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Legal, pensions and money

Do I need a landline?

(92 Posts)
Daddima Wed 04-Mar-20 19:28:05

Since the Bodach died I’ve been reviewing my finances, and I’m paying BT £102 per month for landline, broadband, my mobile, and BT Sport ( £22.50 which will definitely be going!)
Sons are asking why I need a landline, and I must admit that all I seem to get on it are calls from Microsoft and similar trying to con me out of money. Has anyone else done away with their landline, but can still get broadband?

sandye Wed 19-Aug-20 14:24:03

I use plus net, you have to have a line in for broadband but don't need to have a phone connected to it. That stops cold calls

EEJit Wed 19-Aug-20 14:47:07

Ex BT employee here.

Unless you have Virgin cable you have to have a landline installed as calls and broadband travldown the same lines. The signals are separated at the little box you plug into the main box, can't remember what it's called.

BT does have the technology to supply broadband without the calls signals, but choose not to use it.

boho43 Wed 19-Aug-20 15:31:49

We are in a dilemma too about having a landline. We moved last year & couldn’t have a landline connected then for a variety of reasons. For almost a year now we have just used our mobiles on a reasonably charged Tesco contract, & l don’t think we do need a landline.

Btw we are in our late eighties - quite computer etc savvy!

Arbour Wed 19-Aug-20 15:53:20

As pce612 says above, it's possible to manage all communication with just a mobile - unless you want BT or Sky TV packages. I pay £18 a month to 3 Mobile which includes calls, texts and unlimited data (ID Mobile were offering same for £20). I use phone as mobile wifi hotspot to connect laptop and tablet to internet and it works better than my previous cable broadband did! I have a spare mobile in case main one breaks. Nowadays it's rare to have to pay for a premium call outside of the mobile contract. I can't connect loads of devices at same time to internet, but for such a great price it's worth it. Just be aware call costs abroad may well increase after Dec due to Brexit, but you can call over internet in any case.

Bluegrass Wed 19-Aug-20 16:13:05

I am with Plusnet, just returned to them. I think I pay around £36 pm for landline, all calls and broadband. Get in touch with them and ask for the best all inclusive deal. I recommend them.

GrandmaMoira Wed 19-Aug-20 16:35:50

I have a landline and understood you can't have broadband without. I am a bit confused that some people have broadband and no phone but haven't investigated.
I stopped paying for a call package with BT as it was expensive and I have unlimited calls on my mobile. However, I think a landline is useful for emergencies. If someone in the family wants me urgently my mobile isn't always to hand.

Frogs Wed 19-Aug-20 17:28:30

My Broadband package is the same price whether I choose to keep the landline or not so I have kept it just in case.

WOODMOUSE49 Wed 19-Aug-20 17:34:35

Sorry to comment again about this but if you are changing and want a good broadband download speed, please check what you are being offered.

PlusNet this morning could only offer me 0.5Mbps to 2.0Mbps. This is snail's pace - even less. I get masses amount more from BT and that means no buffering. I've explained before in my comments why I get a much better deal from BT. Yes, I do pay a bit more but it is so worth it.

NoddingGanGan Wed 19-Aug-20 18:26:18

£31.03 per month for landline, broadband and mobile from EE. You need to shop around.

Grandmama Wed 19-Aug-20 18:39:20

Seeing what others pay I think we are paying too much with talktalk for broadband and landline + a fee to bt for my bt email address. Will have to look into it.

When DH came out of hospital a year ago I bought my first mobile to be able to keep in touch with him when I'm out and about. I bought a basic Nokia (about £40) and have a monthly 'Goody Bag' from GiffGaff. There are various prices for Goody Bags, my Goody Bag is £6 a month and I have 500MB data, unlimited texts and minutes. No contract so I can cancel at any time. I use it mainly for texts. We don't actually use the landline very much.

Davida1968 Wed 19-Aug-20 18:52:38

Has anyone mentioned the problems if one loses a mobile - or if it's stolen? That's not going to happen to a landline! (Just saying.)

Madwoman11 Wed 19-Aug-20 19:42:28

I pay £18 a month for landline and broadband through Shell Broadband, and I find it very reliable.

SallyatBaytree Wed 19-Aug-20 19:54:04

I have deal with EE at £27.50pm which includes landline and as much Internet access as I need. I search the net several times a day and browse on and off all the time. And I only ever pay £27.50pm
. I also have a mobile deal £9.50 with Tesco.which covers all my phone calls (I make a lot) and far more texts than I need.
Works well as long as you don't forget and use landline for calls, as this pushes EE broadband cost up as they are managing my landline:ALL calls are charged for on landline.

MerylStreep Wed 19-Aug-20 22:38:45

* GrandmaMoira*
You say that your mobile isn't always to hand. So is your landline always to hand: when your shopping, in the car, when your on holiday?
I think the mobile has more chance of being at hand than a landline.

melp1 Sat 22-Aug-20 12:45:33

Fibre broadband/landline with plusnet costs us £23 per month we both have mobiles with 1p mobile, costs us £10 each every 3 months (You have to top up every 3 months even if you've not used up your quota). Hubby never manages to use his up so if we could go without a landline we would and just use his mobile for calls at home. Most people will try our landline 1st then call our mobiles if no reply.

BelindaB Mon 24-Aug-20 15:09:45

I, also, refuse to have a mobile and the more I see the "phone zombies" on the street, the more determined I get. If (and I doubt it will happen in our lifetime) landlines become redundant, I think I'd rather go back to pen and ink!

Anything but the dreaded mobile!