Landline only for aged relatives

MouldyOldDough

I have some aged relatives (not on means tested benefits) looking for a landline only (no internet) - what is the cheapest way to obtain this ?

Please nobody suggest a mobile of any sort (including "look alike" home phones) - they don't want to go down that route……

iniltous

What is the current situation at their address ? ,for example , no service currently from anyone ( that’s broadband or telephone) , service from a company (broadband or broadband and phone ) but they want to use someone else , if that’s the case what’s the reason for wanting to change , or they had service at a prior address until very recently, but have just moved to a new address and need to arrange service for this new (new to them or brand new build ) address ?

FWIW , the only company obliged to provide telephony is BT , but that has some restrictions and these days because of the WLR removal and PSTN retirement, that’s not such an easy thing to arrange as it once was , if it’s BT they want to avoid, and they want just telephony (but not mobile ) they are pretty much out of luck

flaneurs_lobster

https://www.phonely.co.uk/blogs/you-should-know/how-to-get-the-cheapest-landline-deals-for-pensioners

Some suggestions here but it is a puff job for Phonely.

JSmithy45AD

Limited choices and no cheap options, mobiles are by far the best choice.

Grumpy_chap

It might work out cheaper to get a "bundle" with phone line and broadband and simply not use the broadband.

Virgin Media offer phone only packages but I don't think they are cheap.

Post Office previously offered phone only packages (we have one) but since Post Office became Shell and then someone else and then Talk Talk, they keep trying to change me to "a more suitable package for my needs" but all have broadband and cost a lot more than the legacy phone only package we have from when it was Post Office.

flaneurs_lobster

FWIW , the only company obliged to provide telephony is BT , but that has some restrictions and these days because of the WLR removal and PSTN retirement, that’s not such an easy thing to arrange as it once was , if it’s BT they want to avoid, and they want just telephony (but not mobile ) they are pretty much out of luck

https://www.bt.com/landline

"…from £32 a month…"! Not exactly giving it away are they….

MouldyOldDough

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82017415#Comment_82017415

Talk Talk FTTC is used at the moment - for historical reasons

They do not use the internet and do need a phone line

QrizB

... and do need a phone line

For phoning people, as in "speaking on the telephone to other humans"? Not for a burglar alarm, a home safety lifeline or anything like that?

Is their current phone service analogue (the phone plugs into their master socket using a micro filter) or digital (the phone plugs into the back of their router)?

badmemory

What would worry me about them only having a landline is that in the not too distant future if they have a power cut then their phone will also stop working.

iniltous

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82017477#Comment_82017477

Then remaining with what they have withTalk Talk is probably the most realistic option, even if that’s with a broadband service they don’t want , a cheap broadband and phone deal is probably a similar cost to BT phone only cost , thats even if you could arrange it , which is far from certain as the PSTN phone replacement PDPL is for existing BT phone only customers (which your relatives clearly aren’t) so how BT connect new customers who only want telephony is unclear , one way I read was someone who got BT phone with a free broadband service , but the proviso was if the broadband was used for anything other than BTDV , (which BT can easily monitor) then they would then be charged for the broadband going forward, not just the months it was used but as a broadband package like everyone else …as stated Talk Talk are under no obligation to voluntarily convert them to phone only so if everyone else is a similar price even BT (with broadband) and BT phone only is no cheaper than with broadband, why bother with the aggravation.

They could go for a broadband only deal and a third party VoIP provider for telephony which may be slightly cheaper overall , if cost is what’s driving this , but as TT are a budget brand already at the cheaper end of the market I doubt any savings will amount to much

MouldyOldDough

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82017504#Comment_82017504

That's what phone are for …