Cheap ways to call the US from the UK

SteveDallas · 07-23-2007, 09:08 PM

I believe I've mentioned that Mrs. Dallas is off to Buxton, England for the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. She's leaving at the end of this week.

Do any of our UK Dwellars (or anybody else) have suggestions for good ways for her to call home cheaply? We investigated renting a mobile phone, but that seemed like overkill. Really, all she needs is to call home occasionally during the two weeks she's there. In the course of making various arrangements for the trip and the performances, she had to call the UK sometimes, and she found a prepaid calling card that lets her make US -> UK calls for a couple cents a minute. But we've been unsucessful in finding one that works in the other direction.

Any suggestions?

Clodfobble · 07-23-2007, 09:33 PM

Skype.

This assumes she'll have a non-public computer available. But the connection is way better than a phone line, and computer-to-computer is absolutely free.

SteveDallas · 07-23-2007, 09:47 PM

Hmmm... highly unlikely .... but I'll check on the possibilities.

DucksNuts · 07-23-2007, 09:50 PM

Will Mrs Dallas be using a UK landline? like from a friend? That works out at 2p/per minute.

If Skype isnt an option and Mrs D wont have access to a landline.... there is Pingo

SteveDallas · 07-23-2007, 11:02 PM

Yeah, she should be able to find a landline.

DucksNuts · 07-23-2007, 11:05 PM

Dial abroad

xoxoxoBruce · 07-25-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DucksNuts

Dial abroad

I don't think Mrs Dallas is a lesbian.... or was that link for Mr Dallas?

DucksNuts · 07-25-2007, 12:43 AM

I cant believe it took over 24hrs for someone to come up with that

xoxoxoBruce · 07-25-2007, 12:59 AM

Hey, I've been busy.

wolf · 07-25-2007, 01:47 AM

My sister goes to England a lot, and although she probably either has an international enabled cell phone or uses her company's phone cards, she has travelled there for vacations and weddings and such ... I've emailed her to ask.

What about just using a payphone at the hotel/conference site and just billing to a credit card?

SteveDallas · 07-25-2007, 08:28 AM

Good question. I don't know what the rates would be like. (You'd have the credit card currency conversion fee just for starters.)

Thanks for the link, Ducks! I've found some other things.. it occurred to me to search for USA calling cards on google.co.uk, and came up with much more useful results.

Minx · 07-25-2007, 08:52 AM

Dunno what the prices are on what you've found..but Skype should be a realistic alternative????

I'm in Australia, and it works best 4 me in keeping in touch with the European vagabonds....

SteveDallas · 07-25-2007, 12:58 PM

Due to circumstances, she'll have no computer, and no easy/consistent access to one.

monster · 07-25-2007, 02:34 PM

Yes, there are lots of calling cards. you can buy them at local stores.

I wasn't born too far from Buxton. Used to bike and walk there all the time. traffic's a nightmare! Pretty place, though.

wolf · 07-26-2007, 12:27 AM

My sister's answer was

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfSibling

Sadly the only cheap way I know of for calling from UK to the US is to have the convenience of an office of your company located there – when I’m in the UK I only call to the US from (major international corporation)'s office there! The rates that the hotels charge are absolutely outrageous.

My cow orker, who lived in Britain for several years while attending gradual school, said that phone cards are available nearly everywhere, and are a great alternative to using the overpriced hotel room phone. If the timeline weren't so short, she could have lent MrsDallas a British pre-paid mobile that may still have minutes remaining on it. Cards to recharge them are available nearly everywhere, even in small corner shops.

07-23-2007, 09:08 PM	#1
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Cheap ways to call the US from the UK I believe I've mentioned that Mrs. Dallas is off to Buxton, England for the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. She's leaving at the end of this week. Do any of our UK Dwellars (or anybody else) have suggestions for good ways for her to call home cheaply? We investigated renting a mobile phone, but that seemed like overkill. Really, all she needs is to call home occasionally during the two weeks she's there. In the course of making various arrangements for the trip and the performances, she had to call the UK sometimes, and she found a prepaid calling card that lets her make US -> UK calls for a couple cents a minute. But we've been unsucessful in finding one that works in the other direction. Any suggestions?

07-25-2007, 12:59 AM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Hey, I've been busy. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-25-2007, 01:47 AM	#10
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	My sister goes to England a lot, and although she probably either has an international enabled cell phone or uses her company's phone cards, she has travelled there for vacations and weddings and such ... I've emailed her to ask. What about just using a payphone at the hotel/conference site and just billing to a credit card? __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

07-25-2007, 02:34 PM	#14
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Yes, there are lots of calling cards. you can buy them at local stores. I wasn't born too far from Buxton. Used to bike and walk there all the time. traffic's a nightmare! Pretty place, though. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

07-23-2007, 09:33 PM	#2
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Skype. This assumes she'll have a non-public computer available. But the connection is way better than a phone line, and computer-to-computer is absolutely free.

07-23-2007, 09:47 PM	#3
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Hmmm... highly unlikely .... but I'll check on the possibilities.

07-23-2007, 09:50 PM	#4
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	Will Mrs Dallas be using a UK landline? like from a friend? That works out at 2p/per minute. If Skype isnt an option and Mrs D wont have access to a landline.... there is Pingo

07-23-2007, 11:02 PM	#5
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Yeah, she should be able to find a landline.

07-23-2007, 11:05 PM	#6
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	Dial abroad

07-25-2007, 12:43 AM	#8
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	I cant believe it took over 24hrs for someone to come up with that

07-25-2007, 08:28 AM	#11
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Good question. I don't know what the rates would be like. (You'd have the credit card currency conversion fee just for starters.) Thanks for the link, Ducks! I've found some other things.. it occurred to me to search for USA calling cards on google.co.uk, and came up with much more useful results.

07-25-2007, 08:52 AM	#12
Minx Layperson Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 13	Dunno what the prices are on what you've found..but Skype should be a realistic alternative???? I'm in Australia, and it works best 4 me in keeping in touch with the European vagabonds....

07-25-2007, 12:58 PM	#13
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Due to circumstances, she'll have no computer, and no easy/consistent access to one.

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