I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands and my provider (a monopoly until very recently) is Jersey Telecom. I have been using Onetel via a router box but since they have been taken over by TalkTalk this no longer works. Apparently, the re-direction of calls is now made through a switch in the BT exchange (which of course we don't have here).

Does anyone know of another provider that uses a similar method i.e. router box that I could use instead of Onetel? Also, does anyone know whether it is possible to use systems like 18185.co.uk from here?

I have a number of friends who were using Onetel and we would really like to find an alternative to JT. Any advice very welcome.

Tim

I notice from their site www.jerseytelecom.com that they charge 3.5p a min at all times to call Uk. However they only appear to charge 3.95p peak, 1.5p evenings, 1p weekends to call 0845 numbers.So it should  be possible to reduce the cost of evening and weekend calls from Jersey via a 0845 access number. Most indirect suppliers have replaced their 0845 access numbers  with 0844 numbers.But some of the old 0845 numbers still work.EG Telestunts 0845 244 30 30 is one that works for uk calls.It will also  allow you to call some intl destinations eg  France.Portugal.Etc

Telestunts 0845 number does allow you to call USA. So what you may ask. Well if you called your destination via www.futurephone.com  USA gateway number 001 712 858 8883 your get a choice of some excellent Intl Landline Rates from the Channel Islands . However line quality may be flaky as your going over 3 legs.

I asked Jersey Telecom about their charges for the numbers that cable and mobile users call and receive the following from them:

Further to my previous e mail I can confirm that numbers prefixed with 0808 are free and numbers prefixed with 02081 are charged at a national rate of
3.5 pence per minute.

Hope this information is useful and please let me know if you require anything further.

Thanks
Sherri Hunt

Home Solutions

I will see if I can use 1899 or 18185. Thanks to all those who replied to my original post.

Tim

I think your find that 1899/18866/18185 indirect access codes dont work from CI and I of M. Onetel use to provide service via freephone number i believe.

I recollect some time ago their was a post on the MSE site that 18185 etc did not allow you to register unless you have a UK Mainland or NI postcode.Perhaps things have changed.

Hopefully the op will let us know how he gets on.

Uswitch requires you to enter current landline supplier it does not recognise Jersey Telecom.

I have registered with 1899 and received an e-mail accepting the registration but when I call the cable number, I get a message saying that the number I am calling from is not registered on their system. I have e-mailed 1899 to ask what the problme is but had no reply yet.

I have also looked at uswitch, but can't really register sensibly as line providers are all UK ones and JT is not listed as an alternative. I have e-mailed them to see if they can suggest anything.

I realise I could try the Skype/Voip route but I would prefer to use normal lines if possible. as I don't really want to leave my computer on all the time.

I'll post news on progress as and when I make any!

TimInJersey wrote on Nov 4^th, 2006 at 3:09pm:


It seems indirect access codes do exist in the Channels Islands but perhaps only for services run by other channel islands telecoms suppliers?

See www.wavetelecom.com/templates/LayoutB.aspx?id=146

Did you try accessing 1899 using the actual 1899 access prefix code to see what happened?  By the way 1899 is no longer the cheapest for various calls and you would be better off registering with their sister company www.18185.co.uk, who I believe also support the Freephone 0800 number call access route.

I think you might have same problem with Vonage. In that i believe its only available UK Mainland and NI.

Does my 0845 idea not work for cheaper evening and weekend calls.

bbb_uk wrote on Nov 5^th, 2006 at 5:56pm:


And competition on line rental cost doesn't really seem to exist in the UK mainland either if you live outside a cable tv area. Basically because of what BT wholesale charges its rivals you have to pay about £140 a year to keep the copper wire to your house connected so you can they pay extra to get broadband even if you take your line rental and phone calls from a competitor and even if you never make a single phone call using the PSTN.  Compare this with gas and electricity where there are plenty of plans with no standing charge which must work fantastically for those with small beach houses or tiny country cottages only used for a few weeks each year.

There was supposed to be cheaper line rental on something called naked DSL where you just had the copper wire for broadband and no phone service if you didn't need an old fashioned phone service but good old Ofcom decided that wasn't necessary.  Another case of keeping their old mates BT in their jobs till they start drawing their comfortable pensions I fear.

If the 18185.co.uk service also has an 0808 cable access number then I would also try setting up an account with them and giving it a bash as they are now the cheapest of these three Finarea brands for UK calls.  All the 1899 or 18185 code actually does is ring the Freephone number as I understand it and uk freephone numbers do also appear to be free from Jersey, unless of course Jersey telecom is allowed to bar certain 0800 or 0808 numbers that it identifies as access numbers for rival telecoms companies.  This was long a trick of Orange when they used to provide 0800 numbers free of charge to their contract mobile phone customers.

Might be worth a call to the Jersey Telecoms regulator to discuss the whole thing with them in more detail.