FAQ

What is a Direct access phone company?

Fixed line phone companies connect directly to your home either by wire, cable or radio link. You pay them for line rental and for the cost of the calls you make and the services you use.

BT is a direct access company and is available throughout the country (except in Hull where Kingston Communications is the main direct access phone company). Cable companies like ntl and Telewest can provide direct access telephone services as well as television through the same cable. Cable in available to over half the homes in the country.

What is an Indirect Access Company?

When you use an indirect access company, your calls are routed over that company’s network and you pay them for these calls. You still have to pay line rental to your existing telephone company though.

There are three ways to access an indirect service:

Prefix number – a 4-digit code is dialled before each call in order to route your calls through the chosen suppliers network.

Auto-Dialler – a small adaptor is plugged into your telephone socket and automatically route your calls without you needing to dial a prefix code.

Carrier Pre-Selection - when you give permission for some or all of your calls to be automatically routed over your chosen supplier’s network if calls are made from your home telephone line. (This type of service is currently in trial stages and is not yet widely available)

Examples of indirect access companies are One-Tel, Planet Talk, Alpha Telecom and Euphony.

Which suppliers are in my area?

Your postcode determines which fixed line or cable suppliers are available in your area. BT service is available in all areas (except for Kingston Communications in Hull). An alternative cable telephone service from either ntl or Telewest is now available in over 50% of the UK.

All indirect access companies have services that work with BT but only some can be used with cable companies.

How can suppliers offer cheaper calls?

Telephone suppliers negotiate deals with other suppliers in the UK and all over the world. When you connect to their service they route all your calls and can pass the savings back to you in the form of cheaper calls.

Which is the best telephone supplier for me?

The best supplier for each person is different and will vary depending on your calling patterns. The impartial uSwitch home telephone calculator provides a comparison between the leading UK telephone suppliers to determine which company can offer the cheapest service. Often an indirect access supplier will offer the greatest savings, particularly if you make international calls.

What additional services are available?

Telephone suppliers can offer a variety of additional services, such as voice mail, call forwarding, call waiting, on-line billing etc. but many just concentrate on providing cheaper calls.

Cable companies include a Digital TV package with their telephone lines.

Why do I have to enter who my suppliers are?

uSwitch uses the information you provide about your current supplier(s) to produce a comparison showing the savings available from alternative suppliers.

Also, some telephone suppliers services may not work with your existing phone line so it is important that this detail is provided.

What is an Auto-Dialler?

An auto-dialler is a small adaptor you plug into your main phone point that automatically directs your calls through the service of your new supplier.

As long as the box is plugged in, all calls made on that socket will go through the desired supplier. However, phone calls made from other phones in the home will not be routed through the additional supplier.

What is a Prefix Dial?

Using Prefix dialling you must dial a 4 digit access code or 0800 number to access your suppliers network. Any calls not made with the access code will not be put through your additional supplier.

What is Carrier Pre Selection?

Carrier pre selection is where all calls made from one phone number go directly through a chosen supplier. A customer specifies which calls they would like to go through a particular supplier and then every time one of those calls is placed it uses the specified suppliers network.

Carrier Pre Selection is currently in the trial period in the UK, however it is expected to become more widely available soon.

What is cable telephone?

Cable telephone is provided by one of two cable companies (ntl and Telewest) and is available in about half the UK.

Cable companies install a physical line into your home in much the same way as BT.

With a cable telephone, a basic package of Digital TV channels is included as part of your deal. You can upgrade your TV package with more channels e.g. ITV Sports, Sky Premier once you are installed.

Cable companies are now staring to offer Broadband internet access as well.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008