Being landline-free.....am I missing anything?

reduceditem

OK, became landline-free in November and I think I've got most bases covered but just want to check in case I've missed something.

I hope this thread might also help others to 'take the plunge'.


So......I get landline calls (as in 01 and London codes) free and unlimited on my Virgin mobile, so they are covered. That phone also covers my mobile calls and texts, obviously (£10 a month, rolling 30-day contract).

I bought a spare £7 phone from carphone warehouse (unlocked) to keep at home in which I use a giffgaff sim (0800, 0808, 0500) to get all freephone numbers for, well, free! and a Tesco Lite PAYG sim for 0845, 0870, 0844 numbers at 8p per minute. I also have a Lyca sim for calling a couple of friends abroad (Eastern Europe) at 1p to a fixline and 7p to a mobile. I put a white sticker on the back of the spare phone with all the rates written from the 3 extra sims on, just to keep me right. Sounds complex but it's really no bother at all and I'm loving not having a fixed line which was both more expensive and very irritating (sales calls, etc).


The only 'gap' is with 0843, 0871 and 0873 numbers....which are 20p per minute with the Tesco Lite sim. Not had to call any of them yet, though, what with saynoto0870 and all.

What could be handy is if there was a cheap triple sim phone available, but it really would be just laziness as I only rarely use any of those extra sims in the spare phone and it just takes seconds to swap 'em over. Another great thing about the spare phone is the battery lasts more than two weeks so I don't ever think about it. An extra tip for anyone planning to go down the apare phone route would be to by a spare phone of the same brand as your normal phone......that way you only need one charger lying around which I find handier.

Have I missed any tricks?

Stuart_W

You could try this system to get free 0844/0845/0870 calls by using your mobile that has inclusive landline minutes

http://www.qxcall.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=105

(might need to check 01635 774 320 isn't a barred number).

reduceditem

Stuart_W wrote: »

You could try this system to get free 0844/0845/0870 calls by using your mobile that has inclusive landline minutes

http://www.qxcall.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60&Itemid=105

(might need to check 01635 774 320 isn't a barred number).

Thanks, but that system sounds fiddly and you need to buy credit..........also they have a minimum call charge and a connection charge and it's still 4p a minute at peak times.

Probably a bit cheaper (assuming it works) but just a bit too involved for me.

mchale

google: 0370 4370800

reduceditem

mchale wrote: »

google: 0370 4370800

It's the same company as discussed in the first response, with the same complications IMO. Thanks, though.

mchale

reduceditem wrote: »

It's the same company as discussed in the first response, with the same complications IMO. Thanks, though.

Double check that, its for freephone numbers no need to use a different sim

reduceditem

mchale wrote: »

Double check that, its for freephone numbers no need to use a different sim

Yeah, but it's still a dial-through service and I'n not keen on them.

The giffgaff sim is the 'default' one in my spare phone so it seems easier just to keep that TBH.

Stuart_W

reduceditem wrote: »

Thanks, but that system sounds fiddly and you need to buy credit..........also they have a minimum call charge and a connection charge and it's still 4p a minute at peak times.

Probably a bit cheaper (assuming it works) but just a bit too involved for me.

Agreed, it is very fiddly and a lot of faff - but I think you may have misunderstood it. You don't need to buy credit, it will in fact be completely free using your landline minutes.

You simply call 01635 774 320 for free (a landline number). The first time you call it creates an account, and for every 10 minutes on the line you earn 1 point. Max of 30 points (300 minutes on the phone) per call.

You then dial 01635 774 302 (another landline number) whenever you want to call a non-free destination (international, 0845, 0870, 0844) and use up your earned points.
0844 calls cost 3 points per minute.
0870 calls cost 1.5 points per minute.
0845 calls cost 1.5 points per minute.

A total and utter faff, I agree. But, as long as the landline numbers are not barred, completely and utterly free.

reduceditem

Stuart_W wrote: »

Agreed, it is very fiddly and a lot of faff - but I think you may have misunderstood it. You don't need to buy credit, it will in fact be completely free using your landline minutes.

You simply call 01635 774 320 for free (a landline number). The first time you call it creates an account, and for every 10 minutes on the line you earn 1 point. Max of 30 points (300 minutes on the phone) per call.

You then dial 01635 774 302 (another landline number) whenever you want to call a non-free destination (international, 0845, 0870, 0844) and use up your earned points.
0844 calls cost 3 points per minute.
0870 calls cost 1.5 points per minute.
0845 calls cost 1.5 points per minute.

A total and utter faff, I agree. But, as long as the landline numbers are not barred, completely and utterly free.

Fair do's, I hadn't quite grasped that.

Maybe if I made more 0870/0845 calls I'd consider it.

baby_frogmella

If you were with Vodafone pay monthly (sim only plans incl.) you'd get free calls to 0800/0870/0845 numbers, you'd have to ask specifically for 100 mins pm to these premium numbers, otherwise VF would try to charge you £2.50pm to have calls taken out of your inclusive mins or £5pm for unlimited calls to these numbers (subject to FUP of 3000 mins pm).

May i ask why you've decided to cancel your landline? Unless you live a long distance away from the exchange, that's the only way you'll get fast internet speeds (cable excl.) BT are gradually rolling out Fibre to the Cabinet, having a landline becomes even more of a necessity once every exchange become FTTC enabled (just a matter of time). Just something to bear in mind.

MrGumby

I can't imagine life without a landline.

Fast broadband, much better call quality than a mobile, free calls to 0845/0870 (at least with BT and O2, not sure about other providers). Also, in a family house, you have to cart your mobile around with you to avoid missing calls. It's much easier to keep dect phones spread about the house (and maybe an old fixed phone or two, in case the cordless ones go walkabout).

Most significantly, for parents, it's a whole lot cheaper to have your kids use the landline for their never-ending long calls than pay their mobile bills.

Having said that, I guess your setup could save some money if you're single, don't need broadband and are prepared to put up with all the hassle.

But what about people who phone you? They always have to call you on your mobile. You might save money but your friends and family lose out! No?