Signing up for call1899/18866/18185

A question about : Signing up for call1899/18866/18185

Sometimes users receive an email saying that capacity is currently full and to try again in six weeks when signing up for 1899, 18866 and 18185.

Should this happen, sign up again using a mobile number and once you get the email saying you are registered go back into your profile and add your landline number and all should be well.

This tip was discovered on MSE a year ago but sadly the posts that pointed out this were lost during a crash on the old forums. I would like to credit the person who discovered it but have not been able to find these old posts

As pointed out by Martin in the updated article here 1899 are now slightly cheaper than 18866 since 18866 upped the connection charge to 5p however if dialling international calls it is always wise to use the International Call Checker here.

18185 is good if you find you have to dial 0845 and 0870 numbers and are unable to find an alternative number by using saynoto0870

The charges for 18185 for 0845 are 3p per minute weekdays and 1p per minute at the w/ends with a 4p connection charge. 0870 are 4p per minute weekdays and 2p per minute at the w/ends again with 4p connection charge.

Charges for dialing mobiles via 18185 are 5p per minute weekdays and 2p per minute w/ends, again with a 4p connection charge.

***The above charges are for users with a BT line, for cable users please check the websites for the company concerned as the rates are different ***

Best answers:

• I tried to sign up to 18185 and got a message that I must enable cookies in IE. I use Mozilla Firefox. Cookies are enabled so far as I can see. I can't find anywhere to contact 18185. Any ideas? Thanks
• I use Firefox and don't have any problems with 18185 or 18866/1899 online.
  Have you tried signing up via Internet Explorer. I know some users have had problems with both.
  There is no way of phoning any of these companies, that is how they keep the prices down and I understand if you email it can be some time before you get anything other than a "standard" email.
• I'm very confused with how I've set up my phone systems.!!!
  I first set up up 18866 as advised on here. At first the bills were relatively small, then they increased every month!!! so, after reading the article 'in a nutshell' I ditched 18866 and join just dial. However, 18866 stopped immediatly, just dial didn't start for nearly 3 weeks!! bad move. Anyway just dial is now working as I've a bill for Ј2.86, but I still dont know how to use it properly. Do I just dial the number without a previx? as the name suggests all the time? , some of the time? I rejoined 18866 aswell as I tht it was easier-but some times I dial a number using 18866 prefix and it's a constant engaged tone-some times it doesn't do this and the pre recorded voice clearly tells me 'nought p per minute'-what on earth have I done ???? Please help me untangle this mess....anyone ?????
  Gemx
• Right Anita, here we go
  Just Dial is your CPS (Carrier Pre Select) which means that instead of all your calls going through BT you only pay your line rental to BT and from the exchange all your calls will go through Just Dial.
  With 18866/1899/18185 the calls only go through them when you pre dial say 1899 before the full number you are calling.
  So in your case I am assuming you have free evening and w/end calls with Just Dial, no pre dialing of another number, and through the day you are cheaper using one of 18866/1899/18185 depending on if you are phoning local, international or mobiles.
  With 18866/1899/18185 you only pay for calls you make (and get through) and there is no monthly charge so there is no harm in having accounts with all three. (I do)
  Some people are experiencing difficulty with the busy tone using 1899/18866/18185 so just try again or if you have accounts with them all try using another one.
  With 1899/18866/18185 you will be billed monthly if your account is large enough, if it isn't much they will carry the amount forward until such times as they deem it sufficient to take the money from you.
  Hope this helps in some way, if not just come back and ask another question.
• 18866 connection charge goes up to 4p from tomorrow. Sounds like the era of really cheap phone calls is coming to an end? I know you can use 1899 but that will surely go up shortly.
  Looks like I am being forced to use my computer........................................!!
• Or use BT and really get stung
• Hi
  Been using 18866 and 1899 for probably a year now. I have a dialler box that I can program with my PC and it works a treat (just noticed there is another thread for the Orchid Dialler in this part of the forum), so I do not ever have to dial the prefix as the box does that automatically.
  One tip, never use 1471 then 3 to ring back the last caller as this will route the call with BT and not via the cheaper route.
  Cheers
  Phil
• Hi folks,
  I've only just started looking into changing my phone arrangements so forgive me if I ask you some dumb questions.
  I signed up with 1899 2 nights ago and I am using them for all my calls though I am still signed up with BT for the line rental and BTYahoo broadband. After watching "Matin Lewis Make Me Rich" programme on Friday it seemed a good idea to at least sign up for 1899. Though JustDialSaver seemed a load of hassle and might mess around with my broadband.
  On my landline I usually make a call or two during the workday and probably 3-4 calls to mobiles during the week.
  So anyone got much of an idea what I will be saving by using 1899 over BT???
  10p a min on weekday evenings sounds dear to me so is there anyway of getting this down using another prefix service??
  Mobile Calls last around 10mins
  Landline calls last around 30mins-1hr
  Appreciate your expert advice
  Jules
  PS What the hell is the orchid dialler??
  PPS Is 18666 anygood for mobile calls?
• If I sign up for just dial saver and the 1899 service, will these interfere with my BT broadband connection?
  Thanks
• No it want . But you might want to sign up with Primus Saver 2 instead of JDS as JDS have a poor CS record.
  My post here earlier today gives you the appropriate links.
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=130671
• Does signing up for Just Call Saver or 1899 affect the ability to use BT Broadband?
  Thanks
• I have Just Call Saver & 1899 + BT for rental, it does not affect my Broadband.
• Sorry in advance if this seems a dumb question, but how exactly does 18866 work, i have read links and even been on their web page. Do you just register and prefix the number you want to use then get it for a reduce cost, which is then paid to 18866 by debit card? if this is the case does it benefit when phoning mobile phones, as my monthly bill included about Ј10 worth of mobile costs when I am chasing my two teenage daughters up!! I would appreciate any replies, just changed to a better NTL package, gone to Talk 24 to talk unlimited, so will have to pay 3p per min for day time calls, could 18866 make these calls any cheaper?
• First of all as you are with NTL the prices with 18866/1899/18185 are dearer than if you are with BT.
  The cheaper one for mobiles of the three is 18185 but the rates for NTL are dearer, this is the webpage for cable users.
  On all of the websites you need to look for the page where it gives the rates for cable users as you will find that most users here (me included, sorry) quote the BT rates.
  Should you decide that it will be cheaper for you to use any of these companies then yes, you sign up for them and as a cable user you have to pre-dial a longer number than say 1899 and then the full number you are phoning. The call will then go through 1899 and you will be billed by them through debit or credit card monthly or so.
  HTH
• Any suggestions as to next step with 1899. I signed up online giving both landline and mobile numbers but have received no confirming email. I am not sure whether to go through whole process again risking that somewhere along the line I will end up with two lots of money coming off my maestro card and two sets of registrations or am I quite wrong about the possibility of that? Should I try re-registering just using a mobile number? Is it that these cheap providers are getting overloaded with customers and can not provide the customer service back up, do you think? The only way you can actually contact their customer service is by reporting a fault on a form which does not allow anything other than reporting a fault assuming you are already registered and technically able to use 1899 - there is no room for any other query!