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably
Reply #9 - Jan 28^th, 2006 at 8:48am

erick.p wrote on Jan 26^th, 2006 at 8:28pm:

Before you jump on to these services, read the fine print for something like --

1. "Calls may be subject to connection charges of Xp", where X can range anywhere between 4p to 15! This effectively makes the call charge similar to competing providers.

2. They require your credit card info. Call me paranoid, but I prefer services like www.telestunt.co.uk, which do NOT require any contact from you at all. All call charges are announced, so it is transparent, but it is all added to your regular BT bill. They have nearly comparable prices anyway, and their prices seldom go up.

1.Rubbish. 1899 charge just 3p connection and you can speak as long as you like for FREE to 01/02 numbers.18185/18866 allow you to do the same for 4p.The highest connection charge you pay on 1899/18185/18866 is 4p.I dont kow where your 15p comes from? What other suppliers do you know that have similar prices to 01/02 numbers at peak rate.

2. 1899/18185/18866 all now allow you to pay by d/d . All their call charges are announced if you want them to be. You dont start paying until the caller answers,where as you start paying when you hit the recorded announcement on suppliers like telestunt,so if the number you are calling is engaged etc you pay a min call charge of 5p to BT.

Telestunt are part of the same group as 1899/18185/18866.

10 minute call to 01/02 number with Telestunt = 20p .Same call with 1899 =3p

10p minute peak call to UK Mobile with Telestunt =£1. Same call on 18185 = 54p (50p +4p connection)

Which would you prefer?

Back to top

« Last Edit: Jan 28^th, 2006 at 9:04am by bigjohn »

BJ.

IP Logged

Tanllan Supreme Member Offline Posts: 797 Gender:	Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ? Reply #10 - Jan 28^th, 2006 at 6:32pm Marvellous, thank you snaffler and trevord, I had not realised that all three (186, 189 and 185 - sorry, short names are easier when typing and discussing them) now accepted DDs. I have just changed the various subscriptions. Now to tackle the change of company bank (from HSBC to A&L).
Back to top	IP Logged

trevord

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 248
West Sussex, UK
Gender: male

Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Reply #11 - Jan 28^th, 2006 at 8:21pm

Tanllan wrote on Jan 28^th, 2006 at 6:32pm:

thank you snaffler and trevord

Thank you - but I don't want to take credit where it's not due! Embarrassed

I didn't know that they all take DDs now - only that some did, because I'd read it on this board. (I still pay them all by Credit card.) Undecided

It's bigjohn that said:
bigjohn wrote on Jan 28^th, 2006 at 8:48am:

1899/18185/18866 all now allow you to pay by d/d

Back to top

IP Logged

Tanllan Supreme Member Offline Posts: 797 Gender:	Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ? Reply #12 - Jan 28^th, 2006 at 11:19pm Oh dear My apologies BigJohn, I am wearing sackcloth and trying to keep the ashes out of the keyboard as I type this. Thank you for the DD pointer - and thank you trevord for the correction.
Back to top	IP Logged

snaffler Newbie Offline Its good to talk - even better when its free. Posts: 9 Gender:	Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ? Reply #13 - Jan 30^th, 2006 at 11:53am I am keeping an eye on my bank account to see how long the DD takes to set up, once it's in place I will be using the service. It will suit me fine and I am only using it for the odd mobile and UK calls only, never make any overseas calls at all.
Back to top	"In the 80s we trusted a yellow bird to flog us phone calls, over 20 years on and we are still being fed a load of old trill by BT" IP Logged

erick.p

Newbie

Offline

Posts: 0

Re: http://www.18185.co.uk/ New to this ?
Reply #14 - Jan 30^th, 2006 at 12:06pm

Wow, I hereby retract my comments. I signed up with 18185 for the sheer curiosity of it, with a DD, and they're fabulous. I quite like the ability to see my invoice; their support team wrote to me within the day so I know I am dealing with humans; and above all, some of their rates are better than even VOIPTalk! And voice quality is great. Lovely stuff. I'm a convert.

Back to top

IP Logged