buy digital or have no phone?

Pookman

A friend has been told he has to have BT digital and pay 3 times what he does now or have no landline?  He does not use broadband now and doesn't want internet.  He thinks it was BT that phoned him?

p00hsticks

It'll be whoever is his current landline provider, and it is correct. There is a nationwide switchover from analogue to digital phone services and although (in most areas) you wil lbe able to retain your current landline number it will be via a broadband connection, which means getting set up with such and paying for it it you don't already have it. 

The alternative is to get a mobile phone and use that instead - as the digital service won't work in a powercut, having at least a basic mobile and keeping it charged for emergencies will be a good idea anyhow.

More details here  
We’re switching from analogue to digital landlines - About BT | BT Plc

DullGreyGuy

Pookman said:

A friend has been told he has to have BT digital and pay 3 times what he does now or have no landline?  He does not use broadband now and doesn't want internet.  He thinks it was BT that phoned him?

Ultimately traditional analogue landlines will be replaced with digital VOIP but it's being done in a phased way with the priority on those that are moving/getting a new line/ upgrading to full fibre. Next on the list are those who have broadband already. The last on the list are landline only customers, those with emergency systems dependent on the analogue line or other special needs... there may be some exceptions where equipment fails. 

Assuming he doesn't have broadband now it's unlikely to have been BT calling. 

They will be offering a DigitalVoice without other broadband product at a comparable cost. 

iniltous

Your friend was either mis advised or is just wrong , telephony with BTDV is exactly the same price as the telephony service it replaces, so the ‘3x more’ is just wrong , whatever someone pays on PSTN ( the legacy system ) is what they pay on DV , migrating to DV is not a contractual event , the same terms continue after migrating to DV .

If he doesn’t have BT broadband, then BT have not contacted him about migration to DV , if he has broadband but no longer wants or needs it , then a standalone landline telephone from BT will be an issue as it needs ‘broadband’ to work ….however BT telephone only customers are not yet in scope for conversion to Digital Voice , they will be the last group considered, and likely OK till the end of 2026 , so no call made by BT has  been received by your friend about this .

M25

Tell your friend not to speak to strangers.

His supplier will write to him.

Pookman

Thanks for the comments.  We converted last year and you all rather support what I thought.  Told my friend I'm guessing it was a sub contractor who called and to call BT himself.  He must have something and shouldn't have to pay, it's not his choice and where he lives is rubbish mobile signal.  He's a vulnerable person and  must be able to call 999 if needed!

Farway

Pookman said:

Thanks for the comments.  .... He's a vulnerable person and  must be able to call 999 if needed!

Do him a favour & check if he is on the BT vulnerable list, just in case