Do you still use your landline?

Your right richjenn14= mobile towers have only short distance of transmissions between them as you move from one cell to another to cover the whole country will cost a lot of money so ,as more and more of the population buy cell-net phones the existing towers get swamped with data and overload . Answer build a lot more towers and bigger transmitting data transmitters but then we are back to the “who pays ” situation just like 100 % fast broadband not yet achievable due to “who pays “

I so agree with your comment Ann. My landline telephone handset not only has the microphone where my mouth is and the speaker next to my ear but I can grip it in the fold of my neck while I go through papers or write notes. Dialling is also so much easier. Mobiles have their good points but only when on the move.

David I tried the low number of help websites including the standard wikhow and they were not very simple with modern phone layout . So I found a wiki one that will do although its for an iPhone it still applies and is nicely laid out in colour . The website is== wikihow.com/Make-Phone-Calls-With-the-iPhone-4–(remember to scroll DOWN ).

My husband is exactly the same. We both only use mobiles for emergencies or contacting each other at pre-arranged times but usually it is me ringing him to our landline.

David – There are simple mobile phones for those who struggle with standard models. Doro is the only company I am aware of, but there may be others.

Wimbledon -Murray won didnt he ? anyway you pay maintenance for the upkeep for the underground cable and exchange equipment as well as your overhead wiring fibre or no fibre . IF you dont see rental on some packages it is because they have included it in the price of the package . Bad weather brings down overhead wiring , water gets into underground cable , builders dig up telephone cable with JCB,s etc etc this has to be repaired or would you like a few £!00 bill every so often or if you live in the country and 2 miles of wiring come down £500- £2000 ? Its nice when you have fast 4G or even faster 5 G but 100,s of 1000,s dont and cant use all those facilities you use .

Steve -Virgin make a good bit of money out of their landline provision thats why there is little difference in the package . Their philosophy is that you might use it in the future and your right they are happy charging you for it –and so are the shareholders.

Inclusive calls from landlines to mobile numbers is now ‘a thing’.

Ian-Seemingly inclusive calls to mobile numbers is NOT the “thing ” with BT yet . i just checked my BT plan which is the TOP plan Infinity 2 etc etc and it is =half price calls/minute rate to mobiles .

BT includes calls to mobiles numbers on business plans, but not yet on residential plans. They are far behind Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.

Sky’s anytime deal includes calls to UK mobile numbers as standard.
TalkTalk offers an inexpensive add-on for making calls to mobile numbers.
Virgin Media offers an expensive call plan that covers calls to UK mobile numbers as well as calls to a variety of international destinations.
BT is now the odd one out in still charging a per-minute rate for calls to UK mobile numbers.

Thanks for that Ian.

Agree with Alan. Only one network and that is unreliable. Long live landlines

Julie -I get your point on the removal of phone boxes by BT . It depends on the use made in each box whether it is kept or not and as those boxes are usually in isolated positions a case has to be made to petition BT by the local population to keep them as they represent a major loss of revenue to BT in maintenance due to distances from the exchange . No other companies want to take them over . Many councils/villages have kicked up a fuss and managed to keep them but mobile phones have hit them hard . That mobile reception isnt good in outlying areas is down to all the private companies not willing to install cell-net masts universally . BT has realised it has some loyalty to the public by keeping and maintaining boxes in far out areas and villages of architectural importance and spacing them out maybe one large village taking care of several smaller communities round about . But BT is a private company and not the old GPO where money wasnt an object no matter where you lived . Those days are gone for good .

If you read many of the previous posts Colin you will find when you move to the “sticks ” -aka countryside that your cellnet service will suffer a great loss and as I have said previously try downloading 4 G of films etc without landline -and wait -and wait and say BT wi-fi that depends on the population who have that service okay in a town etc closely together but not in a rural area of farming small villages etc . 3G wont “hack it ” in the countryside – if you can get a signal just look at the previous 50 posts to find other posters complaining of loss of signal due to trees distance etc cell net structure is what it sounds cells(towers ) joined together a short distance apart and when they reach the countryside ? the investment comes to an end (no profit ) . You could try something illegal but I am not going to help you there. Is the switch an auto wi-fi 3G data switch this type of thing isnt always approved by companies for various technical reasons, but in the country ?? .

” Moving to the sticks but do not see the point of landline. ”

You will…

Stephen, I agree with the first part.

However, when you take a broadband deal it may be priced for different options – phone packages such as weekends, all day, international, mobiles – and broadband downloads, limited or unlimited, all at different prices. The line rental will be a single price, whichever plan you want. Therefore it does seem sensible to price that separately.

As long as the line rental and the bb package prices are clearly shown I see that as preferable, Bundling them together reduces transparency in my view.

I agree malcolm .

It is not fair to expect anyone who does not use a landline to contribute to the cost of the telephone exchange. On the other hand, the copper or fibre cable has to be maintained, as do the servers needed to provide internet access.

