What's the deal with VOIP???

BuyBuyBuy

My parents are in the process of switching broadband from Virgin to Utility Warehouse.  Since they're moving to a fully-fibre service (no copper anymore), and UW don't seem to offer any kind of VOIP service, it's just become apparent that they're going to lose their landline.  This wasn't clearly explained when they arranged the new service as far as I can tell.

They're quite heavy landline users, and don't want the disruption of changing their phone number.  What are the options?  Do they have to find a VOIP company that can port their old number from Virgin?  If so, any suggestions on companies that do that?  Is it expensive? 

gigaknight

Are you sure they don't offer VoIP? Ofcom are pushing to move all UK landlines to VoIP by 2025, so if UW don't offer VoIP they may do soon.

For your parents, the priority is to find out whether they've already lost their phone number—my understanding is that if they've already initiated the order to shut off their phone line, after a certain point it can't be recovered. Having said that, if they're with Virgin they may already be on a VoIP service on Virgin's cable line, and if so the process may be different from the old landline transfer process with which I'm more familiar. I'd call them first and find out, and see if you can buy some time to investigate.

Secondly I'd place a call to UW to confirm whether the new service includes VoIP phone calls, as it should do, and if so whether they're porting your parents' existing number or assigning them a new one. If they're not offering VoIP I'd cancel the order and go with any of the other major providers who no doubt can offer it to you.

DullGreyGuy

BuyBuyBuy said:

They're quite heavy landline users, and don't want the disruption of changing their phone number.  What are the options?  Do they have to find a VOIP company that can port their old number from Virgin?  If so, any suggestions on companies that do that?  Is it expensive? 

Yes they can signup to a VOIP provider and port their number. 

I use https://www.voipfone.co.uk/plans/comparison don't get confused by the comments about "users", if you just want phone at home then its 1 user, plus they are a bit more business focused hence hold music and call steering but we've used them for years as our only home telephone service as international calls are so much cheaper.

BuyBuyBuy

gigaknight said:

Secondly I'd place a call to UW to confirm whether the new service includes VoIP phone calls, as it should do, and if so whether they're porting your parents' existing number or assigning them a new one. If they're not offering VoIP I'd cancel the order and go with any of the other major providers who no doubt can offer it to you.

UW have said they don't do VOIP, and their service is now active (the Virgin contact doesn't run out for a couple of weeks though).  So it feels like there's time pressure to sort out the phone number transfer to VOIP before it's too late ☹️.  This all seems too complicated, I would have hoped that broadband providers were required to offer VOIP bearing in mind the phasing out of copper

BuyBuyBuy

DullGreyGuy said:

Yes they can signup to a VOIP provider and port their number. 

I use https://www.voipfone.co.uk/plans/comparison 

This looks like it has potential... It's not as cheap as I'd hoped though at first glance, are the call rates competitive?

HanSpan

Im looking to upgrade our broadband and about to have the same issue so im interested in any VOIP providers. Seems plusnet also don’t offer it. 

BuyBuyBuy

We've looked into voipfone, but not signed up yet.  First impression is that their customer service is very helpful and responsive

suejb2

Hi, my TalkTalk contract is nearing its end in March. They want to put me on VOIP I have no idea what it is apart from digital calls. This is part of the conversation with TT. Can someone give me a “dummies guide” is this a good deal? Thank you

bjbyorkshire

SueJB2,   I replied to you on the other thread but just to say here that the offer you have got is the same as I have.  Mine is £29 exactly per month to include unlimited UK calls but what is annoying is that I have only just recently signed an 18 month contract so would expect this price to remain the same for 18 months but I have read that Talk Talk, and other companies can put up the price with index linking in March this year.  That doesn't seem a fair way to treat people with a fixed contract.  I can't turn round and say that as they are not honouring my 18 month fixed contract so I will leave when the price goes up.  This seems skewed very much in favour of the company rather than fair to the customer. 

Stuart_W

suejb2 said:

Hi, my TalkTalk contract is nearing its end in March. They want to put me on VOIP I have no idea what it is. Can someone give me a “dummies guide” is this a good deal? Thank you

My phone provider have fairly accessable generic information here. We are in the "stop sell" phase of the digital VOIP transfer at the moment, as you have discovered.

If your local exchange develops a major fault in the copper cable network, even legacy/existing customers will get VoIPed. 

https://broadband.yourcoop.coop/big-switch-off/

More info on the industry-wide generic info site

https://www.futureofvoice.co.uk/
(Explains how landline-only customers will be served)

I'm on a legacy calls and internet product that serves me fine at the moment and paying £24 a month so I am sitting tight until pushed.