Many will spend a fortune on overseas calls over Christmas period

It has been suggested that many people in the UK will be facing huge phone bills as a result of phoning relations and friends abroad this Christmas, with only a minority using their broadband connection to enable them to make cheaper calls to international landlines.

Christmas is a time when most of us try and catch up with relations and friends who may live overseas, and even if we are unable to get together with our loved ones most of us want to speak to them by phone to see how they are and wish the a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. It is unsurprising therefore that so many people make international calls during the festive season.

However, a recent report has revealed that seventy six percent of those that make special international calls over the festive season to loved ones do not actually have any international calling plan built into their landline package, which means that they could be paying a fortune for their international calls and are likely to be hit with huge bills, especially if they spend a long time on the call or make a number of calls to overseas friends and relations.

One of the ways in which consumers can save money on making calls to international landlines is to utilise their broadband connection through technology known as VoIP, which includes Skype. This allows the caller to enjoy far cheaper calls to international landlines, but worryingly only seventeen percent of those intending to make calls abroad said that they would be using this technology.

One official said: “It is worrying to see so many people prepared to waste money making international calls using their home phone, even though there are cheaper alternatives available.” He added: “Using an internet phone connection, such as VoIP, can save you loads of money on calling friends and family abroad, and depending on the service you’re using and your calling plan, calls can sometimes even be free.”