phillips_75

Hi,

We need to make a long phone call to the UK (we'll be calling HMRC and they can keep you on hold forever!).

What would you recommend as the most cost effective way to do this please?

We both have Telstra mobile phones so we could just call the "outside the UK" number from one of them. The other thing I'm wondering about is buying an international phone card, and using it on either my mother in law's landline, or a payphone?

Thanks for your help :-)

Peter

Swerv-o

I use Google Hangouts/Voice which allows calls to the UK for very small amounts of money.

You'll need a Gmail account and the Google Voice plugin, but it's pretty simple.


S

GarryP

Suggest a VoIP into a UK number - 1p per min

Don't suggest Telstra Mobile, they can be bl**dy expensive if you aren't careful. At least on my Virgin account calling the UK is the same cost as calling next door.

spouse of scouse

My sister changed her mobile plan, which now allows her to make free calls to the UK from Australia. If you call the UK regularly I can ask her for the details.

Tr1boy

We looked at this as we also needed the ability to call Korea. I'm sure things have changed but for us the 'Hello Card' was a no brainer compared to the 'special rate' Telstra used to offer.

Beoz

I use my mobile. I'm sure I get stung but I never look at the bill. The wife uses her Vodafone mobile and claims calls to the UK are part of her allowance.

Apart from that I use my companies Skype system.

astera

Sign up for Skype and get an unlimited plan to the UK for landlines.

And don't top up Skype using a CC as from Wednesday Coles will be selling all Skype top-up cards at 50% off.

P.S. Even if you already have a Skype account you can change currencies to AUD.

Amazulu

Skype is good - a couple of cents a minute to landlines and mobiles

Edit:
Just checked and its 2.5c/min - less is some cases

astera

And buying a card at Coles this week cuts the cost in half.

livinginnyc

Yup yup, Skype! I use that for anything that needs to be done back in the UK on a land line and Facetime/whats app for friends/family - way way cheaper!

If you need to be called back - you can get a Skype In number that will route back to your phone/computer (as long as Skype is running and you have decent cellular signal and/or WiFi).

Amazulu

Microsoft often have big discounts on Skype credit - I got $50 credit for $25 recently

Credit lasts for a year

astera

Same deal as the supermarket ones recently.

As for credit validity I think there is no expiry. You don't have to use it up in a year - you simply have to make at least one chargeable call/message to keep the credit valid for 12 more months.