Telefonica offers

[Eyja]

Good day (evening) to you all. I suppose I am too impatient, but in a quick search of the English version of Telefonica, I could find out everything about their stocks etc. but did not see anything about offers of discounts of calls abroad or free hours (like at home) for one number etc. etc. I know there is some kind of offers, but the ones I have talked to all give different versions of how to find out. I live in Maspalomas now until I get the keys to my new place and the owner here, who had a telephone installed for me, told me that Telephonica says ADSL cannot be reached in this neighbourhood. Not being a very computerized and not at all a rational thinking person, I don't know how, just around the corner, there can be an internet café ...??? No ADSL in the neighbourhood? Is ADSL transmitted by an underground cable, by a whisper in the wind, by telephone lines or is it like the bees and the birds????? Or is there just a Spanish version of a little Japanese man carrying it around in his pocket and is just a little "not on time"?

I know that I could try to read the Spanish Telefonica website, but my dictionary is not that good, technically speaking, and using the dictionary on the internet is really not an option when you don't have ADSL.

Anybody know whether there is a difference in calls to/from the U.K. and other foreign countries from here?

And thank you Mary for your experience about the misunderstanding of the language. I wanted a haircut the other day and wanted my hair blown straight ... ah, but how do you ask for a (blowjob:embarassed: ) in Spanish when you don't even know the English word for it to look it up in the dictionary... I just went Wrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooom and blowing like putting out a candle and the poor girl probably thought I wanted a hoover or my head sawed off.... until I saw one of these hair dryers and could just point at it.

:thankyou:

[2-islandangie]

My phone line & internet connection are with Telefonica. I have ADSL & I am down near Riu Palace Hotel.
But I do all my long-distance calls with UK Telecom because they are very cheap. (Unless the person I am calling is on Skype as that is free)
I am in the UK at the moment & most of my info is over there in GC.
UK Telecom advertise in most of the free books around & also in Island Connections.
Their Telephone number is 922 788 188
website www.uk-tele.com (http://www.uk-tele.com)
If I can help any more just PM me.

[mary]

If you ring 1004 from a spanish phone - wait a bit whilst the computer operated operator talks in spanish. Then they ask, in spanish what service do you require - say in spanish - quiero hablar con alguien en Ingles - and you get an english speaking operator who may be able to tell you various offers.
We had a scheme with them where we paid an extra 10 euros a month and got 15 mins a day free calls to the uk. Bit of a waste for me as I dont ring home that often. But there will be more

[garyc]

Some excellent tips there (Particularly for getting an english speaking operator) - I had terrible problems trying to get my ADSL and Telephone lines sorted out.

I'm using prepay calling cards to call home and I'm always surprised by the value I'm getting. My current card gives 300 minutes (to the UK) for only 5 euros and this works out much cheaper than telefonicas 15min offer (Which is called 'Europa 15' if you're interested) ... Until we found the cards we used to use Europa 15 over midnight to get 30 mins of chat every 2 days.


On the other side of things...

Theres a number you can ring in the UK that allows you to call spain for around 1 pence per minute.

Tel: 0844 8617878 ... and follow the prompts.

That should keep your relatives happy and stretch out your calling card budget.


High Speed Internet availability...

As regards ADSL ... it IS carried over the telephone line. Unfortunately though, not all exchanges are equipped for ADSL yet and some that are have reached capacity. If you live between two exchanges it is possible for a neighbour to have ADSL whilst you are refused. I know that in the UK this can often be resolved by asking for your line to be moved to the other exchange - which they will generally do for a small fee. Unfortunately, this won't help you if there is a language barrier.

Also, it may be that there is no ADSL capability in your area - The internet cafe may be using some other technology such as ISDN (Called RDSI in spain) ... ISDN comes in two flavours PRI and BRI... BRI is much slower than ADSL ... PRI is far faster and also much more expensive. It may be that the internet cafe is using something like this.


A possible solution...

My GF has strong ties with Telefonica in LP (indeed, most of her family work there) and so can probably find out what the problem is and what, if anything, can be done about it. If you want you can PM me and I'll give you our telephone number. She is fluent in English and Spanish and may possibly be able to set up a 3-way call between you and telefonica and help you sort things out. I know when I first tried to set up my Phone and ADSL it was hell - so I do appreciate your struggle : )


-Gary