Irish Taxi Forum

Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: Rat Catcher on December 09, 2019, 03:18:06 pm

Title: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on December 09, 2019, 03:18:06 pm
I notice that calls between drivers and passengers are routed through local virtual numbers now, the way Uber have been doing it for years. Obviously this is advantageous in terms of privacy but those with Three (for example) will no longer benefit from free Three to Three calls given when you top up by €20 and you no longer have the option of using Viber or What Is Application to make the calls FOC.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on December 09, 2019, 03:20:27 pm
You're paying for calls other than Three to Three?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on December 09, 2019, 03:23:44 pm
Yes. €20 top up gets unlimited* internet, free weekend texts to any number and free Three to Three calls, I think. The €20 isn't taken for any of that so remains available for chargeable calls. I'm switching back to Tesco Mobile soon, I only switched to Three because Flag Driver didn't work on Tesco Mobile back then, not sure if it does now but, to be fair, it's shite regardless.

*subject to fair usage, terms and conditions, etc..
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on December 09, 2019, 03:30:27 pm
I recently changed my daughter to the Tesco €25 sim only 30 day rolling contract,20gb,unlimited calls and texts,we got her an iPhone for Christmas two years ago on their €30 per month contract,she's still happy out with her phone so decided i'd save myself €5 per month.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on December 09, 2019, 03:35:59 pm
I used to pay €15/month sim only PAYG... unlimited (or as much as I ever used) data and calls to any number with the €15 available for texts which were only free from Tesco to Tesco. I think they changed the deal since they went all 4G on us and you now lose the €15 for the free stuff and get a "bonus" fiver for texting or whatnot.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: mercenary for hire on December 09, 2019, 03:38:15 pm
Vodafone have improved their offerings since Gomo was launched.

I pay 20 every four weeks and get unlimited calls and texts to any network and 10gigs of data.Not sure if that includes landlines.Vodafone were always the better network for me.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on December 09, 2019, 03:39:58 pm
My two not so young lads like Vodafone but then they have student deals.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: mercenary for hire on December 09, 2019, 03:41:50 pm
I think anyone can get those deals now not just the students.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: watty on December 09, 2019, 06:09:50 pm
The FN virtual number is not reliable - doesn't always connect  oops


€10/month --> 48months.ie 
Started off on the O2 network but part of the 3 conglomerate now, I think.  Aimed at the young folk (18-24) but they don't verify your age.  Write down your pretend Date of Birth in case you need to interact with customer service - they ask for it.


Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: dublin2018 on December 09, 2019, 06:12:23 pm
Im with www.gomo.ie (http://www.gomo.ie)    €9.99 a month no brainer unlimited everything
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: mercenary for hire on December 09, 2019, 06:24:08 pm
I was with Meteor then Eir slowed down the connection speeds and I started having calls drop out.They scrapped the Meteor brand and put me on the Eir network which was still a bit shite for 25 a month.Now they've introduced Gomo on the same network as they lost a load of customers.

For me I'd rather pay the 20 to Vodafone as it's just a better network.Even the voice calls seem better with clearer connections.

It's good that the competition is bringing down the prices all round.Competition is a great as long as it's not in the form of more taxis..At least when things eventually go tits up we can watch HD content on the ranks to pass the time.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on December 09, 2019, 06:35:36 pm
At least when things eventually go tits up we can watch HD content on the ranks to pass the time.


Might stop the suicides!!
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on December 10, 2019, 12:31:52 am
Remember you may rank (with a R) in the loading bays at night.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Octavia1 on December 10, 2019, 12:03:26 pm
Remember you may rank (with a R) in the loading bays at night.

??? : ratti ?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on December 10, 2019, 01:17:26 pm
Remember you may rank (with a R) in the loading bays at night.

