topic Re: No Future Landline? in Home Phone

No Future Landline?

bazzer — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 15:30:34 GMT

My broadband plan is due for renewal and I noticed that it no longer includes my home phone line.

Is it possible to keep my landline / current telephone number? If so, what do I need to do?

Re: No Future Landline?

jab1 — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 16:24:02 GMT

You can renew your current package, but you will need to call PN and do it over the phone.

Re: No Future Landline?

bmc — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 16:33:25 GMT

@bazzer

As @jab1 has stated it's possible to keep the landline for now. However, you will lose it by the end of 2025 (or earlier if PN pull the plug on their phone services).

If a landline and/or your number matter then you'll need to starting thing about either VOIP from an independant supplier for the phone or moving to an ISP that does both (thought this would still be VOIP).

Brian

Re: No Future Landline?

bazzer — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 16:52:58 GMT

Thanks for the replies, I'll call PN.

Re: No Future Landline?

wcw — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:31:12 GMT

My online renewal offer though DOES include 'phone service' continuation for the 24 months.

I am straight ADSL+voice, not FTTC based.

Expect it is copper to exchange as it is close by

Had better phone anyway to find out what they say about PSTN cutoff in contract.

Re: No Future Landline?

Townman — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 19:20:38 GMT

@wcw

Are you still on a direct to the exchange line? Those lines cannot have SOGEA (FTTC without voice) so you could be a special case exception.

Re: No Future Landline?

mystreet1 — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:15:39 GMT

Our local exchange had lines direct to sub.
A new cabinet was installed outside it and all subs diverted into it.

Re: No Future Landline?

bmc — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:27:49 GMT

@wcw

If you're not sure of what line you're on run the following check and look at the narrative above the results window. It'll tell you if you're connected to a cabinet or direct to the Exchange (Exchange Only (EO) line).

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Brian

Re: No Future Landline?

wcw — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:50:46 GMT

I am copper to cab on this account *. Whether they have then used fibre to the exchange for OR's convenience or kept it copper all the way not I do not know.

I did not bother with FTTC, why bother with that ADSL speed 🙂 !

Thanks for your other useful postings in the threads back over 6 months to help me understand the current 'landscape'. Seems any product or supplier change forces FTTP and the resulting complications (mains, backup, going to VOIP, new kit).

* I might be back (better a on a new thread) regarding an actual EO line at my parents place that is also running PN ADSL+POTS.

Re: No Future Landline?

bmc — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:14:31 GMT

@wcw

Thanks for the information.

As you have discovered you are currently able to renew "as is" this time but when PSTN is switched off (end 2025) things will change. Whether you like it or not you will almost certainly be forced to switch to FTTP for an onging internet connection and VOIP if you want a phone service.

You should create a new thread for your parents EO line - that's a different matter. I assume FTTP isn't available for them.

Brian

Re: No Future Landline?

bazzer — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:07:53 GMT

I have spoken to PN. In order to keep my landline, I have had to switch to BT.

After 22 years, I will no longer be a BT customer!

Re: No Future Landline?

bmc — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:14:57 GMT

@bazzer

Unless there's been a very recent change of policy you should have been able to re-contract on an "as is" basis with PN.

If you move to BT then it will be to BT Digital Voice which is there own VOIP solution. You will also lose ON email and any other add ons you may have.

Have you been mis-advised?

Brian

Re: No Future Landline?

jab1 — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:19:38 GMT

@bmc Quite possibly - some of the agents seem either woefully misinformed - or informed enough to steer people to BT Broadband.

Re: No Future Landline?

bazzer — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:27:59 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@bazzer

Unless there's been a very recent change of policy you should have been able to re-contract on an "as is" basis with PN.

If you move to BT then it will be to BT Digital Voice which is there own VOIP solution. You will also lose ON email and any other add ons you may have.

Have you been mis-advised?

Brian

@bmc

I hope that I haven't been misadvised, as I was told that any customer wishing to renew their contract and retain a landline, has to be switched to BT.

I'm aware that I will lose the PN email, but what is ON email?

The information I was given is that nothing will change with my existing setup, other than I will be a BT customer.

Re: No Future Landline?

jab1 — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:31:35 GMT

@bazzer As @bmc said, if you wish to renew your existing contract, unless there has been a very recent change, you can do so - if you make the request via phone.

Re: No Future Landline?

bmc — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:11:54 GMT

@bazzer

Sorry - typo. Should have been PN.

Phone PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 tomorrow (or even tonight if it's not too late) as it may be possible to cancel the transfer if you want to stay with PN.

Brian

Re: No Future Landline?

bazzer — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:22:13 GMT

I will call them back - thank you.

Re: No Future Landline?

bazzer — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:27:57 GMT

@jab1 @bmc Many thanks for your help, I'm back as a PN customer!!

Spoke to PN this morning, and they confirmed that I can recontract with them, which I have now done.

Re: No Future Landline?

Townman — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 11:59:57 GMT

@bazzer wrote:

I have spoken to PN. In order to keep my landline, I have had to switch to BT.

After 22 years, I will no longer be a BT customer!

If you wanted to swap to FTTP the the emboldened requirement can only be offered (within the group) by BT or EE.

As you have found out, if you want to keep EXACTLY what you have you can stay with Plusnet. However, if you are on ADSL or FTTC 40/10 and wanted to switch to FTTC or FTTC 80/20 then you cannot do that AND keep the (POTS) telephone service - that all gets 'hit' by the stop sell rules. Similarly if you change ISPs and want to (are allowed to) stay on FTTC you cannot retain POTS; if you want to keep the number that needs to be transferred to a VoIP provider.

Re: No Future Landline?

bazzer — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:23:45 GMT

@Townman I will in time switch to FTTP, but my area isn't yet covered by that and may not be for another 2 years.

For now, I just wanted to keep everything "as is" and I'll face the issue of moving to VOIP when I have to.