help for elderly relations who want to keep a landline

gt94sss2

I don't know how much your uncle is paying Talktalk but BT have a special tariff for customers who only want a telephone line without a broadband service.

To find out if you're eligible, you can call them on 0800 587 0083. I think it's around £12/month

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/landline-phones/protecting-prices-for-landline-only-customers/

Depending on his needs, he could also register as vulnerable with BT. See https://www.bt.com/help/here-for-you

And/or qualify for their free Priority Fault Repair scheme

https://www.bt.com/help/landline/getting-set-up/help-people-with-impairments-or-with-particular-needs/i-rely-on-my-service-and-need-it-repaired-urgently

donglefan

gt94 thank you for above tips.  they all would be good.

i couldn't get sense out of talktalk online so i sent a postal letter of complaint.  The response to that was an email asking me to submit proof of power of attorney plus talktalk's own poa form.  i replied with those yesterday, and now today an email from talktalk saying the form i submitted yesterday was their old poa and i need to submit their new form, but not providing this new form. 
The service is so bad i am beginning to wonder whether it is legitimately talktalk requesting this sensitive information. 
This week's emails have come from TalkTalkReply@talktalkplc.com   
Is that the correct format for talktalk email correspondence?

DullGreyGuy

donglefan said:

gt94 thank you for above tips.  they all would be good.

i couldn't get sense out of talktalk online so i sent a postal letter of complaint.  The response to that was an email asking me to submit proof of power of attorney plus talktalk's own poa form.  i replied with those yesterday, and now today an email from talktalk saying the form i submitted yesterday was their old poa and i need to submit their new form, but not providing this new form. 
The service is so bad i am beginning to wonder whether it is legitimately talktalk requesting this sensitive information. 
This week's emails have come from TalkTalkReply@talktalkplc.com   
Is that the correct format for talktalk email correspondence?

Who the email is "from" is irrelevant, in 10 seconds I could send an email that states its from that exact email address, if you see it or it goes in your junk box will depend on a couple of factors but most will see it.

What is important is who goes into the "to" when you hit the reply button (an email can be set to reply to a different address than the apparent sender). 

Assuming it is the same address then in principle its fine, certainly talktalkplc.com is a domain owned by Talk Talk so someone thats receiving it is duly authorised by Talk Talk to do so

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

If your uncle doesn't want broadband (and I don't blame him if he doesn't), it is possible to purchase the Motorola FW500, pop a SIM card in, and just use the mobile network. Gives him the looks & feel of a regular phone, but using the mobile network.

Couldn't that be ideal? And also a darned sight cheaper than having a landline + calls.

I use Lebara for my Mobile, and it's less than £5pm for 5GB - which your uncle won't want - but calls are free.

Assuming this will work in the way I understand it! Hopefully, as far as your uncle will be concerned, it's just a 'phone'.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355725941216

donglefan

TIW, thank you for taking the time to think about this.  It does look good, but my uncle refuses to have any direct debits which includes a mobile phone contract.  I've tried to purse a switch to BT, but BT cut off my call while I was in their queue, and my uncle had to leave, but I think that's probably the way to go with this.

EnPointe

Brie said:

I'd heard that all landline providers were required to provide suitable equipment for those without pc/broadband etc.  

I had also been told that a letter would be written to everyone to check they are ready for the switch to VOIP.  I did have someone call to discuss this with us but it was just as i was heading out for work so asked them to post the info to me - that was 4 months back and i've yet to hear more so I guess it's a very slow process.

which will be a basic router  suitable for the way  the connection is served up to the house  ( so depending on fibre to the cabinet or fibre to the premises)  and a  handset to plug into it  ,  there are also consideratiosn around back up power  and fall back connectivity   especially for vulnerable users  but this may be  a small  UPS / Backup battery  and a  sim ( whether card or esim ) in the router or in  a telephone telephone  instrument  which will be  effectively hidden from the user   as regardless of  which connection is in use  it'll be pick the handset up and dial the number 

EnPointe

Ayr_Rage said:

littleboo said:

Phone only customers will have the underlying technology upgraded for them, the only difference to them is they will have a router which they need to plug their phone into, and the router needs power to work. Apart from that, it should be transparent. 
However, I'm not sure that TalkTalk provide a phone-only service, if not, that might be an issue at some point s he is now a TT customer

Don't forget the fibre cable needs to be installed, so there will be some upheaval involved when the copper line is discontinued.

assuming that an area moves fully to  FTTP  rather than FTTC   as FTTC  is  still served up to the  individual  subscriber  by copper , but with the 'land line switch off' won't carry  the traditional PSTN /POTS    but will provide  ADSL/VDSL on openreach and the 'cable internet'  all ready extant  on Virgin ... 

a lot of the newer  providers / networks  are  pulling their own fibre and  going  FTTP  which is adding  further confusion by those who wish to mislead and/or catastrophise about this   

donglefan

gt94sss2 a big thank you for your advice above.  today we were able to action the switch you kindly suggested with BT.