Wampant wabbit!!
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Billy boy on January 01, 2020, 07:39:09 pm
I notice that calls between drivers and passengers are routed through local virtual numbers now, the way Uber have been doing it for years. Obviously this is advantageous in terms of privacy but those with Three (for example) will no longer benefit from free Three to Three calls given when you top up by €20 and you no longer have the option of using Viber or What Is Application to make the calls FOC.
  Right.. I'm with 3 and I'm only after copping on what has been eating my €20 credit for the last few weeks. Every time we ring a free now customer it cost us 50c which comes straight off you €20 credit. This is bull shit. Now the app is going to cost more money to work it.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Vikkiz on January 01, 2020, 08:18:50 pm
I notice that calls between drivers and passengers are routed through local virtual numbers now, the way Uber have been doing it for years. Obviously this is advantageous in terms of privacy but those with Three (for example) will no longer benefit from free Three to Three calls given when you top up by €20 and you no longer have the option of using Viber or What Is Application to make the calls FOC.
  Right.. I'm with 3 and I'm only after copping on what has been eating my €20 credit for the last few weeks. Every time we ring a free now customer it cost us 50c which comes straight off you €20 credit. This is bull shit. Now the app is going to cost more money to work it.
It’s a landline number, should be part of any plan
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Billy boy on January 01, 2020, 08:26:17 pm
I notice that calls between drivers and passengers are routed through local virtual numbers now, the way Uber have been doing it for years. Obviously this is advantageous in terms of privacy but those with Three (for example) will no longer benefit from free Three to Three calls given when you top up by €20 and you no longer have the option of using Viber or What Is Application to make the calls FOC.
  Right.. I'm with 3 and I'm only after copping on what has been eating my €20 credit for the last few weeks. Every time we ring a free now customer it cost us 50c which comes straight off you €20 credit. This is bull shit. Now the app is going to cost more money to work it.
It’s a landline number, should be part of any plan
its definitely not. I checked it today. 50c came off my credit.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on January 01, 2020, 09:06:13 pm
I checked my own bill,just classed as an Irish landline and part of the bundle.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Billy boy on January 01, 2020, 09:20:59 pm
I checked my own bill,just classed as an Irish landline and part of the bundle.
are you with 3?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Vikkiz on January 01, 2020, 09:21:14 pm
I notice that calls between drivers and passengers are routed through local virtual numbers now, the way Uber have been doing it for years. Obviously this is advantageous in terms of privacy but those with Three (for example) will no longer benefit from free Three to Three calls given when you top up by €20 and you no longer have the option of using Viber or What Is Application to make the calls FOC.
  Right.. I'm with 3 and I'm only after copping on what has been eating my €20 credit for the last few weeks. Every time we ring a free now customer it cost us 50c which comes straight off you €20 credit. This is bull shit. Now the app is going to cost more money to work it.
It’s a landline number, should be part of any plan
its definitely not. I checked it today. 50c came off my credit.
Get yourself a proper plan then.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Vikkiz on January 01, 2020, 09:23:07 pm
I have 3 and I have Vodafone.
3 plan is €30 a month half price to €15 with all you can eat everything.
Vodafone is €60 a month down to €45 a month with all you can use everything too.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: mercenary for hire on January 01, 2020, 09:31:21 pm
I've a sim only deal with Vodafone called "Chat extra" and it's unlimited calls to all networks and 10 gigs of data for €20 top up every 28 days.

I don't get charged extra for the FN landline.Some of their business plans are fairly pricey for no good reason.

Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on January 01, 2020, 09:44:45 pm
I checked my own bill,just classed as an Irish landline and part of the bundle.
are you with 3?