I suggest that users of broadband and landline phone pay a smaller charge to cover these fixed costs and a discount is given to users of both services.

Those who use a landline phone service plus broadband would then pay more, those who use phone only or broadband only would then pay less. Total revenue would be maintained.

If you have to have a phone number – and therefore access to the landline phone system for at least incoming call – simply to receive a broadband service you would need to pay the full rental because, as all are not honest, the system would be abused. 🙁

I have suggested that those who use both services should receive a discount.

Elsewhere we have been told that it is possible to block phone lines, which would stop broadband-only customers from making or receiving phone calls. If you have evidence that broadband-only users are able to use the phone service, I would like to see evidence.

Those who don’t use a landline phone are having to pay for the telephone exchange etc. That is wrong.

Previously Duncan has said you need a phone number for a broadband service (4 July). Until that changes the system would be open to abuse.

You say those who use both services should receive a discount? Surely, if broadband can be totally separated from a phone system, those who use both services would pay the most, not receive a discount. If you reduce the cost to users of a single system then those who use both would end up paying more to maintain revenue.

It would be a discount compared with the total for buying broadband and landline phone separately.

If you lived in an area that did not have mains gas, I’m sure you would not want to contribute to the fixed costs of providing gas supplies for everyone that has mains gas.

If there is a gas service (like a phone line) to my house I will pay a charge for it even if I don’t use it. You have the gas disconnected to avoid the charge.

I think we have covered this topic. When BT change their system so you do not need a phone number for broadband then the pricing structure can be altered in ways that are fair to all (I hope). 🙂

There are many people who are happy to use a mobile phone for all calls and they want fair charges for their broadband service. Obviously you can have gas disconnected if you don’t use it, but there is an urgent need for lower charges for those who just use broadband.

According to the poll above:
2069 responded.
98.5% have a landline
93% use it to make and receive calls.
Damned statistics.

Perhaps we are over-represented with old blokes, Malcolm. Students represent a fair proportion of the adult population and most of them don’t use landline phones, exceptions being mature students living in their own home and those living with their parents.

Dont think so wavechange – UK population now around 65 million , number of students in the UK , including foreign ,non resident approx 2.2 million , so that equals approx 4 % of population . Data from 2014/5 figures of the UK Council for International Student Affairs .

“Ofcom say “The majority of UK households (80%) used both fixed and mobile telephony services “. Many students are literally mobile, without a permanent residence where they would rent a landline. So unsurprising.

The number of residential landlines increase slightly from 23 million in 2013 to 23.5 million in 2014. And of course it is a household, representing a number of people, that usually rents a landline. So this represents lot more potential users.

It’s equally unsurprising that many people use a landline phone as well as a mobile phone, since they have to pay for the service. I expect that many would be happy to give up their landline phone in return for a lower tariff for broadband.

I’m happy to have both a landline and a mobile phone. What pushed me to get a mobile phone contract was the increasing number of contacts who don’t have landline phones – not just personal users but people who move between two or more offices in their work.

Fixed voice call minutes were 80 billion compared with mobile 137 billion. Many mobile minutes will be used when you are not at home. 40% (last figure I found) of mobile phone users were on payg, so unlikely to make long phone calls; probably like you or I, use them when out and about but choose to use the landline otherwise.

None of this indicates that the landline is on its way out any time soon. Two good systems each with their own uses.

Thats a big decision wavechange .When you give up your land line you lose your “D” side to the cabinet , your “E” side to the exchange and exchange equipment , all that you would have left is a piece of wire from the pole or wall box to your house . Have you looked at the price of a full re-installation? In the meantime somebody has taken both E+D sides for their own use leaving you with the potential of NO underground connection if the local DP is full or there are faulty pairs on it. as well as a reduction in ability to provide an exchange side pair . Also in the event you sell the house , you lose money when you say–no landline only cell-net , that limits the buyers excluding older people who need a landline for medical/ social alarms etc and who have the most money to buy a house ?? -older people , you could lose £1000,s .

Duncan – I just gave students as an example of a significant group that has little need for landline phones, with the exceptions that I mentioned. I wonder what percentage of posts on W?C are made by people below normal retirement age (whatever it is this week).

Edited to add: I have recently taken out a new contract for landline phone and broadband but it would be worth others exploring the future consequences of forgoing a landline phone service.

Wavechange -Well you are right in respect of the age of posters on Which website although I think those that control Which here are a lot younger . Younger people have other things to do in life which takes up their time and mostly arent interested in spending time here as opposed to Facebook and a multitude of others . But once they marry and settle down reality hits them and upsets them in many directions and they would be more inclined to try the social media to complain and after that if they get a lot of “low grade ” replies they might try posting here . I think the website layout has been “brightened up ” to attract them and thats why the wording in the main Convo,s doesnt always please older and “maybe ” wiser posters like the regulars who can use life experience to help those with less.

