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Do you still have a landline?

(114 Posts)
Elusivebutterfly Mon 10-Feb-25 10:31:35

My BT landline is about to be switched over to Digital voice. I do not pay for inclusive calls so only use it for incoming calls. I kept it partly as it was needed for broadband, which is no longer necessary.
I am now considering whether to buy new handsets to be compatible with the new system or get rid of the landline and just use my mobile.
Do other people still find a landline useful or are you happy without one?

ferry23 Mon 10-Feb-25 16:13:58

Yes I have a landline - because a landline doesn't get left in the car, nor does it get lost at the bottom of my handbag. It doesn't shatter if you accidently drop it in the wrong place. It's too big to bury itself down the cushions on the sofa. If my landline rings I can hear it whichever room I'm in - not so with mobile. It doesn't run out of battery power.

I don't see the point of having to keep a phone on you wherever you go when you're at home. I'm not one for having it attached to the end of my hand as if it were an add-on body appendage.

I'm quite sure if landlines became defunct I would get used to it and manage, but happy to have it now.

Marydoll Mon 10-Feb-25 15:58:15

aggie

With painful hands , I find the handset of my landline much more comfortable to hold for a long chat with my sisters , so not looking forward to the digital era

Me too!

dalrymple23 Mon 10-Feb-25 15:01:23

I have a 12 year old Samsung, pay as you go, brick phone, which I needed for work. In Sussex, I always used my beloved landline. When we moved, Openreach disconnected the landline - without checking whether or not there was mobile reception. In the depths of rural (not quite so rural) Norfolk, the reception is abysmal to non-existent.

Neither phones nor tablets work on the north side of the house, despite getting a booster thingummybob.. Apparently, the walls are too thick.

I do have a smartphone but don't know how to use it! It is on a contract but I can't find out with whom. My bank statement is unhelpful - too many unrecognisable acronyms.

Anyway, I can't remember to carry the damned thing around with me. If I go upstairs to the loo, why would I think of grabbing a phone? Who wants to speak to someone when one is in the bathroom anyway?

Why doesn't someone invent extensions for mobiles?

And, yes, smartphones are jolly heavy. Hate them.

Gripe over!

25Avalon Mon 10-Feb-25 14:57:16

Yes when we were without power or WiFi from 6 am until 9pm it proved extremely useful. I was able to make regular contact to find out what was happening. I have an old handset I keep specifically for this purpose which was the advice when digital first came in.

Cabowich Mon 10-Feb-25 14:34:29

Yes, why not?

I find mobile phones a bit of a pain in the posterior. Lack of reception, runs out of battery when you least expect, makes my handbag that much heavier, Try to call someone, and they don't answer, etc, etc.

I mainly use mine for taking photos as my old camera packed up last year.

SilverBrook Mon 10-Feb-25 14:30:06

My landline was switched to digital voice two years ago. I kept the old handset which works fine. The line is included in my broadband package as standard. I don’t pay any more it or have a call plan. I use my mobile for all outgoing calls and give that number as my prefered number. I only really keep the landline as I have a few contacts who stubbornly prefer calling on that and for emergencies if ever my mobile connection was down - which has yet to happen. I don’t think I would miss it if it was gone altogether.

Oldbat1 Mon 10-Feb-25 13:41:01

No

Calendargirl Mon 10-Feb-25 13:19:01

No.

Got rid of it last summer when we had full fibre installed, and they said we couldn’t have a landline.

Felt reluctant to be without it, but honestly haven’t missed it.

Don’t actually speak to anyone much on the phone, more what’s app, messenger, e mails…

Cossy Mon 10-Feb-25 12:39:58

No.

Elusivebutterfly Mon 10-Feb-25 12:35:11

Thank you all for your messages.
I also find that the landline is less painful on the hands for longer calls. I have one person I regularly speak to who struggles to hear me on the mobile. Another thing with the landline is that I can always hear it.
I will look at the difference in cost between a broadband only package and one with a landline and decide what to do.

Crossstitchfan Mon 10-Feb-25 12:13:33

I so agree that landline phones are still good. I use mine all the time as my mobile hurts my hands. I also find the landline clearer. I hate being made to give up something that I enjoy using!

Crossstitchfan Mon 10-Feb-25 12:06:08

I so agree

Sar53 Mon 10-Feb-25 12:03:39

No landline, we use our mobiles.

Mamardoit Mon 10-Feb-25 11:52:01

Yes. DD sometimes rings us because mobile reception is often poor where she lives.

Hellogirl1 Mon 10-Feb-25 11:51:32

I still have my landline, dread having to lose it. I`m not technically minded, don`t have a mobile phone and don`t want one, because when I did have one I got into all sorts of tangles with it!

Norah Mon 10-Feb-25 11:48:25

Yes.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 10-Feb-25 11:45:20

Yes.

Squiffy Mon 10-Feb-25 11:43:32

We still have a landline, but really only for our broadband connection. Rarely used for calls.

tanith Mon 10-Feb-25 11:36:14

Got rid of my BT landline 2+yrs ago no more scam calls or phishing calls and I saved £40 pm. I use my mobile for everything and on loudspeaker if it’s a long call. There are only a couple of people I know that still have one.

Pittcity Mon 10-Feb-25 11:31:28

Not had a landline for years.
I use my mobile hands free at home. Tell it who to phone or message and just speak. No need to press buttons or pick it up.
Carry it with me so no need to run to phone if it rings.
Signal is no problem as it switches to calls, messages over broadband if the signal dips.
I pay £6 a month for unlimited calls and texts and use WhatsApp to call abroad at no extra cost. Far cheaper than landline rental and phones can be bought cheaply too.

Greyduster Mon 10-Feb-25 11:27:34

The only reason I still have my landline for incoming calls is because I have two old and cherished friends who only use their mobile phones for emergencies. One can never seem to hear me when I ring her on mine, and always rings me back on the landline. The other simply doesn’t like mobile phones! I will ditch it soon, but just not yet.

Greenfinch Mon 10-Feb-25 11:22:59

Same as GrannyIvy.I prefer it and don’t have a contract smart phone. Mine is pay as you go and consequently expensive.

Rainbow1235 Mon 10-Feb-25 11:19:07

Got one but it’s just incoming calls . We had to have a new number when we upgraded broadband and no one knows it so it never rings anyway smile

AGAA4 Mon 10-Feb-25 11:17:10

I still have my landline. Reception on my mobile is not very good so I need a back up.

Visgir1 Mon 10-Feb-25 11:10:57

I find especially in my job working in the NHS that phoning a Mobile is hit and miss.
So many folk don't turn it on all day, so if I need to phone someone I pick the land line number first. The ring can be heard all over the home unlike a Mobile which has been left in a room somewhere. We can't leave messages on an Answerphone unless the person has left their name or family name on the outgoing message.
Me.. I have both plus DH has his phone.