SkyTalk Changes effective 15th April 2008 (& 1st July)

[bbb_uk]

Important prices changes to SkyTalk package
Effective from 15th April 2008

Increase in international countries with inclusive calls from 10 to 20 on for those on SkyTalk Unlimited:
Existing 10 inclusive countries:
USA, Ireland, Spain, Austrailia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Italy and the Netherlands (calls to USA & Canada mobiles included).

Additional 10 inclusive countries:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Rep, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden.

Connection Fee:
The connection fee for all non-inclusive calls will increase from 6p to 7p, unless a separate connection fee or minimum fee is specified.

UK Landline rates:
Daytime rate for calls to UK landlines (01, 02 and 03) for those on SkyTalk Freetime will increase from 3.25p/min to 4p/min

Changes to Inclusive Calls Unlimited Package
Calls lasting more than an hour will be increasing from 0.8p/min to 4p/min. Normal redial as often as you like still applies.

Changes to non-geographical call rates (0845, most 0870):
Calls to 0845 numbers will change from 2p/min in the daytime and 0.5p/min in the evening to 6p/min AT ALL TIMES.

Calls to most 0870 numbers will change from 6p/min in the daytime and 1.5p/min in the evening to 10p/min in the daytime and 8p/min in the evening, seven days a week.

Free calls to Sky contact centres from 1st July 2008:
All calls to Sky call centres will be free from 1st July 2008 for SkyTalk customers (eg all calls to Sky's 0870 and 0844 numbers).

[dms05]

Are BT introducing similar changes for 0845 and 0870 numbers? I also understand most existing 0845 and 0870 numbers will be changing to other number prefix and will be at yet different (cheaper?) rates. So has anyone seen a decent review of what all this will cost Joe Public?

[bbb_uk]

As far as i'm aware BT aren't increasing prices to 0845 and 0870 numbers. They are increasing prices for evening calls from 4.5p per call to 1.5p/min and linerental is increasing for those not signed upto on paper-free billing.

As far as i'm aware, both Sky and VirginMedia are NOW the most expensive for calls to 0845/0870 numbers. BT and all the other providers are cheaper than Sky.

0845 and 0870 numbers are staying the same. The only difference is that Ofcom proposed to remove revenue sharing from 0870 numbers and as such companies such as Sky have moved to 0844 or 0871 numbers so they can still make money from customers (inc new customers) ringing them even whilst stuck in a queue for over 20mins to their c/s department.

However, one good thing Sky have introduced is free calls to their contact centres for those of us on SkyTalk. However, as a consequence it has meant that all other companies, most of which operate 0845/0870, will be even more expensive to call now if still using SkyTalk to call them.
I would definiately advise not to transfer linerental from BT to Sky because providing you still pay BT for linerental, u can enjoy way cheaper calls 0845/0870 numbers than you can on Sky.

[mikey4020]

I'm going to add a bit to your post and then move this to the Sky News and Announcements forum

[Heinz]

Cost comparisons:

0845----------------Daytime ----Evening/Night

Sky 7p connection + 6p/min.--------6p/min.
BT*-7p connection + 2p/min.--------½p/min.

0870----------------Daytime ----Evening/Night

Sky 7p connection + 10p/min.-------8p/min.
BT*-7p connection + 06p/min.-------1½p/min.

N.B. Neither BT nor Sky now has a separate weekend rate and the above day/night rates apply 7 days a week.

* For those who leave their line rental with BT (i.e. just use Sky Talk as a CPS calls provider), it used to be possible to use the 1280 prefix to 'hop back onto BT' for 0845 and 0870 calls. Sky now ignores the 1280 prefix - thus 'forcing' Sky Talk CPS subscribers to pay its excessive rates for these calls.

[NewsreadeR]

Some more information, sorry not had time to compare...

Important prices changes to SkyTalk package
Effective from 15th April 2008

list of international countries with inclusive calls from 10 to 20 on for people on SkyTalk Unlimited:

20 inclusive countries to phone free

Austria, Belgium, Czech Rep, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden.
USA, Ireland, Spain, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Italy and the Netherlands (calls to USA & Canada mobiles included).



The connection fee for all non-inclusive calls will increase from 6p to 7p, unless a separate connection fee or minimum fee is specified.


