Survey: 60 per cent of UK folk only take landlines for broadband

[DDY]

I haven't been shopping for ADSL for some time, do line rental options for broadband only, i.e. without the facility to send or receive calls exist?

I recall reading about there being a cheaper receive-calls only option many years ago, but BT didn't seem to know anything about it when I asked.

[Flibb]

Yes they do exist but they cost the same if not more than options that include calls. The margins are low and the vast majority of households still have a phone plugged in.

[Dashers]

Expecting the cable running from the exchange to your house to be "free" is a bit much.

But indeed, I don't use my "landline" for telephone. I've got a standard phone attached to it but the ringer on silent for calling emergency services.

[Saracen]

I use the landline FAR more than a mobile. That said, I don't even use the landline much. In short, I don't make it easy to get me on the phone, unless you are family or friend that I want to get me.

Calls to my landline run through a call monitor/blocker, on which the blocking is set to either high, or if circumstances require, very high. That latter setting is when ALL calling numbers not specified on my whitelist get blocked.

My mobile number is only known to a very few people, and is rarely turned on except when I need it, or am specifically expecting an incoming call.

My objective is to only get calls I want, such as family and friends. I certainly don't EVER want to be pestered by unsolicited commercial calls, and that includes telesales calls from the likes of my own bank, telecom provider, utility company, insurance company, etc, all of whom have attracted considerable ire from me in the past, when they did have my number, by using it for telesales purposes despite being specifically instructed not to. Now, none of those organisations have my landline number.

In short, I put quite a high value in not being pestered, a high value on, other than family and friends, not being contactable easily, or indeed, not contactable at all, by phone.

[shaithis]

Expecting the cable running from the exchange to your house to be "free" is a bit much.

The cable is already there, already paid for and if you call your ISP and BTO come out to look at it, they start scaring you with threats of ~£175 engineers fees.

So, why are many of us paying £200+ per year for a "line"?

[Dashers]

Already there? Grown by nature? Or installed by BT? Then add on the cost of maintaining that network - exchanges aren't naturally occuring rooms, they're buildings with kit in them. Your cable is maintained underground and overhead - with green boxes and what not. With engineers supporting this 24/7.

If your ISP throws FUD at you then take it up with them or move to somebody else who isn't so rubbish (but that might cost more than nothing). BT fully support that line, if there is a fault they will replace it free of charge. I've had new cables run to my house at a cost of zaroo when there has been a physical fault with the cable outside my area of responsibility.

What BT will not cover with the line rental, is anything after the master socket in your house. Your internal wiring, your router, your personal and owned kit. If you call out an engineer to repair something they're not responsible for, who should cover those costs?

[outwar6010]

I use the landline FAR more than a mobile. That said, I don't even use the landline much. In short, I don't make it easy to get me on the phone, unless you are family or friend that I want to get me.

Calls to my landline run through a call monitor/blocker, on which the blocking is set to either high, or if circumstances require, very high. That latter setting is when ALL calling numbers not specified on my whitelist get blocked.

My mobile number is only known to a very few people, and is rarely turned on except when I need it, or am specifically expecting an incoming call.

My objective is to only get calls I want, such as family and friends. I certainly don't EVER want to be pestered by unsolicited commercial calls, and that includes telesales calls from the likes of my own bank, telecom provider, utility company, insurance company, etc, all of whom have attracted considerable ire from me in the past, when they did have my number, by using it for telesales purposes despite being specifically instructed not to. Now, none of those organisations have my landline number.

In short, I put quite a high value in not being pestered, a high value on, other than family and friends, not being contactable easily, or indeed, not contactable at all, by phone.

Are you Jason Bourne?

[Saracen]

Are you Jason Bourne?

I don't know. I can't seem to remember.

[outwar6010]

*cue the moby theme while saracen searches for his identity and discovers the real reason behind brexit and it's masterminds*