Telephoning - international call options?

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I use Skype to make international calls or make phone calls when I am traveling overseas.
You can set up a monthly charge if you ring someone regularly abroad, I just am on pay as you go but most of the time it's a few pence.

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NO troll

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I phone overseas regularly from UK and pay in the region of 1 to 2 pence per minute (Landline to landline) and 3 pence per minute landline to mobile. Although I don't ring Australia I believe a couple of access numbers would be 0844 869 9900 & 0844 865 1020. After dialling the access number a voice generally tells you the price you then dial the country access code (Australia is 0061) then the area code and number you want to reach. I am often prompted to press the hash digit after dialing the number but often forget to but still get through. It will be a variation on the same theme, the access numbers change periodically but the end result is cheap calls. I believe landline calls to Oz should be 1 to 2 pence per minute and mobile to mobile could be from 2 to 8 pence per minute but do check it out on the internet. Hope that helps.

petra for some reason my DS2 seems to have a bit of an IT phobia unless it is mobile phone, Facebook or a bit of software he really likes using in work. The notion of getting him skyping is a joke. We have signed up to international callls for a flat rate (land lines only) for a monthly fee. Now I have to get DS!'s family to actually answer the phone...
To get a Skype call with DS1's family I have to send a text and then hope they will turn skype on and call me back.
Note to self - get landline number of american friend and use it to talk to her.

Yes, I also Skype. Maybe an email a few days before to arrange day/time and a quick 30sec phone call to say "switch on the pc!" but then Skype all the way.

Much more fun as well

I use Telediscount and it is a penny a minute, but mostly I use FaceTime.

Am I missing something girls. I use Skype to speak to people abroad.

Thanks bluebell I will start by getting that set up on the BT account.
And thanks hespian I will look at Money Saving Expert as well re mobiles (DS2 does not have a land line)
Any other suggestions gratefully received. Cheap sim cards anyone?

We use "Cheap calls" with an override number. It costs 0.5 pence per minute to an Australian landline from BT landline at any time. You dial a number first followed by the Australian number so it is very easy. If you look on Money Saving Expert website and search for International Call Checker you will find more information. This works for us as our broadband is slow and hence Skype is not always good.

I'm with BT and use their family and friends international - have you looked at that? It's £1.10 a month and for Oz, NZ and France ( the countries I ring) it's 2.7p a minute with a 14p ( approx) set up fee. It works for me but depends of course on how you would use it - I have LONG chats! That all landline prices

I have a deal which gives me free international calls to land-lines - good.
The downside is that it is linked to the computer, so when the internet is down, so is the telephone line. So if I need to make a call when it's playing silly buggers, I have to run to the nearest mobile reception, which is at the other end of the village!

Not much help - but if you've got good mobile reception this arrangement might be worth looking at. I'm sure this set-up would be available in the U.K.

Always assuming that distant family have land-lines, which is not necessarily the case these days, unfortunately.

When we are in Portugal we use the VOIP system. I don't know if you can get it here Jess. We have a basic line rental from PT with broadband. Then bought a phone from the local computer company who came to install it.
The start up was expensive (185 euros) but after that all fixed line calls in Europe are free and intercontinental ones much cheaper. Calls to mobiles are more expensive though.
VOIP stands for voice over internet provider and DH has just said that you can get it in UK but I haven't Googled it yet.

Yup which is not cheap - particularly when awkward time differences prevail.

Are you with BT?