Daytime rate for calls to UK landlines (01, 02 and 03) for those on SkyTalk Freetime will increase from 3.25p/min to 4p/min

Bt's rates are due to also rise on 1st of April. And Standard line rental is to move upto £11.25

Changes to non-geographical call rates (0845, most 0870)

Calls to 0845 numbers will change from 2p/min in the daytime and 0.5p/min in the evening to 6p/min AT ALL TIMES.

Calls to most 0870 numbers will change from 6p/min in the daytime and 1.5p/min in the evening to 10p/min in the daytime and 8p/min in the evening, seven days a week.

Calls to Sky contact Centres from 1st July 2008:

Sky Call Centres will be free from 1st July 2008 for SkyTalk customers (eg all calls to Sky's 0870 and 0844 numbers).

[bbb_uk]

Originally Posted by NewsreadeR

Some more information, sorry not had time to compare...Bt's rates are due to also rise on 1st of April. And Standard line rental is to move upto £11.25

I believe BT's rates for 0845/0870 are staying the same as they are now. Calls lasting more than an hour are increasing and so is the linerental for those that dont opt for online billing.

With online billing, the linerental is only 50p a month more than Sky (ie £10.50) but that would give you access to BT's network for calls to 0845/0870 where BT are significantly cheaper than Sky.

Sky have really outdone themselves this time because as far as i'm aware it's only VirginMedia and now Sky that are the most expensive for calls to 0845/0870 as all other landline providers charge less than these two companies and lets face it, these days its nearly impossible to avoid ringing a 0845/0870 number as most companies and government departments use them.

[blade]

simple answer to all 0845 and 0870 numbers goto saynoto0870 problem solved.

And lets face facts is some of the older generation ie people over 50 are they going to do there billing online some how i don't think so most people are happy with they way they do it and preferably doing it old way and not getting into online as people feel insecure for security reasons or don't like change.

and the price in regards to the 0870 numbers are changing as well as bts


or just don't phone them and well cant do much then lol.


compare packages lol



Weekend calls
(Option 1)
FREE


lol what a joke this use to be free evening and weekends auto and no cost look again has now gone to weekends only and option 2 gives you free evening and weekends and have to pay for it as well lol




Evening & Weekend calls
(Option 2)

FREE
with 12 month renewable contract

OR £3.45/month


is a joke renewable contract and costs £3.45 a month compared to sky that services is free and no contract



Anytime calls
(Option 3)
FREE for 3 months then £5.95/month with 12 month contract
OR £7.95/month


Complete utter con lol £5.95 for first 3 month then £7.95 after lol

skytalk unlimited £5.00 per month free all time and now 20 int seems lot better seems bt cant match this offer cos they wanted me to go back to them i said i was on skytalk unlimited £5.00 per month ohh sorry we cant match that offer.

Seems bt are loosing the battle in more and more places some places bt does win over some things with sky but hay who would you rather be with BT or Sky

[bbb_uk]

Originally Posted by blade

And lets face facts is some of the older generation ie people over 50 are they going to do there billing online some how i don't think so most people are happy with they way they do it and preferably doing it old way and not getting into online as people feel insecure for security reasons or don't like change.

If people pay by direct debit (normal these days) and opt for paper-free billing (ie they receive statements via email) then that would save them money and they could have linerental for £10.50 per month.

and the price in regards to the 0870 numbers are changing as well as bts

As far as i'm aware, the price of 0845/0870 are staying the same on BT. It's just the cost of calls after an hour will go up as well as linerental for those that dont pay via direct debit and dont opt for online billing.

Seems bt are loosing the battle in more and more places some places bt does win over some things with sky but hay who would you rather be with BT or Sky

I agree here but providing your linerental stays with BT, you can enjoy the best of both worlds and have BT (or even other providers) handle your 0845/0870 calls rather than the expensive Sky.

That's what I do. I do try not to make calls to these numbers where possible and use sayno where possible but sometimes it cant be helped because these companies are purposely removing any geographical numbers from use once they get listed on sayno and Sky is one of such companies.

The extra 10 free international calls I think is paid for by means of the very large increase in cost of calls to 0845/0870 numbers.

[Alan b]

Originally Posted by blade

FREE
with 12 month renewable contract

OR £3.45/month


is a joke renewable contract and costs £3.45 a month compared to sky that services is free and no contract

Why is it a con, we are on this and do not pay the £3.45 fee as we are on the renewable contract. We have been with BT for years and don't see any reason to change as we get free calls in the evening and at weekends. We just have to make one phone call per month outside those times. The renewable contract isn't an issue as we plan to stay with them anyway and even if we didn't they will write to you before they renew it.