Disguise a mobile as a landline for second home?

Stuart_W

Looking at helping a retired relative sort out a landline for a second home. They'd like a landline based there, just for calls in and out when they're there. Not a huge amount of use.

I'm tempted to suggest a £6 mobile SIM (which would have unlimited landline calls and 100 mobile minutes) and a Flextel geographic 01485 number (the area where the property is) which diverts to the mobile. A "normal" landline number would be important for them.

I'd also recommend a simple phone that comes with a charging base (perhaps Doro 410?) so as far as how it is used goes, the fact it is a mobile and not a landline wouldn't actually be really noticeable.

Is there anything I'm missing? Obviously I'd need to check that the phone signal is definitely OK throughout the property. It just seems odd that this would be cheaper for a line that actually won't get used that much. Incoming calls would not exceed (or get close to) 100 minutes a month so total ongoing costs will be under £10/month. The few calls made are likely to be daytime.

HappyMJ

What's wrong with a landline? Calls are a fixed price no matter the length of the call. What if the relative was on the phone for an hour that would cost loads more than an inclusive free call on BT.

Stuart_W

Very simply, they would hardly use the thing.

The high installation costs are the main limiting factor for a normal landline. Monthly costs will also be higher than this mobile method. Are there any installation deals on at the moment for anyone in a non-LLU area who only wants a landline that will hardly get used? I missed any if there are.

They would only ever call landlines - and unlimited landline calls are included anyway for the £6 a month.

HappyMJ

Stuart_W wrote: »

Very simply, they would hardly use the thing.

The high installation costs are the main limiting factor for a normal landline. Monthly costs will also be higher than this mobile method. Are there any installation deals on at the moment for anyone in a non-LLU area who only wants a landline that will hardly get used? I missed any if there are.

They would only ever call landlines - and unlimited landline calls are included anyway for the £6 a month.

Well I'm a technical person and usually understand these things but it's just too complex. BT doesn't charge much if you need a new line. £30 I believe. You can make the 10 monthly qualifying calls on the weekend to anybody local to qualify it for the discount rate.

If you want to do it your way then go ahead. It's just complex. I'm not sure your relative would understand it.

Stuart_W

£30. Really! Must look into it again. I was quoted over £100, there is no line installed at the moment. Thanks for the help.

Paul_Varjak

But to divert calls from the 01485 number to the mobile cost money!

Not sure what Flextel charge, but you could also consider SIPGATE, who will supply an 01485 number for free, but you also need to consider the call forwarding costs.

d.ross_2

Why does it have to look like a land line number? Won't a PAYG mobile do?

Stuart_W

d.ross wrote: »

Why does it have to look like a land line number? Won't a PAYG mobile do?

Because they'd prefer a standard 01 number associated with the address. They would want a monthly bill rather than anything to TopUp, but thinking again about the low usage, The Phone Co-op may better at £2 per month and then 4p/min to landlines rather than the £6 deal I originally mentioned.

Paul_Varjak wrote:

but you could also consider SIPGATE, who will supply an 01485 number for free, but you also need to consider the call forwarding costs.

Flextel would only charge 4p/min compared with Sipgate's 9.9p/min, but there would be a £10 saving on getting a free number. I'll be setting up and paying this bit for them, so I'll just use whoever is cheapest.

This would make incoming and outgoing calls 4p/min and £2/month line rental, which I'm sure would end up less than £6/month overall (100 minutes altogether, counting incoming and outgoing calls is a very generous estimate).

Thanks for the suggestions.

Paul_Varjak

4p/min. to divert calls to a mobile is very cheap - just make sure it includes the mobile code you wish to divert to!

catfish50

Stuart_W wrote: »

£30. Really! Must look into it again. I was quoted over £100, there is no line installed at the moment. Thanks for the help.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/home-phone-calls

But I don't know if it's still on.

Paul_Varjak

Maybe not suitable for a retired couple, but certainly ideal for a business - a contract mobile deal with cashback with a reputable company, like e2save, is a good deal (if you remember to apply for cashback on time)

My current deal with e2save is 99p/month (after cashback), unlimited landline minutes, 400 x-network minutes, 300 texts. It also includes a free mobile phone!