Calling home Cheaply from London or UK : Part 2

II) Call through special discounted numbers

Someone gave me these series of numbers:

(will put here later, got to check that they are working first...)

Frankly, I have no idea how this works or how these numbers come about. It is passed on through friends, from their friends. Probably it is just like Zone1511 in Singapore. Anyway, it works. And I know people who always use it, (including myself sometimes!!)

These numbers are very popular among office workers and students here who have access to phones in their offices. To make it worth while, you got to call these numbers from a landline, and you just incur some charges of a few pence/minute (usually 1-2p), depending on destinations. Before they put you through, they will explain these to you.

The disadvantage of using this is the “instruction” or “introduction” is lengthy, and you might be told to call a different number if the destination you call is not “covered” by the number you are calling. The benefits? No calling card, you pay nothing. Very small fees to the phone line owner. (the schools and bosses are not complaining, so it is really cheap!)

III) Buying a local SIM card

You can get a local SIM card, if you plan to stay a week or so in London.

The following is for the point of view of tourist or short-term visitors to London or UK, who wants to call home or stay in contact while here.

Virgin Mobile is usually recommended when you try to purchase a SIM card from a store. Most shops sell you cards for £10. Virgin is considered cheaper, as it came with a £5.00 airtime when you get the card.

Choose carefully!! The charges differ by as much as a few times! It is crazy. Example O2 charges £1.50 per minute of international call, Mobile world starts with a few extra pence and Tesco charges 20-40p/minute.

I bought a Virgin mobile SIM too, and my friends bought them as well when they first arrived. For me, it was ok, not too bad. But for my friend, she had it bad. Her hotel room is at the basement, and she had no line!! And it is not that cheap! 30 or 35p/minute for the first five minutes! Just calling a friend in London to tell her that you arrived can cost you a pound!

My suggestion is consider FRESH mobile

• The charge is 15p/minute and 5p/sms. One of the cheapest around.
• Reception is ok.
• The international calls are the cheapest for this one, I think. International SMS only 15p/message.

Downside?

I think only Carphone Warehouse sells them.

Upside?

Carphone Warehouse is present in every corner, every high street here. You can’t miss it! Find out more from www.carphonewarehouse.com. You can also check out Mobile World by carphone warehouse.

My current SIM is Tesco Mobile.

Cheap!!! 15p/minute and 5p/sms for the “Value” option.

Downside?

You got to buy the SIM by post if you choose Tesco Value. SMS home for 20p. You can find out more from http://www.tesco.com/telecoms/ if you got a friend here who can receive the card by post on your behalf.

Other options?

Easycall – need to buy from internet https://www.easymobile.com/. Yes, this is from the same people who give you the cheap and relatively good EasyHotel chain. P/s: There is a promotion till mid May. You get £5.00 airtime free!

Other related posts:

London is expensive? The insider's guide to do it in a cheap way.

Getting around Cheaply in London- An insider's guide

EAT WELL, EAT CHEAP in London (coming soon).

SLEEP WELL, SLeep SAFELY and CHEAPLY in London(coming soon).