Telecare options and the landline switch off

Scribblepad

That's very useful, Iniltous, thank you, I've had trouble finding comprehensive advice (just bits scattered all over various websites) and often just little explanation, just that an existing landline based care alarm won't work with VOIP, without any reasons why.

My mums landline and broadband went down for over 6 weeks last year! And my mum didn't notice, other than she couldn't access iplayer in her TV, because basically she doesn't use the Internet or her landline (other than for the care alarm, which she fortunately didn't need for the duration of the outage) and she has a basic mobile phone with no internet. I only found out 3 weeks after the outage when I visited. I've told her to test the care alarm monthly, but I don't think she does.

You have raised some interesting points about the risk, although she has the care alarm I've often thought it would not be not help if she fell and knocked her self unconscious as she wouldn't be able to activate it. Some of the more modern alarms have fall detection systems (presumably an accelerometer) but even they're not foolproof. I guess no syetem is perfect. But if the alarm will work well enough with VOIP, why is there such a panic about it? Or is it just to get people to pay out for newer, more expensive kit?

Scribblepad

Thank you, Pooh sticks, I suppose we could get mum one of those and do away with the broadband and andline completely, being as she wouldn't be using either.

Scribblepad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82062847#Comment_82062847

It's the careline unit that's plugged into the landline

Scribblepad

Thank you everyone for the feedback, it's been useful and given me a few things to consider

brewerdave

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82062935#Comment_82062935

A bit off topic but when our power went off recently for ~ 1 hour ,we found that neither of our mobile phones could get a usable signal on either 3/VF or EE (we are in a pretty poor signal area for all networks) - presumably because the local towers went off at the same time. Doesn't give one much faith in the mobile operator back up systems.!

iniltous

Some alarm providers are taking the pi**, that industry was given a decade notice that the PSTN telephony network was being retired and they needed to ensure that their customers wouldn’t be impacted, checking their equipment was compatible and replacing it if it wasn’t , BT even went to the trouble to build a ‘lab’ where alarm providers could check if their equipment would function OK on a VoIP network, these companies though basically sat in their hands and did nothing , that’s why the original deadline Dec 2025 was extended to Jan 2027 .

There are multiple solutions if the old alarm equipment is incompatible, mobile connectivity seems the most obvious solution but as far as taking the opportunity to increase prices using the PSTN retirement as the ‘excuse’ has no justification, if anything their costs can reduce not increase once off WLR/PSTN

Scribblepad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82063480#Comment_82063480

Yes I saw this reported elsewhere, that the care alarm providers have been dragging their feet with this, which is annoying. I think my mums provider wants to "upgrade" her to a mobile network unit, with a one off cost for the unit (but they will maintain it) plus a monthly fee that is much higher than what she is currently paying, and now I'm wondering if that is strictly necessary. Maybe the existing unit will work well enough over voip with a battery in case of power failures

iniltous

As stated , whoever provides the current alarm has had the opportunity to test that type of alarm on a VoIP system, they should know by now if it’s going to continue to work or not , if it’s compatible they should say so and alleviate the worry .

TBH , you don’t mention who provides the broadband and telephone service, the PSTN switch off affects WLR (wholesale line rental) customers of Openreach and Virgin Media , companies like Talk Talk for example although they use Openreach amongst other networks, they don’t use WLR , but LLU /MPF , this doesn’t use the PSTN equipment that’s being retired in January so the date for changing isn’t necessarily the same as if it were (for example) BT that were supplying services.

The main problem I could see for ‘alarms’ is if they are hard wired into the telephone socket on the wall , and need to recognise dialtone should the alarm be triggered and need to call the contact centre (or whatever) once PSTN is retired there won’t be dialtone at the wall socket anymore , but on the router telephone port , so in some respects the alarm may be compatible it’s just not connected to the appropriate place after changeover takes place so no longer works as it isn’t connected to the correct place anymore , and won’t work again until it’s reconnected to the router phone port .

Bigphil1474

We were almost forced into having an emergency line fitted in our house, some mess up with the provider as we didn't need one. In the end we weren't but they do have a system they can install that provides an emergency phone line even if there is a power cut. We are with Virgin media but I'm sure others do the same. You have to make sure that the care alarm and the emergency phone system are compatible. Apparently VM were fined recently for providing a digital solution for an analogue care alarm and the person died (as told to me by a VM Engineer)

rocky53

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6675512/telecare-options-and-the-landline-switch-off

Hi Scribblepad. My mother is also in her nineties and she is in a retirement flat with an emergency pull cord system in the building. She cannot use a mobile phone so I've been advised by Plusnet and EE that she can have a new router which plugs into the back of her existing corded phone and can keep her existing landline telephone number. She will also get a spare cordedless phone and a battery backup pack. EE are charging 25.99 with pay as you go telephone calls. I have just been advised that I should wait until the buildings phone system has been changed before swapping mum over. That's all very well but she's currently being charged £60 a month in an attempt to get her to move over to new system. I'm negotiating with Plusnet who she is currently with. RE your mum's ancient system you are always best to do comparisons for what she wants as it is often cheaper to shop around/upgrade than stay with the same provider all the time.

That brings me to a question I wanted to ask. Plusnet, BT, and EE (all actually the same company I believe )are saying they are the only companies offering what they call a digital landline as described above. When going on comparison sites including MSE I only see rates given for deals with mobile phones. Does anyone know if this includes the setup as above or are vulnerable customers being tied to a monopoly for their services.

many thank peeps. Sorry that was a bit long. hope someone finds it useful