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Off to Cape Town please help ! |
ma77smith
Joined: Sep 19, 2005
Posts: 8
PM |
Hi Folks,
I'm off to Cape Town in 5 weeks for two months and need some advice on how I can use my phone to ANSWER calls without being charged a small fortune.
I'm with Orange UK on a premier 400 tariff (Sony K750i) and it will cost me £0.80 per minute to receive a call.
I have been in touch with orange and they do an international 'pack' where you buy a bundle of international minutes before you go, it's hardly any cheaper (about 5%) than normal and still an absolute rip off.
I'm a self emplyed IT guy and it's very important that people can get hold of me for advice, troubleshooting etc. But as you can imagine at 80 pence per minute I could come back to a £800+ phone bill
It isn't important for me to make calls only to receive and I really need to find a way to make this cheaper. I had an idea to get a South african pay as you go phone and leave my orange phone in the uk and just forward all calls to it - but I'm not sure whether this would be any cheaper or not.
If anyone out there knows a method to make this cheaper or free then I will buy you a beer |
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JK
Joined: Feb 24, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: S. Africa - JOZI
PM |
Hi I heard of a Vodafone roaming package with standard rates for international calls, but thats for SA roamers. PM amawanqa, hes just been here and is from the UK he might be able to help you out. |
amawanqa
Joined: May 08, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Hornchurch UK & East London SA
PM |
@ ma77smith,
I'm particularly busy at work at the mo,but I should be able to supply you with all the info you need tonight,when I get home.
Don't worry,I won't forget.  |
ma77smith
Joined: Sep 19, 2005
Posts: 8
PM |
cool, your a star!
thanks |
brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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Why not just buy a cheap PAYG starter pack and forward all your calls to the new number. It shouldn't be too much of a big deal...forget about roaming unless you're the Sultan of Brunei. When you're in Cape Town I'll take special delivery of my favourite brew at Bob's Bar in Long Street.
This message was posted from a K700i |
amawanqa
Joined: May 08, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Hornchurch UK & East London SA
PM |
@ brix, yes,but remember his phone is locked to Orange.If he gets it unlocked,it will invalidate his phone's warranty.
I was going to suggest him getting a very cheap PAYG phone and getting it unlocked at the nearest independent mobile phone shop,or get an ex-contract O2 handset,one of the few UK networks that don't lock contract phones,at least when i bought my 7250 in 2003...
Or get a new,cheap sim-free phone off eBay or www.mobilefun.co.uk and if you don't want to keep it upon returning to the UK,put it back on eBay.
Now I'd better get back to work..
I have a few new sealed Vodacom PAYG sims with me in London.He can pick one up from me,which I was going to suggest later.
He who laughs last... thinks slowest.
Nokia 5800, Sony Ericsson P1i, Nokia 7600. |
ma77smith
Joined: Sep 19, 2005
Posts: 8
PM |
hi guys,
Am I missing something here (probably :S)
If I get a PAYG phone to forward my calls to then surely I will have to put credit on and use it up at 80 pence per minute when receiving the calls ?
which would leave me in the same boat
Matt
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brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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Have to concur with the Wanqsta, didn't know that the Orange phone was locked.
This message was posted from a K700i |
amawanqa
Joined: May 08, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Hornchurch UK & East London SA
PM |
Hi Matt,
I think the only way round this is if I give you a South African PAYG simcard now,which were on special in SA for a whole whopping R3.99 (approx 35p!) at South Africa's version of Tesco,called Pick n' Pay.
I have about four sealed Vodacom simcard packs here in the UK,which will only be activated once you put it into your phone.
You can have one of the simcards if you are genuinely going to use it.
The obvious advantage is that you will be able to give this PAYG number now to all the people who would be (potentially) calling you while in SA,prior to you leaving.
Otherwise any UK network,to my knowledge,is gonna charge you between 80p-99p to receive a call when in SA.
About collecting the simcard:
Whereabouts are you in the UK?I'm in Beckton,in east London. Beckton is very close to where the North Circular (A406) meets up with the A13.
I could post it,but would prefer sending it via recorded delivery,although this might cost a quid or two.
You can top up the Vodacom sim virtually anywhere in SA,using vouchers.
As for a phone,well I did make a suggestion or two earlier in the thread.Good luck,mate.
Hope all this helps.
He who laughs last... thinks slowest.
Nokia 5800, Sony Ericsson P1i, Nokia 7600. |
ma77smith
Joined: Sep 19, 2005
Posts: 8
PM |
right, to confirm - if I do this SA PAYG option and forward all my calls to it then what will it cost me ?
What will it cost me to receive calls on the SA PAYG if I give people the number to call directly (I could put this on my UK voicemail) ?
Is it a SA PAYG sim you have or a UK one ?
Cheers
Matt
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Kryptik
Joined: Jun 24, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Port Elizabeth, S.Africa
PM |
Hiya Matt. It's a South African PAYG sim he's referring to. Should you leave your new (temporary) number on your UK voicemail and ppl called you at that number it wouldn't cost you anything, since they'd be the calling party, i.e. you wouldn't pay to receive calls. Just get a phone sorted, mate
This message was posted from a Nokia |
amawanqa
Joined: May 08, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Hornchurch UK & East London SA
PM |
[quote]
On 2005-09-19 20:19:32, ma77smith wrote:
right, to confirm - if I do this SA PAYG option and forward all my calls to it then what will it cost me ?
@ Matt,I don't know what call-forwarding will cost you with Orange.Phone them, tell them you have a SA PAYG simcard and ask them what costs are involved in call forwarding to this SA number.
What I was trying to get across is just giving your 'new' SA PAYG number (printed on the back of the sealed simcard pack)when you get the simcard before you fly,to all who might be phoning you,instead of getting them to phone your usual UK number while you are in SA.
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[quote]
On 2005-09-19 20:19:32, ma77smith wrote:
What will it cost me to receive calls on the SA PAYG if I give people the number to call directly (I could put this on my UK voicemail) ?
Nothing.
Same as when people in SA phone me directly on my UK mobile number,there is no costs for me for receiving these foreign calls here.
If it's friends and family phoning you,they can save a bit with a BT landline.If they dial 0911 5004000,(Call-Thru SA) calls to SA mobile networks is a flat rate of 15p.No other connection charges or hidden costs.
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Quote:
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On 2005-09-19 20:19:32, ma77smith wrote:
Is it a SA PAYG sim you have or a UK one ?
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Vodacom is a SA mobile network,and the sealed new sims I have with me in London are all SA PAYG.
He who laughs last... thinks slowest.
Nokia 5800, Sony Ericsson P1i, Nokia 7600. |
ma77smith
Joined: Sep 19, 2005
Posts: 8
PM |
your a dam star, whats your paypal id (If you have one) and I will cross your palm with silver.
Matt
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Kryptik
Joined: Jun 24, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Port Elizabeth, S.Africa
PM |
Cross his palm with Zimbabwe dollars, mate... Bet ya you could fill both palms without it being even close to one piece of silver :lol: Good luck on your SA trip, bro. Holler if you run into probz, plenty of help available
This message was posted from a Nokia |
amawanqa
Joined: May 08, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Hornchurch UK & East London SA
PM |
@ Kryptik,
yeah,I love you too,mate...,and no, I'm not 'that way' inclined! LOL! 
@ Matt,
PM sent,including the SA PAYG number etc.
If you PM me your postal address tonight,I will send it off tomorrow.
I miss SA at times.Give my regards to the beloved country.
He who laughs last... thinks slowest.
Nokia 5800, Sony Ericsson P1i, Nokia 7600. |
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Posted: 2005-09-19 13:26
