Roaming & using pre-dial discount call numbers ?

[joidevie]

I'm on a T-Mobile UK contract but visit France regularily..

I still get confused about roaming charges - for example if calling French mobiles or landlines from within France whilst roaming.

More recently I've been using pre-dial discount numbers to call TO France from the UK (typically 1p per min to land line and 10p per min mobile). These people are the UK company http://www.pennyphone.co.uk and they have a sister company in France http://www.appeldiscount.com

What now confuses me is which one do I call through whilst IN France to get the discount rate bearing in mind that I'm roaming with a UK phone.. ?

Anyone up to speed on this?

Thanks.

[Baz]

[quote user="joidevie"]I'm on a T-Mobile UK contract but visit France regularily..

I still get confused about roaming charges - for example if calling French mobiles or landlines from within France whilst roaming.

[/quote]

The roaming charges reduced for most providers in September and are 38pence per minute to make calls and 19pence to receive calls. If you use an UK Sim card in France to call either landlines or mobiles you will be charged the full international rates. Whilst you could use a French Sim card when in France for internal calls, overseas calls to reduce cost would have to be directed to another service.

If you receive calls in France then you are going to be charged 19pence a minute and the caller their normal mobile charge. There is a service directed at people who travel abroad regularly to receive calls free and pay 25pence per minute to make calls. The downside is that you will have a different phone number when using this service but the advantage is you only have to change your Sim card and no discount numbers to dial. You might like to take a look at: http://www.sim4travel.com/

Baz

[joidevie]

Thanks .. I kind of knew about the new UK roaming fees, and I had a French SIM but they cease if not used for a period of time..

My real query was whether any of these 'pre-dial' numbers work while roaming ?

[Baz]

[quote user="joidevie"]Thanks .. I kind of knew about the new UK roaming fees, and I had a French SIM but they cease if not used for a period of time..

My real query was whether any of these 'pre-dial' numbers work while roaming ?

[/quote]

I am sorry if my response was not clear. AFAIK there is no reason why the French pre-dial numbers will not work. However, if you are using an UK Sim card the connection charge to the French number will be costed at International rates or more depending on their number and who knows what your provider will then charge per minute. I can see no advantage of using an UK Sim card this way, in fact you may have a shock when you get your bill.

Baz