UK Internet, Telephone and Postal Services

Internet, Telephone and Postal Services

Communications in the UK are relatively sophisticated and you have many choices over which telephone company, internet provider or postal service you wish to use.

u World Wide Web

u UK Telephone Calls

u International Telephone Calls

u Mobile (Cell) Telephones

u Postal Services

World Wide Web

If you want to use the internet you will first need access to a phoneline. If you do not have one, you can ask your landlord / landlady if you can install one. Once you have access to a phoneline, you will need a contract with an ISP (Internet Service Provider).

You can choose either a standard connection or a broadband connection (ADSL). There are many ISPs in the UK and all will offer different packages and deals which can change form month to month. It is best to shop around to see which deals and packages are best for you.

Internet Cafes

If you do not have your own computer but still want to use the internet, you can use an internet café. There are many of these in the UK and most towns will have one. To find an internet café, Click Here.

These cafes will charge for the amount of time you spend on the internet and you will either pay after you have finished or buy credits beforehand. Costs range from about £1 to £5 per hour, although if you can often buy a weekly or monthly pass which can be cheaper in the long run. A well-known, easy to use internet café is Easyinternetcafe, which has many cafes in London and also in some other larger towns in the UK.

If you do not have easy access to an internet café, your local library may have computers with internet access and sometimes you can even use these for free for a limited period of time. (You will probably have to book these in advance.) Some hospitals will also have facilities for internet access.

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UK Telephone Calls

When making a call from a landline phone, there are usually different rates at different times of day. Call costs are usually cheaper if you call before 08:00 or after 18:00 on weekdays, or anytime at weekends.

The UK telecoms market is deregulated and subsequently there is a lot of competition between the various phone companies. It is worth shopping around to check out tariffs and offers.

Click Here for further information regarding phone companies in your area or if you are currently using a particular phone company and are considering switching.

Phone Boxes

You can usually find many phone boxes in city centres, train stations, bus stations and also in most villages in the UK. The old fashioned phone kiosks (see picture right) will take coins. The newer types will take coins, phone cards and credit cards. Some of the newer ones even have internet access.

Emergencies

In an emergency situation in the UK, the number you dial is 999. This is the number for Police, Fire and Ambulance (and the operator can also transfer you through to other emergency numbers such as Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue or Cave Rescue. The operator will ask you which service you require and will then put you through to the relevant service. These calls are free.

If you smell gas

Phone Transco 24 helpline: 0800 111999

Directory Enquiries

*There are now many directory enquiry numbers. They are 6 digit numbers and all begin with 118. The different operators vary in cost so if you need to use it you probably want to ask someone you know which one they recommend or Click Here for an overview of the different operators.

UK Operator

If you are having difficulties making a call – i.e. the call is not going through or there is a fault on your line, phone 100 for the UK operator or 155 for the international operator.

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International Phone Calls

1. Dial the international telephone code which is 00 (if you are dialling or sending a text abroad from a mobile you can dial 00 or +)

2. Dial the country code

3. Dial the town area code missing off the (0)

4. Dial the residential / business number

For example, Dialling Manila, Philippines from the UK: dial 00 63 2 plus the number. Click Here for all country calling codes.

International Directory Enquiries can help you if you need to find an international number. There are may operators and charges vary. Click Here for information regarding International Directory Enquiries, otherwise most numbers can be found on the internet for free.

International Phone Cards

Costs can vary significantly for international calls depending which phone company you use. There are many companies now who offer cheap international calls with significant savings on standard landline charges. You can either register with them and open an account and make cheap international phone calls from your home phone without having to change the number, or you can purchase virtual phone cards which you can top-up online. It is worth shopping around as rates do vary. Click Here for more information on cheap international calls.

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Mobile Telephones

If you have purchased your mobile phone in a country other than the UK, you may be able to use your phone in the UK, but it depends on the individual phone. The frequency that is used in the UK is 1800MHz. You should check with the manufacturer of your phone to see if it is compatible to use in the UK.

However, if you are planning on being in the UK for some time, it is advisable to purchase a UK mobile phone as the cost of calls will be considerably cheaper than if using a phone purchased overseas. Remember, if you have an overseas purchased phone and someone calls you or texts you on that phone in the UK, you will also have to pay a charge for the incoming phone call.

