Cheapest Home Phones Article Discussion

waqas

Hi, I am currently with VM and wanted to change my line. What would be the cheapest phone line available please as I have a dormant BT landline, got VM to install a new one.

I think the post office with its cashback but would like your input.

Thanks for your help.

Waqas

PS: I use the phone a fair ammount during the day so would Orchid suite me or should I get a bundle telephone package?

djmikeyt

I currently have Virgin as my phone and broadband provider. My old BT line is dead. I pay Virgin £11.00 for line rental and £18 for "up to 2Mb" broadband but have blagged a £10 a month reduction meaning that phone and broadband cost me £21.00 a month combined plus call charges (typically £3.50 because I use 18185 as an over-ride - manily for daytime landline calls to 02 numbers. Average 18185 costs are £9 a month on top of what I pay BT).

BT have written to me offering free reconnection of a BT line (in the past I've been quoted £122.50 for this) if I sign up for 18 months and take "unlimited evening and weekend plan" (£0.00 a month I think) or "Anytime Plan" (£4.95 a month I think) plus £11.25 a month line rental. This deal I therefore think comes to either £11.25 with free evening/weekend calls or £16.20 with free antime calls.

If I add BT broadband, (18 month contract again) after the reduced introductory period the "up to 8Mb" deal is £15.65 a month. The BT Home Hub (worth £88) is free.

After 18 months I would presumably only have to pay BT the monthly line rental and could switch to other phone/broadband providers. Does anyone have any advice as to whether I should swich to BT under this offer and ditch Virgin please?

If anyone else wants the BT offer ring 0800 100 444 and quote "save on connection".

[Deleted User]

Regarding broadband unless you live fairly near to the telephone exchange I wouldn't change from VM. I changed to Sky when they first offered broadband, it was upto 16Mb then for £10pm, the speed I received eventually was 1.68Mb so I said forget it and returned the equipment and returned to VM very quickly and now in May they are going to increase the speed for free or very little.
Incidentally my upto 2Mb and a telephone, which I don't use, is £14.15.

kagel

Just be aware that if you dispute your bill with this company they will just send it straight to a debt collecting agency regardless of what they are telling you on the phone.

I have had a dreadful experience with them and for a £52 all inclusive package I now owe them £178.

They just say the same things over the phone and when I send emails I get a standard response and nothing back in relation to my dispute.

Thay told me they would get back to me within 14 days and instead I got my phone line cut off, a threatening letter from a debt collection agency and a bill that had trebled.

I rang the debt collection agency up immediately and explained the situation. I was told that it happens alot with car phone warehouse customers!

Please be careful and ensure you read all the small print. Talk Talk may be cheap but don't have a complaint or dispute with them otherwise it will cost you much more than its worth!

TalkTalk

Hi Kagel,

I've sent you a PM so I can look into this for you.

Cheers
EmmaL x

Nats_101

:j

akyman wrote: »

I'm wondering if anyone knows if you can use 18185 with line rental from Talk Talk? I'm an avid user of 18185- it has saved me a small fortune but the Talk Talk offer seems good. I wouldn't touch Tiscali with a barge pole after my mother had untold hassle after some intermidiary signed her up fraudulently online.

I've been using a variety of services with Utility Warehouse for years, they have super deals with phone, broadband as well as other utilities (gas & electricity) and I use 18185 with them (and have done for years) as well as other 3rd party companies for phoning when required (although rarely these days).

I don't know why Utility Warehouse is never mentioned on Martin's Money Tips site, maybe because they don't advertise (btw - I do not work for them, I simply like sharing information on a good deal when I hear of one).

Hope this helps.

Nats.

1carminestocky

If you take the 4 services from Utility Warehouse (and your post at least implies you do), surely there's no need to use 18185 as all the 01,02, 03, 0845, 0870 and 10 International numbers would be 'free' (included in the package at no extra cost is probably more accurate) 24/7

Quentin

Nats_101 wrote: »

:jI don't know why Utility Warehouse is never mentioned on Martin's Money Tips site.....

It is mentioned, but it is only allowed to be mentioned in its designated thread:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=387161

MSE Martin explains why in the first post there:

This is a special area for the discussion of Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus). Unfortunately, it has become the topic for heated debate in the past and detracted from the main gas & electricity discussions
However due to past experiences some strict rules

i. All Telecom Plus Distributers must declare it when they post
ii. All workers or those related to other utility companies must declare it
iii. There are to be no abusive comments, accusations of fraud.
iv. Anyone breaking the above rules will be barred first of all from this board, and if they persist from the Chat Forums

Nats_101

1carminestocky wrote: »

If you take the 4 services from Utility Warehouse (and your post at least implies you do), surely there's no need to use 18185 as all the 01,02, 03, 0845, 0870 and 10 International numbers would be 'free' (included in the package at no extra cost is probably more accurate) 24/7

You're right of course, although the free calls are only to 10 international countries and it doesn't include 0845 and 0870 - I don't think, unless I'm wrong?

1carminestocky

Nats_101 wrote: »

You're right of course, although the free calls are only to 10 international countries and it doesn't include 0845 and 0870 - I don't think, unless I'm wrong?

Yes, it does. WEF 1/4/09.