My kids brother's just had a hefty mobile bill after discovering calls to the Isle of Man are not included with UK cross-network traiffs.

His landline is with Talktalk where he gets unlimited UK landline calls. I've been googling for ages but I seem to be getting conflicting reports - do calls to IoM landlines count as 'standard' landline calls?

Can't remember I'm afraid.

I know most do not count them.

http://www.18185.co.uk/index2.php used to count them as standard UK calls and if line rental remains with BT then it's just 5p connection and ZERO pence per minute, if line rental is not with BT and your provider has chosen to block cheap call access (which many do as that is where they sting you) then you'll have to use the 0808.... access number however calls are then 4p connection and 1p per minute.

Best place to ask is over at: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...play.html?f=68

They do with BT. "Calls to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are charged at National Rate."

Charged at the national rate, but not the package rate, so not included.

Phone 0800 800 150 and ask there.

Most unlimited call packages include calls to UK numbers - The Isle of Man is not part of the UK.
I used to ring someone over there a few years back and the cheapest way i found was to phone her mobile. The Pronto/Manx network is/was part of O2, and if you called a mobile phone over there from an O2 handset it was treated as a same network call. That was in 2003/4

Thank you all for your help! Skype here he comes!

...or you could use grown up and non-proprietary VoIP and not the proprietary Skype Hype which is one of the dearest VoIP providers around.

He'll be on Skype. His girlfriend'll be on Skype. Free calls and decent software too.

Plus he can call my 3 mobile for free. I don't think there are any other VoIP providers that allow this - yes there are independent clients for mobiles but they all require each end user to purchase a data bundle and IMHO, VoIP is often against Network T&C's and the software tends not the most stable thing in the world.

If he ever plans to call landlines or 'normal' mobiles via VoIP, we'll look into it but for now, Skype is Perfect.

But thanks anyway.

Sounds in this instance, Skype is the way to go.

Calls to the IOM are currently included in TalkTalk's package bundles. If you are on inclusive UK calls then the IOM is free.

The Channel Islands do cost more and are not included in bundles.

BT Option 3 includes calls to the Isle of Man landlines, I use this and am 100% certain of it.

........ or whatever they call the plan this week.

Many people assume the Isle of Man is part of the UK. It isn't, and is classed as a country in its own right (a crown protectorate, in fact) It isn't even part of the EU as the islands' government decided to opt out.

Anyhoo, Manx Telecom is a partly owned subsidiary of BT. Hence BT will let allow calls to the Isle of Man at a package rate because of that tie in.

There is no such link between BT and Jersey telecom hence BT doesn't include it in any package.

Talktalk also has no such tie in and, accordingly

3.3 Calls to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not automatically included in your Tariff Plan or in any promotion offered by TalkTalk.