J.JsOH

We used Upakweship from US to UK. All went well and arrived secure at this end.

J.JsOH

We backed up all files onto an external hard drive and carried it back with us.

Editha

Thanks! That's good to hear.

Editha

We are taking our laptops and iPads with us on the plane.

I want to take the Apple time capsule in our luggage, though it is quite heavy, but it will assist setting up our computer network at our new home.

We'll have the thumb drives with us too. I'm thinking of putting the external hard drive in the container. Since we are getting rid of our desktops, there is no other computer kit to go in.

J.JsOH

I think it worth splitting it for minimum risk purpose, in addition to caried hard drive our desktop went with shippers, a copy of our home files went onto my work laptop (I was keeping the same job UK to US) and I had employer air-ship my work laptop and monitor etc.

One other just-in-case thing we did was to make copies of critical docs like Wills and air-shipped the originals to family back home in unlikely event the plane with us and all our stuff went down (it happens)

Editha

If we go down with our plane, I really don't care whether our paperwork is in order or not. In the time honoured tradition of lawyers, I've never made a will because nobody paid me for doing so. The task is perpetually at the bottom of my To Do List.

Editha

08 numbers are a pain. I've had to get my brother, who is in the UK, to deal with setting up utilities for my house in Devon, because the companies all use 08 numbers and I cannot contact them from abroad.

Giantaxe

You can call shared cost 08 numbers if you have Skype credit. They are not included in Skype subscription plans though.

Editha

Thanks for that info. It did not occur to me to try using Skype.

Gozit

Odd... I think I called a UK 0800 number from here before, I had a software program that came from the UK and the support was UK based. I dialed (from my mobile) - +44 800 xxxxxxxx

But google "no0800" and a bunch of websites come and you type in the 08 number, and it gives you the alternative +44 77 xxx number to call.

Editha

I don't think so. The only sites I can find allow people to phone 0800 numbers from a mobile without paying the charges, or give an alternative 0800 number (which is free from a landline) to an 08700 number, which is charged at a higher rate.

I can't find any which would enable me to phone from abroad.

Gozit

Try this
http://www.saynoto0870.com

Giantaxe

Of use Skype on a smartphone UK 0800 numbers are even free with Skype.

Editha

I've tried that one already. It doesn't provide any numbers I can ring from Canada.

Editha

Somebody else suggested that. I tried it and just got the message 'invalid phone number'.