Sorry billy boy....shudda said i'm with Tesco....was with Three for a very short time after they took over from O2...horrible service/customer service.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 02, 2020, 01:12:07 pm
Gonna change this week. I think I'm leaning towards Vodafone... that one MfH has. That or www.gomo.ie (http://www.gomo.ie) . I know the latter is significantly cheaper but I know Vodafone coverage is probably the best available. I had to travel to West Dublin for a dinner party on the 27th over the back roads as we had to pick someone up around Rolestown and I was able to watch Dobey -vs- Sherrock via Mobdro on the older not so young lad's phone (Vodafone) without interruption, well a short outage as we approached Clonee but on the whole pretty impressive. Mrs Catcher was driving BTW. The other plus for Vodafone is that they have shops so should my phone get lost or stolen I presume a replacement sim card can be obtained on demand, that was certainly the case with Three as I discovered that time I had my phone snatched by a traveller in Maynooth. Tesco's current €15 deal doesn't include texts but you keep a fiver of the €15 which would probably be enough for the few texts I send, so that's also a runner I guess.

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: mercenary for hire on January 02, 2020, 01:16:36 pm
I think there maybe a bonus of a score or something for switching to Vodafone.Not much but it all adds up.

Just to add if you do go for the chat extra plan....
Once you get your sim you need to text "chat extra" to 50222 then only after you've topped up by 20 does the offer activate.

I made the mistake of topping first then texting for the offer.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 02, 2020, 01:51:39 pm
Cool, thanks.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 02, 2020, 04:57:42 pm
Just ordered the sim from Vodafone and scheduled the switch for 06/01/2020. Only offer I noticed was €10 free credit if/when I register online or something like that... so I'll wait 'till it switches - assuming I have my sim by then, then opt in to Chat Extra and top up and register online. Just have to spend my outstanding balance with Three now, €30 odd but I'm out of bundle from midnight so I'll buy a data add-on for a fiver and knock myself out calling and texting people I never bother calling or texting until it's gone!
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on January 02, 2020, 05:14:24 pm
Phones off lads!!
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 02, 2020, 06:01:04 pm
FFS... nobody's picking up now.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on January 02, 2020, 06:11:00 pm
Ring Ken and watch that 30 disappear.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 02, 2020, 06:32:18 pm
Steady on, it has to last 'till the 6th.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Belker on January 03, 2020, 10:36:56 am
I'm with Vodafone almost 25 years now and I probably pay more per month than the rest of yiz put together.
The phone after the recent iphone 7 upgrade is about €40 a month with everything included except international calls.
My home broadband fer my desktop is about another €45 a month.
But at least with Vodafone they are kinda hassel free and very seldom is there a signal problem.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 03, 2020, 01:19:26 pm
How long do you have to pay for the phone? Once that's covered you can switch to PAYG.

Is that €45 for Siro Gigabit with free calls (VOIP) to landlines in Ireland and on the mainland, Ken? Vodafone charge me €50 for that.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Belker on January 05, 2020, 10:34:07 am
How long do you have to pay for the phone? Once that's covered you can switch to PAYG.

Is that €45 for Siro Gigabit with free calls (VOIP) to landlines in Ireland and on the mainland, Ken? Vodafone charge me €50 for that.
First question; I think it's a 48 month contract, but the poxy things always pack up after 49 months !
It's an ongoing business account kept on since my last job so the support is much greater than the regular scum.

The Second question; I have no idea what you mean, I have very good broadband/WIFI on my home PC but no home phone.
I know it costs a lot, but it covers everything I need and with very little hassel.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 05, 2020, 02:23:08 pm
€45 is too dear without phone. Test your connection speed at:

https://www.speedtest.net (https://www.speedtest.net)

If you're getting less than 150 download on WIFI (5GHz) or less than 800 on Ethernet (wire plugged into modem) you haven't got Siro Gigabit.

Check it out here, I have it via Vodafone but there are several suppliers using the same infrastructure these days:

https://siro.ie (https://siro.ie)

Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Belker on January 06, 2020, 07:01:02 am
I tried the speed test thing, it sez, Download is 56.05 Mbps whatever that means.
It works fer me just fine and I never get any interuptions while watching netflix.
I don't want or need a home phone.

