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Consumer Advice: Money-Saving Expert Martin Lewis gives advice on the best landline deals
By: Martin Lewis
Martin Lewis
The savings can be astonishing: on 18185 to call a landline during the day costs just 5p. That’s not per minute, it’s per call. With BT it’s 6.4p a minute and Primus 3p a minute. In other words, around £4 cheaper for an hour’s daytime calls. Calls to mobiles during the week are often about half the cost of using one of the big boys.
Martin Lewis
Money-Saving Expert Lewis on keeping your phone bills small
Home phone users have been smacked on both sides of the face this year, with price hikes in April and again in October. Yet now it's time to smile: we’ve just seen the launch of the cheapest ever line rental deal – at nearly half most others' cost .
BT and TalkTalk's price rises have left many paying £150 to £160 a year for line rental alone. Frustratingly, this inflation's come when far fewer people are using their landline to make calls. Many now prefer to use mobiles, and keep a landline for emergencies and broadband access.
There is no need to pay such sums. It’s important to remember that whoever you pay for line rental, the actual wires remain the same. Apart from cable companies, pretty much all the phone providers rely on a line provided by BT, even though deregulation means a different company bills you.
Therefore, the only real change isn’t to the line, but that calls are routed through a different providers' system – and savings can be serious.
Therefore, the only real change isn’t to the line, but that calls are routed through a different providers' system – and savings can be serious.
· Line rental £7.99 a month. The new cheapest deal is just £7.99 a month with inclusive evening and weekend calls, working out at £96 a year. That’s £70 cheaper than line rental from one of the big boys.
To get it, you need to sign up to a year’s contract on Primus Home Phone Saver tariff; the best way is via the Homephonechoices website. If you sign up directly with Primus, the deal looks similar, but the contact's eighteen months and the call costs are slightly higher.
To get it, you need to sign up to a year’s contract on Primus Home Phone Saver tariff; the best way is via the Homephonechoices website. If you sign up directly with Primus, the deal looks similar, but the contact's eighteen months and the call costs are slightly higher.
· Cheapest BT line rental £9.99 a month. Although the deal from Primus is a good one, I know with phone lines many prefer to stick with a brand they know. If that’s you, it's possible cut the cost of being with BT right down if you can afford to pay for a year upfront. Its Line Rental Saver deal costs £119.88 and includes inclusive weekend calls, the equivalent of £9.99/month. Compared with BT’s standard line rental, even paying by direct debit at £13.29, this is a £40 annual saving.
To put this in context, provided you're not in debt, you're far better paying up front for your phone bill than sticking it in the bank. There’s nowhere you’d earn £40 for £120 over a year at today’s rates.
To put this in context, provided you're not in debt, you're far better paying up front for your phone bill than sticking it in the bank. There’s nowhere you’d earn £40 for £120 over a year at today’s rates.
For more options, including those which give some inclusive calls to mobiles and internationally within their line rental deals, or combined with broadband see www.moneysavingexpert.com/homephones.
Inclusive calls
One quick warning here: when I talk about inclusive weekend and evening calls, don’t assume everything's all dandy in the garden. First of all, they only apply to calls made to landlines – calls to mobiles still cost you.
And, just as importantly, they are only free for a set time: with BT it’s the first 60 minutes, with Primus it’s 90 minutes. After that, you can be charged quite a steep rate.
And, just as importantly, they are only free for a set time: with BT it’s the first 60 minutes, with Primus it’s 90 minutes. After that, you can be charged quite a steep rate.
So, if making long calls, keep your eye on the clock, when you are nearly up to the limit, ask the person you're calling if they mind you hanging up and redialling – then it remains free.
Slash the costs of specific calls on top
Just because line rental is cheap, it doesn’t mean the cost of individual calls is cheap, though Primus does tend to be slightly cheaper than BT. However, there is a way to substantially sever many call costs.
The easy way is to grab an account with a specialist “override” provider like 18185.co.uk. You dial a prefix number (unsurprisingly, this is 18185) before making a call. Your call is then routed through its network and its call costs apply, thus “overriding” your normal provider.
The easy way is to grab an account with a specialist “override” provider like 18185.co.uk. You dial a prefix number (unsurprisingly, this is 18185) before making a call. Your call is then routed through its network and its call costs apply, thus “overriding” your normal provider.
It's worth noting override providers are “no frills”, so the reliability may not always be great. If the worst happens and their service isn’t available, you can still make a call using your landline provider.
The savings can be astonishing: on 18185 to call a landline during the day costs just 5p. That’s not per minute, it’s per call. With BT it’s 6.4p a minute and Primus 3p a minute. In other words, around £4 cheaper for an hour’s daytime calls. Calls to mobiles during the week are often about half the cost of using one of the big boys.
Yet don’t assume override providers can be used with every landline provider. Some block them, but BT isn’t allowed to under competition rules and I’ve a written promise from Primus that it won’t do so until at least 2012.
Cut the cost of calling overseas
This is where phone bills can be big money. Of course, the cheapest way is internet-to-internet via services like Skype as then it’s free. However, when it comes to calling someone on an actual phone, don’t believe the Skype hype.
Using specialist override providers for each country undercuts paying for calls on Skype. For countries like the USA, Spain and France this can be as little as 1/2p a minute. To find the cheapest number I have a regularly-updated tool giving the cheapest for each country at www.moneysavingexpert.com/callchecker though its prices are for calls from a BT line. Use a different line and costs can very, so it's always best to do a short test call then check the cost on your bill first.
Free Video Message from Santa
There's a website that sends friends and family free personalised online video messages from Santa – incredibly cute for kids and hilarious for adults. Just go to www.portablenorthpole.tv, answer the questions and upload a photo (optional).
Free & cheap flu jabs
Don't pay £35 for a flu jab! First ask your GP if it's appropriate, and if you’re entitled to free injection there – many are. Don't qualify? Sainsbury's (0800 636 262), Asda (0844 481 5000) and Lloyds Pharmacies (0800 389 2578) all offer £8ish jabs.
Don't pay £35 for a flu jab! First ask your GP if it's appropriate, and if you’re entitled to free injection there – many are. Don't qualify? Sainsbury's (0800 636 262), Asda (0844 481 5000) and Lloyds Pharmacies (0800 389 2578) all offer £8ish jabs.
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TV money guru Martin Lewis runs the consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com; ensure you get his weekly e-mail so you’re constantly saving money.
