Cheapest phone packages

Cheapest phone packages

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A lot of my work is done from a home office, I use Skype (using a London phone number) for calling landline numbers and generally my mobile for calling other numbers,

On the basis that most of my phone calls are to mobile numbers and HMRC on their 0845 numbers, I'm finding that my call costs are getting more and more expensive (not covered by either my Skype package or my mobile package).

What do other people use to call mobiles and 0845 type numbers?

By way of comparison Skype charge approximately 15p per minute to mobiles and between 7p to nearly 14p per minute for 08xx numbers.

I'm finding that calls to HMRC are typically lasting 20 minutes (once I've got through their numerous menu's and recorded messages, waited, then spoken to someone, then waited, then spoken to someone else, then waited for their computer system), before I know it the call cost is over £2.

Interested in knowing what others do?

Replies (8)

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By pauld
04th May 2012 16:32

BT include 0845 numbers as free in their packages. Can you get a cheap mobile deal with free minutes to cover your mobile calls ?

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By Hansa
04th May 2012 16:56

Landline?

Wouldn't it be better to use a landline for 0845 calls?  

For the rest, I fight a lonely battle against non-geographic numbers (from abroad they are either unobtainable or very expensive).  There is a website (saynoto0870.com) which does work for very many numbers.

With mobiles, I generally refuse to call them other than for very short (1 or 2  minute) calls.  I simply ask when would be convenient to call on a landline.  It is not only the cost, (typically 15 times higher than the same call to a landline) but also because I find people are doing other things (travelling, eating, walking etc) and simply do not concentrate thus wasting everyone's time.

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By taxhound
04th May 2012 17:38

Sipgate

We are with virgin for landline, so 0845 is not free with them.  We use Sipgate to call 0845 numbers but I think they are about the same as Skype....

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By PatriciaRr
04th May 2012 18:10

I have just changed to talk talk phone & internet combined which includes 0845 and you can have an add on of £3 or £5 per month which covers mobiles up to a limited number of minutes. Worth a look.

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By kjmcculloch
06th May 2012 11:28

Or don't dial 0845

Use http://www.saynoto0870.com to find a geographic number instead.  Even for HMRC.

Kris

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By vince8
06th May 2012 12:59

A little tip

A lot of sites refer you to a number if calling from abroad. Change the dialling code and off you go. For example on HMRC website its+44 161 931 9070 so ring 01619319070.

As for Virgin I think you can pay a small monthly charge to get these 0845 numbers free.

It did amuse me the other day when HMRC said they make no profit from 0845 numbers. Can someone tell me the point of 0845 etc numbers?

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
06th May 2012 20:56

02 broadband and Homephone

Hi 

I used to be with with Bt for my line rental plus 4.95 to include all calls 0845 and 0870 numbers and my internet which used to be 13 a few month free but not much with Bt.  

 

I switched over to o2 broadband for £2.50 a month because I had an iPhone.   That deal is finished but now it is £6.50 including vat .

O2 do home phone packages from 8 to 13 .  

The £13 including vat

 includes your landline rental ,

all landline calls free all the time  ,

0845 and 0845 and

free international calls to 32 countries .

  I use this a lot for Ireland and America .

Mobiles are really cheap,  including ringing a mobile international, which I have to use sometimes to ring Irish mobiles , but we do try to use Skype for this but it depend on internet speeds on how good Skype can be on the video call through your mobile .  Most of the time it is good , but sometimes you need a back up .

Moving away from Bt has saved me Loads .

 I must admit I like having a landline for safety and also  a phone attached to the wall .   I never remember where I leave the battery phone so I have both.  Also a phone attached to a wall does not get effected by a power cut.   But the centre point of these batteries phone do.  

Kind Regards Sarah Douglas Douglas Accountancy and Bookkeeping Services Glasgow 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Moonbeam
08th May 2012 14:43

18185

I use this service just for calling mobiles. They cost me 6p per minute, so not much of a saving.

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