Types of Mobiles

There are many different kinds of phones and tariffs available in the UK. There are pre-pay (pay as you go) phones and contract phones.

Pre-pay phones

Pre-pay phones are the most common type of mobile phones in the UK. This is probably the cheapest option if you do not use your phone that much. Once you have bought your pre-pay phone you can then buy top up cards from newsagents or various other points of sale for amounts such as £10 or £20.

You need to scratch the panel at the back of your top up card to access the reference number which you then enter into your phone. Once this has been accepted by you phone you will have credit to the value of your top up card. You can also buy call time through a debit or credit card.

Contract Phone

If you use your mobile phone a lot, then it will probably be more convenient and reasonable for you to use a contract / tariff phone. You have to sign a contract for 1 year, pay a connection fee and you will usually be given a free handset as part of the package. You pay a fixed monthly fee for line rental and on top of that you need to pay call charges. You can pay your bills directly from your back account by signing a direct debit form.

Choosing a network

There are several networks to choose from in the UK. Main networks include: Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin and O2. The coverage is similar for all of these networks and the costs of the basic handsets are also similar, so you need to shop around a bit to find out which will offer you the best tariff for your needs, depending on whether you will be using your phone a lot at peak times or off-peak times; for international calls; will be calling people on the same network; how many text messages you will send (as some offer free text messaging) etc.

Buying a phone

You can get advice and buy a phone from specialist phone shops and some electrical or department stores. You can also purchase mobiles online. Most online mobile phone retailers will often offer a discount for purchasing phones or accessories online. Their websites will also have information on the different kinds of phones, tariffs and accessories available. Click here for Online Mobile Phones. Additionally, Argos supplies mobile telephones online.

Phone Security

IMEI Number

Unfortunately mobile phone theft is on the increase in the UK. To help protect you if your phone is stolen, you need to make a note of your mobile phone's IMEI number. This is a 15-digit number which is different for each phone. To find out this number, enter the code *#06# on your phone. Alternatively you can open the back of the phone and look at the label behind the battery, or look at the box in which you bought the phone. If your phone is stolen, you should report this number to the police and to your mobile phone network provider.

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Postal Services

All towns and most villages will have a Post Office. You can use a post office for a variety of things from posting letters and sending parcels to banking and renewing your car tax. The larger branches will offer more services than the smaller ones.

Please click for more information on UK Post Offices .

Posting Letters

Royal Mail is the UK's main letter delivery service. If a letter is sent first class to another addres in the UK, it should arrive the next day (apart from Sundays and Bank Holidays when there is no post delivered.) You can also send letters second class which is cheaper than first class, but the letters will take longer to be arrive. Second class letters are normally delivered within 3 working days.

Stamps

You can buy stamps from Post Offices, Newsagents and some other retail outlets such as Boots the chemist. You do not need to add a stamp if you are posting an envelope which already has a large "1" or "2" printed on it, or if the address contains the word freepost as in these cases, the postage has already been paid by the company. For postal prices Click Here.

Sending a parcel

Parcelforce, operated by Royal Mail Group is the main parcel delivery service in the UK. You can get packaging materials from Post Office Shops, newsagents and stationary shops such as boxes, string, tape or padded envelopes.

There are many different ways and costs of sending a parcel through Parcelforce. Costs will depend on how heavy the parcel is, where you are sending it to, how quickly you want it to arrive at its destination, if you want it to go as a ‘recorded delivery’ (this is where someone has to sign for the parcel at its destination) etc. Look on the Parcelforce website for pricing information. The Post Office can weigh your parcel and advise you on the best way for you to send it.

There are some restrictions as to what you can send by post. For example you are not allowed to send flammable liquids or aerosols. Click to see the full list of Prohibited Items.

Sending parcels abroad

If you are sending a parcel outside of the EU, you will have to attach as customs declaration label, which will describe what is in the parcel and how much it is worth. An import tax (duty) may have to be paid by the person who receives the parcel, depending on the rules in your country.

Parcelforce is owned by the Royal Mail and as mentioned, is a commonly used parcel delivery service in the UK.

There are also many other independent parcel delivery companies, shipping agents or international freight companies in the UK and it is worth looking into their service for sending parcels within the UK or internationally as the rates and delivery times can be more favourable than with Parcelforce, such as .

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