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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you still have a landline?

106 replies

TheyNicknamedHerTheBolter · 31/08/2024 11:36

Mindless Saturday wonderings.

So last night I spent about an hour on the phone to an elderly relative.

She mentioned that she was sat in her chair and could see out of the window, while I was on my mobile using one hand to hold the phone and the other to clear the absolute hurricane of toys that my DC has spread throughout the house, load the dishwasher and wipe the kitchen sides.

I tend to do lots while I'm on the phone because I like to walk and talk, but remember (when I was a teen at home) having only a landline when it was a case of stand still, talk, do nothing else. Ours wasn't even near a chair so we would be stood, twirling the cord around, chatting.

Me and DH had a landline in our first home 15 years ago but has the ringer turned off.

I'm just being nosey.... so you still have one? And if you do, can you sit down by it?! I suppose the aibu is 'to only have a mobile' 🤣

OP posts:
TerfTalking · 31/08/2024 11:40

I have a call plan on my full fibre broadband with a telephone number yes. I only still have it because the number is amazing (worked for BT for decades) and for my elderly mum who knows the number by heart and struggles with mobile phones both for hearing quality and contact lists.

If it wasn’t for mum I wouldn’t still have one. It’s a cordless phone so I don’t sit next to it if she rings, I pick up and walk.

alwaysmovingforwards · 31/08/2024 11:41

I think I technically have one for to the broadband?!? I’m sure on the paperwork it had a number. No idea though, haven’t ever had an actual phone plugged into it 😂

So I guess the answer is no, not for the past 20 years or more at least.

longdistanceclaraclara · 31/08/2024 11:42

No. We kept it until about a year ago because our alarm system was linked to it. When we had to upgrade it all moved to an app so got rid. No need for it.

CharSiu · 31/08/2024 11:43

I do and it’s because I really hate how slim mobile phones are. But I have a walk about phone so can do stuff. The only person I chat to on a regular basis is one friend who like me prefers to chat and my MIL so am considering getting rid of my landline as its used so little.

Chaiilatte · 31/08/2024 11:44

No, I haven't had one for the last 11 years.

Izzymoon · 31/08/2024 11:45

Mid 30s, moved out at 18 and I’ve never had a landline.

AgileGreenSeal · 31/08/2024 11:45

No landline.
No broadband in the house either.
Just the mobile. It’s enough.

NoraLuka · 31/08/2024 11:45

No, have never had one since moving out of my parents’ house in about 2004. The only people I know who still have one are 70+.

My teenage DDs are horrified that before mobiles, you used to have to call people’s houses and you didn’t know who would pick up. It might even be their parents! And you’d have to speak to them 😂

Stopandlook · 31/08/2024 11:45

Yes, and I’ve bought a retro dial phone too! It’s lovely to sit and chat on, but it’s basically only my mum that phones the landline

OldJohn · 31/08/2024 11:46

We have a landline as it is free with our broadband. I never use it to make calls as calls from my mobile are free. I get a few scam calls on the landline but no proper calls

BillyNoProblems · 31/08/2024 11:46

No, haven't had one for 10+ years

CustardySergeant · 31/08/2024 11:49

Yes I have a landline. I have only had a mobile phone since May of this year, and I only got that because Patient Access was insisting that I give them a mobile phone number and I use Patient Access to request repeat prescriptions. No sooner had I got it, Patient Access was telling me I had to install verification software which gave me a code every time I logged in, negating the necessity of a mobile phone!
Nevertheless, having a mobile phone was useful to me when I was unexpectedly hospitalised early this month. Never needed one at any other time.

MigGril · 31/08/2024 11:49

Yes we do but only as it is with the BT broadband package. DH keeps mumbling about getting rid of it.

We however have had a cordless phone plugged into it for over 20 years so no need to sit by the phone. I always wonder around with it. The only people who really ring it are my Dad and elderly Aunt.

JC03745 · 31/08/2024 11:50

We are between properties. The new one has a landline number- but no phone plugged into it and I haven't given the number to anyone.

Previous property had a cordless phone plugged in (similar to the pic)- but we were very rarely getting calls on it.

Do you still have a landline?
ThinWomansBrain · 31/08/2024 11:51

I have one but don't use it - we've just had a Hyperoptic network installed in the building, so I'm planning to switch to that - having phone is an additional £10 a month, so I won't bother.
I played back answer phone messages recently - one was over two years old, and most were from the electricity supplier to send them a reading.

WTAFisthisnonsense · 31/08/2024 11:51

Yes for 2 reasons.

  1. Our alarm system needs it.
  2. We live rurally. If we lose power, which is a regular occurrence in bad weather, we have no other means of contacting the world. No mobile phone signal here. We use an old fashioned handset that doesn't need power from mains, to call the utility company to find out when we will be back on.
bridgetreilly · 31/08/2024 11:52

No mobile signal inside my house, so yes.

WeRateSquirrels · 31/08/2024 11:55

No. I think we had to pay extra to get rid of it. People kept leaving messages on it even though we never used it, so it had to go.

Mobile signal not great but phone works off wifi anyway.

MigGril · 31/08/2024 11:56

WTAFisthisnonsense · 31/08/2024 11:51

Yes for 2 reasons.

  1. Our alarm system needs it.
  2. We live rurally. If we lose power, which is a regular occurrence in bad weather, we have no other means of contacting the world. No mobile phone signal here. We use an old fashioned handset that doesn't need power from mains, to call the utility company to find out when we will be back on.

That was one of the reasons we had kept ours for years. Unfortunately a couple of years ago BT upgraded the lines locally here and removed all of the old copper cables. Which means yes we have fiber to the house but if the power goes out the landlines will be useless now as well.

This annoys me as really you would then need a satellite phone in an emergency 😒 and the main reason why we'd actually kept the landline for so long in the first place. There is absolutely no point in us keeping it now.

Userinneedoftea · 31/08/2024 11:59

I do because I live rurally and the reception is poor at times. I only use it for calls I can't make over what's app. Usually drs, hospital, school.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 31/08/2024 12:02

No, we ditched our landline a few years ago, but hadn't needed to sit down next to it for a couple it decades probably, as it was a wireless handset with a wired hub.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 31/08/2024 12:04

Yes, part of our package. Only my parents and the national blood service (for some reason) call on it though.

Trinity65 · 31/08/2024 12:13

No

I pay via SKY for line rental (in with BB I think) but I don't own a landline phone
I do have a phone number for it though via SKY, should I wish to purchase one

GrumpyPanda · 31/08/2024 12:14

Not UK-based. Like others, I have VOIP landline included in my internet. It's flat-rate and my mobile isn't (cheapest possible prepaid, phone bought separately) so yes, I use it a lot whenever I'm not out of the house. No mobility issues - handhelds have been a thing for decades 😀

midgetastic · 31/08/2024 12:16

If you really have no mobile signal for emergencies , the copper line is still in the ground and can be reconnected to a voice system - you have to ask for it

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