Phone Cards

[keela]

Can anyone recommend a good phonecard to use. We used to use easycall but had a lot of trouble with them as sometimes they suspended the card for no reason or you couldn't get through on the access number. We changed to Monster cards but have been having trouble with them as well. They advertise that you get 150 minutes for 5 euros but when you dial up the recorded message says that you have 134 minutes - 16 less than the advertised number. Recently they have been terminating the call saying there is insufficient credit when I know that there is plenty. The other night I had 55 minutes on the card. After 25 it said that I had insufficient time meaning they were taking 30 mins from me!!! Not really happy with this. So if anyone can recommend a card I would be pleased to hear and also where it can be bought from.

[Bruce Wallis]

If you get your mobile set up for "Roaming", each call, sent or received, costs you 75p, then you revert to your UK based tarif.

That should work out cheaper than a phone card, I think????

[pickwick]

Hi all

Dangerous to generalise in this cost area as every provider is different. Check before you travel or you could rack up a large unexpected bill if you rely on the generalisation above. The amount you will be charged depends on the UK network and specific deal you are on. For example I pay £0.18p per minute outbound from Portugal to UK fixed or mobile with no set up cost and £0.00 to recieve calls on a bespoke business O2 deal but the standard current O2 offerings are as below. Data charges are another minefield but universally VERY expensive.

O2 Pay as you go
Call charges
This table charts Call Charges. Prices are incl. VAT

To a fixed line UK number or O2 mobile (outside Western Europe) 99p/min
All calls from Western Europe to a UK number 35p/min
To other UK Mobile (from outside Western Europe) £1.49/min
Top-Up Free
International Directory Enquiries £1.49/min
Receiving a Call outside Western Europe 99p/min
Receiving a Call in Western Europe 14p/min
Sending a text from Western Europe to UK or Western Europe 10p
Sending a text from Western Europe to rest of the world 25p
Sending a text in the rest of the world 49p

O2 Pay monthly
This table charts Call Charges. Prices are incl. VAT per minute

Calling back to UK £0.36
Receiving a Call £0.11
Calling In Country £0.36
Calling In Zone
£0.35
Calling Out of zone
£0.93
Sending a Text £0.10


For a fee of £10.21 you can subscribe to My Europe Extra

How do I get My Europe Extra?


There are two options to suit you and your travels:
1 month, to tie-in with your next trip
A rolling monthly subscription, which you can cancel whenever you like (minimum 1 month)
To sign up for one month only just text 'EXTRA MONTH' to 21300 free. For the rolling option text 'EXTRA' to 21300, also for free. We'll then send you a text within 72 hours to let you know when it's set up. Then you don't have to think about the cost of calling home when you're away.


How much can I save with My Europe Extra?


My Europe Extra
Making a call 25p
Receiving a call Free


All prices shown are per minute and include VAT

Pickwick

[Michael Crane]

Very interesting. This should be in FAQ . . . . . . . . . .