topic Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options in Home Phone

PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

PowerLee — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:30:34 GMT

I have a Plusnet FTTC & home phone contract until March 2026.

With the PSTN switch off getting nearer ( Dec 2025 or Jan 2027 depending on who you believe ) I need to consider my options as I must keep my current home phone number.

I do not want to upgrade to FTTP with Plusnet, is there anyway of keeping my Plusnet FTTC going until the end of my contract while allowing my home phone to stop so I could go with a VOIP supplier?

Is SoGEA an option worth considering?

Regards

Lee

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

jab1 — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:35:25 GMT

@PowerLee 'Is SoGEA an option worth considering?' is your only option, given your comments.

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

jgb — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:39:13 GMT

@PowerLee

But, if you move to SoGEA of your own accord (as against Plusnet imposing it on you when they decide to cease their provision of home phone) will you not then initiate a new contract for 24 months unless shorter contracts are available?

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

MisterW — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:42:45 GMT

do not want to upgrade to FTTP with Plusnet, is there anyway of keeping my Plusnet FTTC going until the end of my contract while allowing my home phone to stop so I could go with a VOIP supplier?

@PowerLee yes, you change to Fibre ( SoGEA ) which will cease your phone service . You then have 30 days to port the number to VOIP. However as @jgb says, you would start a new contract.

NB whatever you do , dont attempt a number port until the change to SoGEA has completed

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

bmc — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:45:55 GMT

@PowerLee

Have a look at the following Checker to see what it says. If you can post a screen image (after hiding your details) including the narrative below the results window members would be able to confirm your options.

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

Brian

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

PowerLee — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:47:14 GMT

@jgb wrote:

@PowerLee

But, if you move to SoGEA of your own accord (as against Plusnet imposing it on you when they decide to cease their provision of home phone) will you not then initiate a new contract for 24 months unless shorter contracts are available?

I've no idea yet, I don't want to start a new contract.

There is so much conflicting information including on Plusnet's own account pages its confusing.

I am tempted to wait for Plusnet to contact me about switching off the PSTN service.

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

PowerLee — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:52:24 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@PowerLee

Have a look at the following Checker to see what it says. If you can post a screen image (after hiding your details) including the narrative below the results window members would be able to confirm your options.

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

Brian

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

jab1 — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:54:09 GMT

@PowerLee Out of interest, why do you not want to switch to FTTP?

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

bmc — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:04:45 GMT

@PowerLee

Thanks for the image.

It shows that both FTTC (using SOGEA) and FTTP are available. There might be a slight problem with an FTTP install as it says "UG partial Direct in Ground"

If you're happy to wait until PN inform you of the cessation of their phone service then I'd use the time to research VOIP providers. Decide who you would probably use and what equipment requirements may be. Note the phone socket on the Hub2 is inactive.

If you don't make a lot of outgiong calls then A&A may be worth considering. For £1.40pm (I think) you can set up an account with a new number and get your phones working with it. When the time comes and you move to SOGEA you can port your house number in and cancel the original A&A number. As stated, you don't start the numbr port until you're sure you're on SOGEA.

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Brian

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:28:44 GMT

@bmc

"If you don't make a lot of outgiong calls then A&A may be worth considering. For £1.40pm (I think) you can set up an account with a new number and get your phones working with it."

My move to A&A VOIP last November cost me £12 to port across my existing number and an ongoing £1.44 per month "line rental". (Both inclusive of VAT).

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

bmc — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:33:15 GMT

@Anonymous

If taking a new number it appears to be £12 set up and £1.20 a month.

A number port is £12 and £1.44 monthly (if I've read correctly).

Brian

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:36:27 GMT

@bmc

The OP said in their first post: "I must keep my current home phone number. ", so their pricing would be the same as mine.

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

bmc — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:39:59 GMT

@Anonymous

And if you read my post fully you'll see I was talking about setting up an account in advance to ensure their phone worked with VOIP before they ported their current number in.

