View Full Version : cheap phone calls
Guys and gals,
I use a cheap phone service as recommended on RADIO 2 Jeremy Vine show called TELESTUNT,it costs one penny a minute to phone USA FROM UK,it works I use it!!The number to dial before your usual american number is 0844 861 0861,this will then access you to telestunt who tell you to connect,hope this helps....
Hi Blueboy,
Thanks for the tip--i'lle try it next time i phone the States.
Shazbat.
Robert5988
27-04-2004, 23:56
Do you realize that 0844 telephone numbers are at the National Rate like 0870 numbers. Not as some people think a local call number like those with the 0845 prefix.
Therefore the standard costs are 8p a min during the day and 4p in the evenings - plus the 1p to TELESTUNT. Even if you have a system that gives you all landline numbers free, these non-geographic numbers are not included.
There are plenty of telephone companies - like One-Tel, Go-Talk that let you ring USA for 3p/min 24/7.
At the weekend Telestunt is competitive.
huckleberry house
28-04-2004, 00:45
Not sure you are right about that Robert,I use a similiar scheme with an 0844 number and they definitely get charged only at the advertised rate on my phone bill.
Lesley
0844 numbers are not charged a high as 0870. 0844 is at a rate of just under 5p per min (Including VAT) during the day. The 0844 service offers one of the best rates other than an 0800 number. I know this for a fact as it is part of my day job.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
Do you realize that 0844 telephone numbers are at the National Rate like 0870 numbers. Not as some people think a local call number like those with the 0845 prefix.
Therefore the standard costs are 8p a min during the day and 4p in the evenings - plus the 1p to TELESTUNT. Even if you have a system that gives you all landline numbers free, these non-geographic numbers are not included.
There are plenty of telephone companies - like One-Tel, Go-Talk that let you ring USA for 3p/min 24/7.
At the weekend Telestunt is competitive.
[/quote]
huckleberry house
28-04-2004, 00:56
I get charged 3p per minute including vat on my bill for using the 0844 call number for the States,day or night.I use ntl as my telecom carrier.
Lesley
Robert5988
28-04-2004, 01:22
If you have the Standard BT package for a phone line - 0844 numbers are charged as I stated. Ring BT(as I have just done again) and they will confirm that.
If you have one of the BT Together packages 0844 nos are cheaper - but then so are 0870 Nos.
The point I was making is there are cheaper ways to call USA.
There are reductions on the base rate above depending on which carrier you use and what discount package you are on.The point I was making was that it is not the same as 0870. How costs have come down when calling the States. It's all good news.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by huckleberry house
I get charged 3p per minute including vat on my bill for using the 0844 call number for the States,day or night.I use ntl as my telecom carrier.
Lesley
[/quote]
villavirgin
29-04-2004, 03:09
I use Just Dial to call the USA and Europe, it's an 0870 number, which is included in my free minutes on my mobile phone, so, that gives me FREE calls to the USA!! :D:D:D
Not all mobile services offer 0870 on their inclusive minutes, check it out first
VV
tezz7628
18-06-2004, 00:24
planet talk 2.5p per min on freephone to u.s
vip communication 8c per min to ring back to england
tezz7628
18-06-2004, 00:28
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by tezz7628
planet talk 2.5p per min on freephone to u.s
vip communication 8c per min to ring back to england
[/quote]
the phone card in america are now charging to use the payphones the one i mentioned doesn't at the moment
http://www.telediscount.co.uk/index2.php
Def. 1p per minute as I've used it for a while and checked my bills! The only other charge is the BT normal min charge for any chargeable phone call which is 5p.
Been using Telestunt for months both from home and via Orange mobile.. Would love to find something similar from the other side of the pond!!
[^]
Anyone found anything similar for using a UK mobile in the US??
That would be a real saver.
[8]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by tezz7628
planet talk 2.5p per min on freephone to u.s
vip communication 8c per min to ring back to england
[/quote]
So are Vip Comms Phone Card services?? Does this work with a UK mobile in the US?
Is there much of a difference between the different phone cards you can buy in USA? I bought 2 cards last visit, one lasted for ages including a call to England but the next card rapidly used up the money on local calls.
Ian
The answer to this isn't as straight forward as it seems. I bought a card recommended by John for my last trip and on first use a recorded message told me I have something like 29 hours left... after a 5 minute call ...the second time I tried it it told me I had 26 hours ish...
All my calls were to the UK and the website stated something like 600 or 900 mins.. there are loads of excuses for the different charging rates such as peak times (in different states/countries/scross international calling routes etc.). I consider it a lottery!!
[|)]
The post on here that i followed eventually was
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6470
Choosing the calling card "735 minutes" for $20. The website referenced offers comparisons for long medium and short calls from varying source to destination points.
Neil
Just looked a little deeper into this..
Beware the following:
Connection charges - Some charge $1 to connect but are very low (circa 1.8c per minute afterwards),
Others are 'free to connect' (except from payphones where a charge of 50c or more is levied) these are slightly higher per minute (2.2c/min up).
Then there are the hidden charges such as maintenance fees which are added weekly (around 69c) while the phone is in use..
Then if you haven't lost all credit through connection and maintenance a life span is sometimes set.. such as "expires 90 days after first use"...
Dont they keep it simple????
[msntongue]
Thanks Neil,
That also explains why I couldn't use my second card when there was still 40c left on it. I can't understand who would want the card with the connection fee unless the difference in charges is more impressive for international calls.
Ian
finishrich
25-08-2004, 02:46
The cheapest calls to the USA from the UK are via 1899.co.uk, they charge a 3p connection charge and 0.5p (half pence) a minute. Or for calls less than 5 minutes use call18866.co.uk they charge a 1p connection charge and 1p per minute.
I use Superline www.superline.co.uk never had a problem, as I dial in to US teleconferences weekly due to my job, and I work from home! The first number you dial is an 0800 number, so no charge to your landline, then it's 2.5p per min to the US. May not be the absolute cheapest, but they've been good for me! They also have a mobile connection number, which is an 0207 number, so only charged per your tarriff. If you get lots of free mins, it's worth it. You pay your Superline bill monthly on direct debit, or via your credit card.
Robert5988
25-08-2004, 04:02
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The cheapest calls to the USA from the UK are via 1899.co.uk, they charge a 3p connection charge and 0.5p (half pence) a minute. Or for calls less than 5 minutes use call18866.co.uk they charge a 1p connection charge and 1p per minute.[/quote]
You are correct about prices.
Both systems are operated by the same firm registered in Switzerland. You cannot 'pre-pay' and they do not operate the direct debit scheme(with its safeguards) You have to give them your credit card details and sign a mandate giving them authority to collect the amount owed each month.
I understand that there are many people who use this system and have had no problems and I am in no way implying they are other than honourable. However I personally was not prepared to give such a mandate to a firm whose address I couldn't find and are registered abroad.
donnapit
28-08-2004, 23:56
Neilr
For cheap calls from the US to the UK and for long distance in the US, try BigZoo.com
Elaine62
02-02-2005, 02:33
I've just signed up for www.1899.com, 3p for a call to USA regardless of length! Plus free calls to UK landlines!
Elaine
Bigzoo closed down on the 31st Jan, anyone else got any companies that do cheap US -UK calls?
I use 1899 to call US, you can't beat 0p per min and 3p connection charge.