Sick of being forced to pay rip-off mobile phone charges? Here are three clever tricks you can use to combat them.
It's been good news for mobile lovers recently. As the competition hots up, calls are getting cheaper, deals are better, and after the recent ruling by the European Parliament, taking your mobile abroad is set to come down this summer.
However, there are still some situations where using a mobile can still prove extortionate. Here are three solutions to cutting some of these troublesome costs.
When 'free' doesn't always mean free
One of the most annoying mobile phone charges are freephone numbers. After all, you'd think a freephone number would be exactly that - free.
Some companies are slowly starting to lift the extortionate charges associated with freephone numbers. Earlier this month, BT Mobile lifted charges on 0800 and 0500 calls, while T-Mobile's revamped Flext tariff now includes all calls to freephone numbers in its standard allowance.
The only problem with these two deals is that hardly anyone is connected to the BT Mobile network, and you'll have to stump up at least £40 a month to take advantage of the T-Mobile tariff. So what can you do?
Well, you could always search for an alternative number. Classic sites like saynoto0870.com list geographical alternatives for 0870, 0845 and 0800 numbers, and these alternatives should be included in your allowance if you have a monthly contract. But, when you're on the move, you may not have time to do a search on saynoto0870.com. Luckily, now there is another way.
Website 0800Buster provides an innovative way to dial 0800 and 0500 numbers for nothing. It's easy to understand, and it should only take you 30 extra seconds to get round this loophole.
To get connected free, visit the site and take note of the landline number that will appear at the top left of the screen.
Dial it from your mobile, and, when prompted, enter the freephone number you want to call, followed by #. You should be connected as normal.
If you have a pay-as-you-go tariff, bear in mind you will still be charged for calling the initial number. If you are on a contract plan with inclusive minutes, it will all be free.
Ok. The whole thing sounds a bit fiddly. But considering some networks can charge up to 40p per minute to call these so-called 'freephone' numbers, a little inconvenience could save you a small fortune in the long run.
Free international calls!
When it comes to domestic calls, providers are lining up to throw minutes and texts at you. But where international calls are concerned, it's a slightly different story, and if you don't want to pay the exorbitant costs of getting connected directly through your mobile, you can end up with reams of extra phone cards, SIMs and codes to try and get your call costs down.
One way to make free calls to international landlines and mobiles is to use a site called Rebtel.
Enter the number you want to call on Rebtel's website. You will be given a local number to dial, which will connect you.
Once you're connected, the person on the other end needs to hang up and ring you back on the number displayed on their handset, while you stay on the line.
Then, you can talk to your heart's content knowing you won't have to pay a penny, while the other person pays for the cost of a local call (if they also have inclusive minutes, it will also be free for them).
For a more detailed explanation of how Rebtel works, watch this video.
Skype's the way
The days when the 3 mobile network offered clunky handsets operating on a network which, let's face it, made it quicker to convey your message via horseback than try to get a good signal, are thankfully over, and 3 has led the way in making calls over the internet.
Joining forces with eBay subsidiary Skype to offer calls over the internet from your mobile, 3 have managed to launch themselves back up with the big boys.
Earlier this month, 3 and Skype continued their love affair, and now allows anyone with a 3 SIM and compatible handset to chat away at their heart's content without needing to top-up or pay any data charges.
This is an exciting prospect for anyone looking for a good deal without the monthly commitment.
Of course, the free calls only apply to Skype to Skype calls, and if you want to call a landline or non-compatible handset, you'll have to pay the relevant charges.
A new 3G handset will set you back around £80, so if you don't fancy buying a brand new handset, check if your handset is compatible. If it is, 3 will send a link to your phone so you can get up and running.
I've used Skype in the past, and although most times you notice no difference in call quality between what you'd get on a regular call, there's that 'delay effect' when you're talking to people in other countries. But if you don't mind that, why not give it a go?
There will always be those annoying charges to remind us that mobile companies aren't just there to make our lives easier. The loopholes above may sound fiddily at first, but if they'll save you money in the long run, perhaps it's time to start dialing those extra numbers...
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