Telephones & Communicating

ET Says "Phone Home".
The bedroom payphones in Abbey Chambers and Benedict House can phone locally and nationally within the UK but are barred from making international calls due to past abuse of the telephone system. However they can make 0800 calls and using this system children from overseas are able to phone directly to their parents from their bedroom. In the Refectory there is a payphone which can phone internationally. Also, in air House Staff Offices, there are payphones which can phone internationally. Please note the bedroom telephone system is switched off and will not make or receive calls at times children are supposed to be in bed asleep.
If you are an overseas parent and you want your child to be able to phone you from his or her bedroom, it is possible; you will need to make specific arrangements with the national telephone company of the country in which you live. If you contact your own telephone company, they should be able to give you an English 0800 number followed by their own series of numbers. This will mean that your child can telephone FREE from England and your telephone company will put the cost of the call on your bill.
If you provide your child with an unrestricted telephone credit card, you lay yourself open to abuse of it. We have had instances of one child "lending" a charge card number to a "friend" and wondering why the telephone charge card becomes general information and several people are using it, phoning all over the place. We advise you to restrict the available numbers your child can phone on a telephone charge number; this then avoids possible abuse.
Many countries' individual telephone companies can give you a code number which will mean that your child can telephone only the numbers you agree to i.e. your own, a relative etc. In addition, some companies can also put a limit on the cost of calls made, either daily or weekly. 0500 Mercury Freephone numbers have been discontinued.
Pupils can use BT personal charge cards in the normal way by telephoning 144, the PIN number and then the required telephone number.

BOARDING TELEPHONES & COMMUNICATING	Page 1 2 3
ET Says "Phone Home". The bedroom payphones in Abbey Chambers and Benedict House can phone locally and nationally within the UK but are barred from making international calls due to past abuse of the telephone system. However they can make 0800 calls and using this system children from overseas are able to phone directly to their parents from their bedroom. In the Refectory there is a payphone which can phone internationally. Also, in air House Staff Offices, there are payphones which can phone internationally. Please note the bedroom telephone system is switched off and will not make or receive calls at times children are supposed to be in bed asleep. If you are an overseas parent and you want your child to be able to phone you from his or her bedroom, it is possible; you will need to make specific arrangements with the national telephone company of the country in which you live. If you contact your own telephone company, they should be able to give you an English 0800 number followed by their own series of numbers. This will mean that your child can telephone FREE from England and your telephone company will put the cost of the call on your bill. If you provide your child with an unrestricted telephone credit card, you lay yourself open to abuse of it. We have had instances of one child "lending" a charge card number to a "friend" and wondering why the telephone charge card becomes general information and several people are using it, phoning all over the place. We advise you to restrict the available numbers your child can phone on a telephone charge number; this then avoids possible abuse. Many countries' individual telephone companies can give you a code number which will mean that your child can telephone only the numbers you agree to i.e. your own, a relative etc. In addition, some companies can also put a limit on the cost of calls made, either daily or weekly. 0500 Mercury Freephone numbers have been discontinued. Pupils can use BT personal charge cards in the normal way by telephoning 144, the PIN number and then the required telephone number.