I checked the Siro availability using my post code and it sez not available yet.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 12:47:39 pm
Completed my switch to Vodafone. Just finished reading the Chat Extra T&Cs... I wonder if we'll have to pay roaming charges if we go up to Norn Iron or over to the mainland from next month?

https://n.vodafone.ie/content/dam/gowingmyself/pdfs/payg-terms-and-conditions-nov-2019-updated/VodafoneChatExtraTopUpOfferTerms.pdf

7. Chat Extra elements of inclusive calls, texts and mobile data cannot be used when roaming. However, under EU Roaming
regulations you can use your monthly allocation of domestic minutes/data/texts while roaming in the EU in the same way
you use the allocation domestically. For any other destination the monthly allocation of minutes/data/texts cannot be used
while roaming.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: mercenary for hire on January 06, 2020, 01:04:25 pm
I didn't know you were an international businessman aswell.

Maybe there's a cheap add on you can get when you leave the jurisdiction?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 01:13:00 pm
I'd only be up/over there the odd time, for leisure these days. I did work in that London for a while during the recession, now that you mention it I should still have a UK Sim somewhere... but it's a bit of a faff if you're just going over the border for a few hours or whatever... we're all used to using our phones for everything these days... I guess, in the absence of some reciprocal EU style deal we'll just have to do without and download the relevant maps before we cross the line.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: The Liffey Lip on January 06, 2020, 01:14:49 pm
Nectar App only works on UK sims...great for Argos specials.......Sainsburys(Walmart) own Argos now.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 01:16:59 pm
Did Walmart buy Sainsburys in the end, I thought that was shelved.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Shallowhal on January 06, 2020, 01:19:23 pm
Did Walmart buy Sainsburys in the end, I thought that was shelved.

I see what ye did there!!
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: The Liffey Lip on January 06, 2020, 01:19:38 pm
Pun intentional? Thought they did anyway or like the Nissan/Renault pact it could be a strategic alliance?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: The Liffey Lip on January 06, 2020, 01:22:09 pm
Fellow arrives home to his aulfella in Leeds with a bird decked out in a green jersey and a pair of a gloves....says he, "Thy knows she's a keeper lad".
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 01:26:31 pm
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2019/04/25/announcement-regarding-proposed-merger-of-asda-and-sainsburys

LEEDS, UK and BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 25, 2019 – The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today published its Final Report on the proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s, resulting in prohibition of the merger.

Despite the clear customer benefits of the proposed merger, as a result of the CMA’s findings, Asda, its parent Walmart and Sainsbury’s have mutually agreed to terminate the transaction.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: The Liffey Lip on January 06, 2020, 01:28:12 pm
Tesco and Dunnes job obviously....prohibition I meant. the Sainsbury's chairman caught on camera singing "We're in the money" helped, maybe?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3q-zBLZEW4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3q-zBLZEW4)
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 01:33:31 pm
Shared anchors stopped Walmart buying Dunnes years ago. Tesco Ireland seem to follow Walmart's town killer philosophy for the most part. To be fair to Dunnes, it's still (marginally) the biggest supermarket in the State by market share... although it's pretty close to 25% each - Tesco, Dunnes, SuperValu and the Germans combined.
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 01:34:52 pm
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3q-zBLZEW4[/url] ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3q-zBLZEW4[/url])


Class!
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: silverbullet on January 06, 2020, 03:40:07 pm
Shared anchors stopped Walmart buying Dunnes years ago. Tesco Ireland seem to follow Walmart's town killer philosophy for the most part. To be fair to Dunnes, it's still (marginally) the biggest supermarket in the State by market share... although it's pretty close to 25% each - Tesco, Dunnes, SuperValu and the Germans combined.
How do Dunnes make a profit when they give away a shopping trolley with every purchase?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: Rat Catcher on January 06, 2020, 05:37:15 pm
You'd think some enterprising kids would be selling them back... the kids of today, huh?
Title: Re: Free Now Phone Numbers
Post by: silverbullet on January 06, 2020, 07:50:04 pm
You'd think some enterprising kids would be selling them back... the kids of today, huh?
Tesco seem to have an informal storage facility at the back of Belmayne or Darnmayne would be more appropriate!