Brian

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

PowerLee — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:50:33 GMT

These two warnings when you log in to your Plusnet account & view your upgrade options seem to conflict with information elsewhere.

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

jab1 — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:53:29 GMT

@PowerLee Poor/incomplete wording - it should include notification that you have 30 days to transfer your number to a VOIP provider.

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

Mav — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 18:12:16 GMT

@James_B

Is the wording in post 14 something that could/should be changed to give more fuller advice?

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

Townman — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:42:12 GMT

What is the reluctance to go to FTTP here?

An elective move to SoGEA will be a new contract, with the release of the landline number. Thus on balance, what’s the difference to making a move to FTTP?

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

PowerLee — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 14:14:00 GMT

@Townman wrote:
What is the reluctance to go to FTTP here?

An elective move to SoGEA will be a new contract, with the release of the landline number. Thus on balance, what’s the difference to making a move to FTTP?

I have no reluctance to go FTTP but I don't want to be tied in to a 24 month contract with Plusnet.

I also like having both home phone & broadband services in one place paying one bill, if Plusnet did VOIP then I would have upgraded to FTTP with them.

I'm going to see out my current contract & if Plusnet discontinue the phone service before then Ill ask to leave as they cannot provide the service I signed up for a long time ago & have renewed several times.

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

outcast — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 16:10:23 GMT

@PowerLee wrote:

I have no reluctance to go FTTP but I don't want to be tied in to a 24 month contract with Plusnet.

@PowerLee - just a thought, is it worth phoning Plusnet retentions and see whether you can get a shorter FTTP contract ?

In the recent past, Plusnet contract lengths were a choice of 12, 18, or 24 months.

Obviously they will be keen to tie you in to the longest period possible, or tell you that only 24 months exist.

I just looked up what FTTP was available, and was given the choice of 12 or 24 months -

So you could argue that Plusnet DO offer 12 month FTTP contracts.

Given that your existing FTTC contract runs till March 2026, they are less likely to agree to a 12 month FTTP contract while your outstanding contract is still greater than 12 months, but perhaps give it a try in April 2025 so that any new 12 month contract's end date would be beyond your FTTC expiry date ?.

Similarly, Plusnet DO offer 12 month "Fibre" (SoGEA) contracts -

So if you wanted control of migrating your landline number to VoIP before being forced to, perhaps attempt persuading Plusnet retentions (in April) to move you to SoGEA ("Fibre") on a 12 month contract ?.

@PowerLee wrote:

I'm going to see out my current contract & if Plusnet discontinue the phone service before then Ill ask to leave as they cannot provide the service I signed up for a long time ago & have renewed several times.

The trouble with that, is that Plusnet will only give you two unsatisfactory alternatives -

They will offer a penalty free transfer of broadband & phone to BT/EE (but be stuck with "Digital Voice" and ISP router)
Leave for another ISP who can do both broadband and phone, but you'd have to pay Plusnet exit fees.

It is pretty disappointing that Plusnet (or their overlords) have put so many existing customers in this difficult position by not offering VoIP, it was certainly the final straw for me, forcing me to leave after nearly 24 years !. The insane thing about Plusnet not providing VoIP going forward, is that I DID have Plusnet (re-badged Gradwell) VoIP for several years with the Plusnet BBYW packages (about 12 years ago). In fact I'm still using the same Gigaset N300A VoIP DECT base station, and the old Plusnet VoIP configuration is still in there (albeit disabled).

Re: PSTN switch off while home phone still under contract options

corringham — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 11:54:11 GMT

if Plusnet discontinue the phone service before then Ill ask to leave as they cannot provide the service I signed up for

I think it is likely that Plusnet won't impose ETCs when PSTN is withdrawn - however the contract that you agreed to (explicitly or implicitly) when you last renewed allows them to hold you to your contract even if some of the services can no longer be provided by Plusnet, so if they wanted to be mean they could charge ETCs.