Students are a special group in that they generally are in no position to have a landline.

Around 1 in 5 people are of state pension age – 12 million. there are 23.5 million landlines, many with shared family access. Without commenting on the fairness or otherwise, older pensioners will, I imagine, use a landline more regularly, or even solely, than younger people (below s.p.a.) and will also have broadband access. So many will, under the suggested scheme, pay more than they do now. Including the vulnerable. Perhaps that is right – I do believe in paying what it costs but then having support in place for appropriate people. But it is a consequence.

I’m always pleased to see people helping others, Duncan. That could include pointing them towards advice that exists on the Which? website, explaining where to go to for help over a consumer issue, or even looking up whether spares are available for their cooker. 🙂

I support Which? using social media to engage with people. I set up my first website in 1995 but I’m a member of a charity that makes increasing use of Facebook for current news and photos, publicising events and encouraging others to join us. I am pleased to report that I have no ‘Facebook Friends’, only real ones.

I agree, Bill. I detest BT and its rip-off charges (and we all know it’s aming for a £20 landline charge). It must be the most inefficient and greedy company in the world, but it’s a monopoly so it can do what it likes. The Telecomms Regulator is useless, or it would have broken up BT long ago.

And would you like it the same as the US BG ? ,if so you havent really looked into the prices / coverage /maintenance and most of all availability in areas of NON-profit .Even the US government saw sense and didnt completely brake up its biggest company . Check out US websites relating to complaints about service by MANY companies there .

Why are we always looking to compare our situation with that in America? The USA is completely unlike the UK is almost every way. It is not necessarily the best alternative. There are plenty of better examples on the continent, mainly in the northern latitudes, where services are provided properly by private and state operators. UK systems are often as good as or better than others but we should be learning from the best and upgrading wherever practicable. I think Which? should look east instead of west more often.

I quite agree John , the problem is most people look west not east and it would take our new government a step to the left politically to implement the positive aspects of the countries I think you are thinking about . What I am saying is more investment in industry of various types and more state money invested to improve our communications ,for the public that is . Many would oppose that , add to that TTIP , which will eventually be introduced (maybe a few years down the line ) and we would then literally be run by the USA whose controls include reduction in grants/assistance to UK businesses if they compete with BB. and ,if the people oppose that BB takes them to court and—wins as has happened in other countries leaving citizens out of pocket .

Thankfully, we won’t be bound to enter the TTIP once we are out of the EU.

We might be pressured into doing so to have proper trade links with the USA. However it is likely to take much longer to resolve when we have exited, won’t it?

malcolm -pressurised-correct . Although behind the scenes the government is for it as is the City , just not told the public yet its down to presentation to the public. I cant see our new “iron ” PM holding a referendum on it. All the political talk in the US is that it will be implemented–eventually or the US wont be “best pleased ” .

Since our trade balance with the USA is currently negative it is hardly an imperative for the government. Back of the queue will do for now. We can put that issue off until we see who will be in the White House in January.

Have you tried an external aerial for your cell net phone Vanessa ? , I am not guaranteeing it will work but its worth trying .

I don’t suppose we can interest you in a Swiss army penknife either.

The “victory” simply conceals the way charges are made. I am all for making the full charge payable for broadband clearly shown, but line rental is not being “abolished” it seems.

“Vodafone has not abolished line rental charges, just combined the prices. In fact, as recently as June 5 they were charging £26.99 for unlimited 38Mbps broadband and line rental, so a drop to £25 a month is not particularly generous, especially since their upfront charge has increased by £19 a year.'”

Smoke and mirrors? I hope whatever the headline rate is we will also see the separate items – line charge and broadband charge. We should see the same on our energy bills – how the charge is made up. It may surprise many people.

Read more: thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-3731197/Vodafone-abolishes-18-line-rental-charge-home-broadband-customers.html#ixzz4HFLxskbu

I had a look Malcolm at -thisismoney it isnt too explicit Vodafone,s own website say unlimited broadband fibre 38 is £22 to existing customers and BT also increased their rental like other telephone companies but I get where you are coming from . If you take the adverts at face value they make out line rental=£0 I will check out BT,s breakdown. Their advertising is way over the top but it looks like it would work .

Before you do A how about telling me the fault that BT “wont sort ” . –break BT,s monopoly, dont you mean whats left to BT after a large number of other private companies have taken a lot of the profitable business away from BT and left the unprofitable stuff to BT , if that is the case then BT would be quite happy if Virgin Media-et-al took over your nonprofitable line -but you know what A ? somehow I dont think they will , its called shareholders profit . Do you see a big rush from all those companies to take over remote farms/country cottages miles down a country lane with umpteen telephone poles —I dont . Having said all that I do like to help any telephone user with any company I am not biased so tell me the fault and if I can advise you I will ,even if it is to criticise (justly ) BT.