18185 question for 2018

[#1]

I am researching whether to swap from  BT to Plusnet, I. phoned Plusnet today and was told that I could use 18185 (tho he had to consult his associates as he had no idea what 18185 was & how it worked). He eventually returned to the phone to tell me that yes I would be able to use 18185 but there would be a connection charge of £9.58 per call over & above the charges from the actual call. This question has been asked before but I can't see any data post 2014 so am asking it again. Is this Plusnet call centre employe correct???

Also while I am here the same gent informed me that BT would charge me  £5 to continue using my BT email address - this I need to put to BT obviously......has anyone else been charged by BT to use a BT address when changing to Plusnet? I have been using a tesco.net address since dial up days with no problem.

Many thanks shines

[#2]

Welcome to the forums

Not a staff member so I can’t guarantee I’m correct.

However, I used 18185 last year a few times and wasn’t charged anything by PN for using the service.
Haven’t used it this year but I wouldn’t expect that to have changed.

[#3]

Thanks for the welcome - hopefully someone who uses 18185 reasonably regularly will see this. As a BT user every daytime call has used 18185 as have calls abroad. 

[#4]

I used 1899 to call USA about a month ago and wasn't charged by Plusnet. I doubt if 18185 will be different. I hope PN have not changed their position re call override providers. Although I rarely dial non UK numbers it is a lot cheaper using 1899 or 18185 when the need arises.

[#5]

Sorry, this is a bit of a late reply, but just to say that I use 18185 all the time and haven't seen any charges from PN for using this. Of course, it's often the case nowadays that within companies the size of PN, not everyone is 'singing from the same hymn-sheet', which possibly explains your original 'advice' from Customer Services.

[#6]

Hi, realise this is a late reply but still relevant to people reading this for the first time...

I regularly use 18185, costs are very competitive particularly for international calls.  Plusnet do not charge for accessing 18185 - I don't think they are allowed to.

ask66

[#7]

This morning (Oct 21 2018) I had an online chat with a rep. who told me (eventually) that there WOULD be an extra charge for using 18185 or 1899. He'd originally sent me a link to premium rate numbers like 0890, He didn't like it when I pointed out (politely and correctly) that that was not what I'd asked.

However, I chatted again to a more helpful rep this afternoon. Here's a bit of what he told me (cut and paste, so it'd better be true!)

ME: I'm thinking of moving to Plusnet landline, but I can't get a clear answer to the following question: I use prefix dialling 18185 or 1899 to make overseas calls at a vastly reduced rate (so called override provider). Would this work with Plusnet, or would there be an extra charge to my Plusnet account for doing so. If so, how much? There is a lot of confusion and misinformation on the various user forums.

a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, then

HIM: We treat those numbers the same as BT, no charge as long as it connects through those numbers.

I hope he's right. Plusnet seems to want to keep this a murky area, which rather puts me off them, despite being a longstanding broadband customer.

Moderator's note by Dick (Strat): CSA name(s) removed (to an area staff can see) as per Forum rules.

[#8]

Hi Crumhorner,

Just to hopefully put your mind at rest, I can confirm that what I wrote a couple of months ago is still correct - I regularly use 18185, costs are very competitive particularly for international calls.  Plusnet do not charge for accessing 18185.

Like you, I've found that the info given out by online chat is often incorrect.

I guess it's not surprising that Plusnet aren't keen on publicising 18185 and similar numbers, when you see how low 18185's rates are compared to Plusnet's!