Telephones in House Share

Trying2Save_3

Hi all, my daughter and her friends are going to share a house in September when they go back to Uni and they are discussing whether or not to have a telephone in the house or just to keep their mobiles. In your experience what did you find the best options were?

mrscruffy

During my years of house sharing at University the biggest problem was always paying the phone bill!! This was in the days before all inclusive tariffs and third party phone providers such as One Tel.

As for having a fixed line, if they want an internet connection then a fixed line is a must have. In addition, if you of anyone else want to contact them then they will have to call the mobile. Not usually a cheap option!

I think the most important question here is how to pay for the phone line/calls (and the mobile!) rather than whether or not to have one. If not then there will be problems (espically when people phone the USA during peak time!)!

Been there, done that :-)

pug_in_a_bed

If they can get one of those deals like telewest have where its a fixed rate for free local and national calls, I'd do that so long as they use their mobiles for mobile calls.

The phone caused the biggest rows in our house, as no one would agree to just split it - esp. as someone was calling, ahem, some premium rate numbers and wouldn't admit to it!

CrazyChemist_2

I've heard that there are some providers which provide a pin number to each of the occupants so each call is detailed per user on the phone bill and all is fair. Does anyone know which provider this is?

zodiac

Have an internet line for the computer and keep to mobiles for all other calls (get one of them 3 chips with 500 mins for £3.99 a month). There is so many aruguments over whos called who that it'll be better to keep calls personal to each person.

BWZN93

Yes, we had serious problems when housemates wouldnt admit to calls (even when it was their location of origin and no-one else knew people there!!), and eventually divided all the unclaimed calls between everyone - although that caused arguments too. Id either go with mobiles, or buy a payphone (can get them off ebay quite cheap) and the call costs can be set by yourselves, so you can either make a profit from the calls, or go as cheap as possible so that just the cost of the calls are covered. Last time I checked, I saw one going for about £30, same price as a reasonable phone.

The benefit is that 0800 etc numbers to electric companies etc can be made for free, and other calls cheap, as well as having a landline which is always useful for those who lose their mobiles occasionally!

At the end of they year it can be bought by a housemember, left in the house as a present for new tenants, or flogged on ebay. All good!

Jo xx

Trying2Save_3

jw1096 wrote:

Id either go with mobiles, or buy a payphone (can get them off ebay quite cheap) and the call costs can be set by yourselves, so you can either make a profit from the calls, or go as cheap as possible so that just the cost of the calls are covered. Last time I checked, I saw one going for about £30, same price as a reasonable phone.

The benefit is that 0800 etc numbers to electric companies etc can be made for free, and other calls cheap, as well as having a landline which is always useful for those who lose their mobiles occasionally!

That sounds like a very good idea and I suppose the housemates can also receive incoming calls. Wonder if you could also register the number with 18866?

BWZN93

Trying2Save wrote:

That sounds like a very good idea and I suppose the housemates can also receive incoming calls. Wonder if you could also register the number with 18866?

Certainly can!! its simply a phone with a cash slot plugged into a normal BT plug socket, like they have in some pubs etc, and calls can only be made with money, so incoming and 18866 shouldnt be a problem!

Jo xx

wirm

I agree with jw1096, a payphone is there best bet. Failing that. Just use their mobiles. Less arguments that way.

aris

Quite honestly, who needs a landline any more? Mobiles should be fine, and you can get a broadband connection without the need for a telephone line (NTL do this).

wirm

aris wrote:

Quite honestly, who needs a landline any more? Mobiles should be fine, and you can get a broadband connection without the need for a telephone line (NTL do this).

the fact that landlines can be far cheaper than a mobile, thats why.......