Cheapest line rental for low users??

Destined_to_be_skint

Hi all, this is my first post on this part of the MSE forum.

Does anyone know if there is any way that you can get a cheaper line rental than BT? Our phone bills are coming to about £6 a quarter (!!!), not including line rental, because we hardly ever use it. If I had good hearing I would give it up completely but as I am deaf I can't hear on my mobile phone (I only use it for texting) and need to plug in my text phone when my applier phone doesn't help. We also use the line for my broadband connection.

Any ideas? I checked out the threads on the PO Homephone but it seems crazy to swap to them for a £12 saving per annum.

Heinz

As you say, changing line provider will only make a small saving (sometimes none) and can be the start of problems.

You don't qualify for Light User Scheme because you have broadband so, I'm sorry to say, it looks like you're stuck with paying BT £11 per month by Direct Debit (that's their cheapest residential tariff - BT Together Option 1).

Stuart_W

A USWITCH search will show line rental providers start at £8.99 per month, and via quidco.com will give you a £16 cashback.

Unless you are anything other than a very very light user, switching line rental is NOT RECOMMENDED as you are seriously limiting your options.

However, my use is so light, like yours, and I have switched and my overall monthly bill for line rental and calls comes to less than £11 - which is the basic BT line rental fee.

Something like Post Office homephone can be a bit misleading as off peak calls, for example, are not capped. Even one of the £8.99 per month options caps off-peak landline calls to 5p for an hour - that's the one I'm on.

On the other hand, it is messing around for peanuts. Options are more open and flexible if you keep your rental with BT.

jackdaw

ha, this is familiar - I am deaf as well and only use my phone about 4 times a year but can't give the line up because I need to use a textphone. Interesting fact - payphones don't take the TextDirect number (18001) either.


"need to plug in my text phone when my applier phone doesn't help"

does this mean you can hear on some phones? Maybe look into things like a loop for your mobile (I had a friend who could use her mobile with one of these devices). would that work? I am totally deaf so it's not applicable for me.

Nomee

I am with Toucans ( I dont know for sure but heard its same as BT) they were charging me £8.99 and after two months I said that I have been offered £6.99 so I want to switch and after a little bit of muttering they agreed to give me £2.99 each month for my line rental and that has reduced my line rental to £6.0. I am not sure but they do have other offers do just ask an advisor if he can apply any offers on your account or let you speak to someone who can give you some offers.
I think this might work for other companies as well.

Stuart_W

Nomee, these seem like very low line rental prices.

Are you also taking any of their other services because if you can get just line rental and only pay £6 per month that's a bargain.

humfer

Unfortunately line rental is one area of the market thats not very competitive whichout severly limiting future options. Thats the only reason I'm still with BT

Destined_to_be_skint

Thanks for all the replies. I will look into this Toucan thing. My broadband supplier is Waitrose (who I highly recommend) - swapping line rental won't affect the internet access, will it?

Jackdaw - I am profoundly deaf and have tried a loop for my mobile but I just can't hear on it well enough. There are only two people I call socially now - my dad and my best friend! Everyone else gets emails!!

Heinz

Destined_to_be_skint wrote:

I will look into this Toucan thing.

News re Toucan today - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/07/pipex_toucan_bulldog/

will-in-estoril

I have been with Internet Telecom for over two years now and pay £6.18 line rental. As a low user, £3 of calls a month, I have no worry about being locked into a 12 month renewable contract.

However, for new subscribers it is £8.50, and evening calls cost 1.175pence per minute inc VAT.

I know BT have a flat rate on Option 1 for evening calls, so that you would need to weigh up whether or not you would realise any real savings.

The one advantage is that there is no minimum 5.5p charge, so that an answered UK call costs 2.94p/1.18p day/evening, due to their whole minute billing policy.

http://www.itplc.com/default.asp

utilitybroker

Thanks for reminding us of Internet Telecom again.:D

They were discussed here :http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=85595&highlight=itplc

and here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=41630

and from what i read i would not touch them!!!!