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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To contemplate not having a landline?

143 replies

ShetlandWife · 25/11/2019 08:35

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?

OP posts:
jay55 · 25/11/2019 14:00

Not had one in years but do have a fibre broadband connection.

I've used mifi devices and other no phoneline broadband providers in the past and they've been fine. But I don't babe online or anything particularly strenuous.

notnowmaybelater · 25/11/2019 14:13

So many people do this these days, but I think there are significant downsides, not least the loss of independence for children too young for their own mobile phone, and the fact that nobody can call the house and talk to whoever's home (relatives for example).

We don't have mobile phone reception in our village and in all honesty I see this as a plus. I'd rather children under 10 use the landline than have their own phone, and as I work shifts I don't want people calling my mobile for a family chat - call the landline and chat to the children. Children also learn who to call on the landline in an emergency and have numbers memorised, not saved to a mobile, to call in an emergency - this has been useful to my 8 year old.

Taking mobiles to bed and leaving them on I case of emergency has numerous downsides, yet people claim they "have to" have their mobile on and by their bed because they don't have a landline or an alarm clock. Then they're using social media or checking messages in the middle of the night wondering why they can't sleep...

Keep the landline. Also use an alarm clock, and leave your mobile downstairs...

Original poster
ShetlandWife · 25/11/2019 15:39

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

People that need one for broadband - Virgin isn't available in my area, so the only option available, unless I just use mobile, is to get broadband via a landline. This is the primary reason I signed up for a landline. But also people that live in areas with poor mobile signal.

It doesn't take a huge amount of thought to figure out who might need a landline to be honest.

OP posts:
SevenStones · 25/11/2019 15:43

Mostly, I use it to ring my mobile so I can find it

These are the only calls I make on my landline! Grin

Original poster
ShetlandWife · 25/11/2019 15:45

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

That's same cost as the superfast broadband I signed up to. Sadly three's signal here is poor (I'm guessing it's three as I think that was the price I saw when I was looking). I'm limited to vodafone or o2, and they cost more.

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 25/11/2019 15:49

People still use landlines ?

Yes @prawnsword because not all of us live in areas with excellent mobile signals.

We have a landline for many reasons:

  1. OH is self-employed, and having a landline and a mobile projects a more professional image
  2. Mobile reception in our house isn’t great
  3. We get our broadband through the landline
  4. We have elderly relatives that use our landline number as a the default phone number
  5. I don’t carry my mobile around with me all the time and I can hear the landline phone wherever I am in the house
  6. The phone still works in a power cut
  7. At busy times, like New Year, when all the mobile networks are jammed, the landline still works
  8. The sound quality is better and much clearer

I won’t be getting rid of the landline anytime soon. We are TPS registered and get very few nuisance calls. Even the ones from overseas have ceased.

I am guessing that most of you are under 40 and live in areas that receive good mobile reception. We don’t have fibre broadband or cable either.

It doesn't take a huge amount of thought to figure out who might need a landline to be honest.

It doesn’t, but there seem to be several hard of thinking posters on this thread.

scaryteacher · 25/11/2019 15:51

It's 2019 who even has a landline anymore!! Those who live in areas like Milton Combe in Devon and Hindon in Wiltshire (to name two off the top of my head), where the mobile coverage is non existent.

It's all very well making people sound antiquated for having a landline, but in many cases there is no alternative.

chocolateisavegetable · 25/11/2019 15:51

Haven't had a landline for years and certainly don't miss it!

Ginfordinner · 25/11/2019 16:00

It's all very well making people sound antiquated for having a landline, but in many cases there is no alternative.

IMO people who make comments like that just come across as smug and hard of thinking.

ffswhatnext · 25/11/2019 20:19

Ouch op and those two aren't the greatest of companies from what I hear.

FoxFoxSierra · 25/11/2019 20:42

I have a landline but I've never plugged a phone into it and I haven't got a clue what my phone number is. Thinking about it I can't remember the last time I spoke to anyone on their landline. If you can get around the need for one to use the internet do it

Makinganewthinghappen · 25/11/2019 20:44

We haven’t had a landline for years - havent even noticed . Only thing is my children are confused when they see a landline phone at other peoples houses Grin

Aridane · 25/11/2019 20:52

Have they never seen a telephone in shops?

Makinganewthinghappen · 25/11/2019 22:23

They probably have but ignored it - we rarely stand around browsing telephones!

SunsetBoulevard3 · 25/11/2019 22:25

How do you get wifi without a landline though? We never use ours now but I don't know any other way to get the wifi to work.

spacepyramid · 25/11/2019 22:25

I would always have one just to have a cheap phone plugged in for emergencies and people overseas to call so they aren't calling a mobile. I wouldn't want to be looking for my mobile in the event of a fire - it could be anywhere!

Ginfordinner · 25/11/2019 22:28

DH's cousin rang our landline today. He wears hearing aids and finds the sound quality and clarity on our landline so much easier to be able to hear properly.

TrickyKid · 25/11/2019 22:33

Not had a land line for at least 10 years. Pretty standard not to isn't it?

BesselVanDerKolk · 25/11/2019 22:40

No way, I wouldn't be able to screen my calls and not answer Grin introvert

ffswhatnext · 25/11/2019 23:31

I screen all the time and decide if I can be bothered answering it.

Notso · 25/11/2019 23:38

I wouldn't be without a landline. The calls are so much clearer no crackling or cutting out. I hate using mobiles for calls.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 25/11/2019 23:46

What is a landline?

But dont worry, when Corbyn wins the election you will have free superfast broadband connected to your house the next day. Just hang on until Dec 13th and you will be sorted.

squeekums · 25/11/2019 23:49

Havent had one for 10 years

Powerplant · 25/11/2019 23:51

Haven’t used a landline for the past few years and haven’t missed it at all

stucknoue · 25/11/2019 23:53

The internet runs through the phone line unless you have a cable connection (only half this city has that option!). I don't really use my phone though, but mum calls it

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