To contemplate not having a landline?

[ShetlandWife]

I've just moved, and I've been getting the runaround with the phone line /broadband set up. So far it is two weeks since it was supposed to be live, and nothing yet.

Wibu to just say sod it, and update to unlimited data on my phone instead, using it to hot-spot my laptop and firetv?

Anyone done this and have any feedback?

I insist on having a landline for security: was home when a break-in happened and had a dead mobile phone so could call 999. Mostly, I use it to ring my mobile so I can find it but I do find it reassuring that it's there. Also, it can't be turned to silent/do not disturb in a work meeting then forgotten about, which my husband does constantly.

I’ve not had a landline since 2010. BT were so appalling, dishonest & aggressive last time that I couldn’t face the stress.

I have just added it - last month- because ds needs it for his homework and 4g is unreliable here, but I chose my provider carefully.
Hopefully openreach will go under when 5g arrives properly. Good riddance.

I’m regularly pinging or asking for it. Sometimes when using it 😆

This is just what I was hoping to hear!

I've looked at the WiFi boxes, but to be honest they seem quite expensive compared to just tethering from the phone or getting broadband the 'traditional' way. Might just try it and if it's not working for me, rethink.

Thanks for the replies, I did think it was such a dull topic nobody would respond!

I wouldn’t if I didn’t have international calls incoming quite often

I don’t use it otherwise

I don't know anyone with a landline, or if they have one that they technically pay for they have nothing plugged in to the socket

I do

BT told me I needed it for their broadband

We have a landline as there is very limited mobile signal in our house.

DS doesn’t have wifi or landline, he has unlimited data and uses it for his Xbox (to watch TV) and laptop. He finds it okay, he does have to come back to ours sometimes when uploading files etc (he works with large videos which would take ages). But for TV and general internet he gets by!

@Shetlandwife I went with Plusnet, organised it from Belgium, and it was all set up and ready to go when I arrived back in UK. I got emails updating me on progress, and was very impressed with their service. They even credited my bill when the internet was switched on a week after the phones.

I have one, but nothing is plugged in apart from Sky.

Assume you mean sky broadband?

If you actually mean the SKY box then there has been no need to plug into a phone line for years now - so you can get rid.

Tethering from a phone isn’t really an option if there is more than one person in the house in my experience. Something like a mifi box or a 4G router with an unlimited data contract works fine

I've not had a landline for a few years. No intention of getting one. Just no longer need it.

I didn't realise people still had them! Haven't had one for years and really don't miss it, we only got cold calls despite being ex directory.

I have fibre for BB, but no phone landline. Signal here is not fabulous all the time, but I manage.

No one with a mobile has needed a land line for ten years or so. Unless you have to have it to get your broadband service. Even then you don't have to use it.

Silly to pay for two phones when most people have mobiles.

I have a landline because I still find that coverage on mobile isn't that good. I often groan when people phone me for work from their mobiles because I miss half the conversation.

As for internet, I have cable with Virgin Media and the landline comes with that. I use the landline infrequently and get very few nuisance calls. The internet is usually very good and fast, I would not want to rely on 4G for things like watching BBC iplayer.

But if you live in an area with really good mobile and data coverage, then why not? There's no point paying twice for something.

TBH I think for something you use every single day it's worth paying hotspot drains your battery massively and also alot of unlimited data packages slow down after you reach a level you could always try it nothing lost but a months rental
I know issues around ordering land line and how difficult it can be most of the time it's comunction providers promise you everything . Work for open reach time and time again service providers promise you speed that never exist in your area and then blame openreach

Depends what your mobile signal is like. Fibre broadband might be a better option in some areas.

we don't have a landline, and haven't for three years. We just have virgin broadband, so fibre

No one with a mobile has needed a land line for ten years or so. Unless you have to have it to get your broadband service. Even then you don't have to use it.

Spoken like someone who's never been outside of a town or city. There's no mobile signal inside my house. No fibre broadband, either. Without a landline, there would be no phone and no internet. So yes, some people with mobiles still need a landline.

Maybe I should have been clearer. I don't care about having a landline for phoning, it is purely about data.

There is no Virgin connection here, so the only alternative to using mobile data (whether via mobile phone or dongle/box) (unless I was to go down satellite route which is overkill), is to get a phone line to get broadband that way.

There was a very real need for me to have broadband AND phone via a landline where I last lived - the mobile signal was very patchy and it was only in the last two years that it improved enough to get a consistent phone signal, but it was still not always good enough for data.

while it has been two weeks since it was due to be activated, it is five weeks since it was ordered. The problem would be the same with any other provider I believe, as the issue is with Openreach. (depending on who I speak to and what time of day it is and what colour eyes the person on the other end of the phone has)

We technically have a landline but no phone on it. We use our mobiles. We do though have broadband through that line.

Like PP I haven't had one in at least a decade, I'd be surprised if many people under 30 ever have one.

It has caused me no issues except that it would have been handy when I broke my phone and had to wait two days for a replacement but not really worth it just for that!

Sorry missed the fact that it was about data.

I personally wouldn't as I work from home a lot and like to have the option of wi-if and then tethering to my phone as a back up.

As long as you check that tethering/hotspot usage is included in the contract why not give it a go...if it doesn't work then get wi-fi?

The wifi boxes can work out cheaper. The deal I'm going for is £20 a month.

I don't know if they've changed not used a wifi dongle for years, those were a pita and it would only work if connected to the device. Great if you live alone.

It's 2019 who even has a landline anymore!!