Affordable home phone, calls only, for pensioner

Befuddled-bemused
Befuddled-bemused Posts: 6 Forumite
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in Phones & TV
Mother in law is paying £30 a month to BT for her phone line plus any time calls this seems ridiculous.

Does anyone know of a reliable, affordable alternative?

This is her lifeline as she's partially sighted, she needs no internet but does make all her calls during the day.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 5,186 Forumite
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    edited 5 May 2018 at 9:26AM
    Have you tried BT? That's not a joke BTW.

    https://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/60353/~/reduced-rental-for-landline-only-customers

    Edit: Or if she qualifies:- https://btplc.com/inclusion/ProductsAndServices/BTBasic/Overview/index.htm
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 5,186 Forumite
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    There is a guide on here BTW at: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/home-phone-calls
  • Befuddled-bemused
    Befuddled-bemused Posts: 6 Forumite
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    Thanks will have a look, seems ridiculous she is paying so much
  • Ian011
    Ian011 Posts: 2,432 Forumite
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    BT Home Phone Saver is £21.99 per month including line rental and Unlimited Anytime calls to numbers starting 01, 02 and 03 as well as to numbers starting 0845 and 0870.

    The price is fixed for several years and a whole host of additional features are incuded free of charge.
  • Simple_Soul
    Simple_Soul Posts: 48 Forumite
    Befuddled-bemused wrote: »
    Mother in law is paying £30 a month to BT for her phone line plus any time calls this seems ridiculous.

    Does anyone know of a reliable, affordable alternative?

    This is her lifeline as she's partially sighted, she needs no internet but does make all her calls during the day.

    My parents are in a similar position. I was about to move them to BT's new Home Phone Saver option, but recently read that BT is reducing the price of their Anytime option, for phone-only customers by, I think it was, £7 a month, so it would be very close to the Home Phone Saver price anyway.

    Also, I think that the Anytime option gives half price calls to mobiles, whereas with the Home Phone Saver, calls to mobiles are full price.

    This is all from memory, so don't take my word for it; check it out.

    Anyway, I decided to do nothing for now.
  • Ian011
    Ian011 Posts: 2,432 Forumite
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    A reminder that BT is now the ONLY major landline phone provider to NOT include calls to UK mobile numbers within inclusive allowances.

    Every other major landline provider, and numerous small providers, include these at least within their Unlimited Anytime, or equivalent, call plans.
  • Browntoa
    Browntoa Posts: 49,298 Forumite
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    I thought mobile calls were still a £3 month extra on Plusnet
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  • J_B
    J_B Posts: 6,433 Forumite
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    Ian011 wrote: »
    A reminder that BT is now the ONLY major landline phone provider to NOT include calls to UK mobile numbers within inclusive allowances.

    Every other major landline provider, and numerous small providers, include these at least within their Unlimited Anytime, or equivalent, call plans.
    Browntoa wrote: »
    I thought mobile calls were still a £3 month extra on Plusnet

    They certainly were earlier in the year before I left for John Lewis, who charge £5 extra for calls to mobiles!
    https://www.johnlewisbroadband.com/unlimited/
  • Ian011
    Ian011 Posts: 2,432 Forumite
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    I wouldn't consider either Plusnet or John Lewis to be major providers, but both do offer thousands of minutes of calls to UK mobile numbers for just a few pounds per month. This is in contrast to paying (something like) 16p to 22p per call plus 14p to 18p per minute.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,088 Forumite
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    Have you checked her latest bill?
    http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/60353/~/reduced-rental-for-landline-only-customers
    Also, does she qualify for BT Basic? All depends how many minutes a month she needs, and to what kind of numbers?
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
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