Slash Overseas Telephone Costs

Most of us are familiar with or have read about Skype, the free online telephone service. But most of us don't want to be stuck in front of a computer whilst calling friends and relatives abroad - and most, anyway, of them won't be registered with Skype.
 
The answer is to use one of the relatively simple services around, where you enter a code before making the call, followed directly by the number you want to reach, at a fraction of BT prices.
 
There are several of these services available, including some of the bigger players, such as Tiscali. But the one we got tipped off about was more than adequate and a good deal cheaper than most of the others.
 
www.call18866.com is both the name of the business and of its online site. Log on, look around and, if you agree it's good. sign on. Some of the rates are quite extraordinary, though sometimes a bit bizarre.
 
For example, how come calls to China cost 1p a minute - whereas calls to France, which is way under half as far away, cost twice that. Still, at these rates, no complaints - and an absolute boon if your kid's new best friend lives abroad.
 
Calls are paid by direct debit, and can be viewed online at any time.