Landlines... do you have one?

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:57 am

we haven't had one for a year now and I doubt we'll ever get one again.

we just noticed over the last few years that we hardly ever used it so we were paying 40 dollars a month for nothing....

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:01 am

We have a land line - and got rid of the cell phone.

We only had the cell phone for emergencys anyway - usually while traveling, and my long distance minutes.

Now you can buy a disposable cell phone - works like a phone card.

Our land line package gives me 5000 long distance minutes a month - I don't think I could use all the minutes up in a month - but I'll try...

Patsy

Pheasy · Post by **Pheasy** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:04 am

We have a Vonage land-line which allows us to call anywhere for $25 per month. My cell phone is really annoying me - cos in the UK you don't to pay to receive calls :-5

Post by **spot** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:06 am

Different countries have a different charging basis for cellphones and for landlines, I expect people select their cheapest option for their usage. If they need a cellphone anyway that would come into the sum.

In the UK there's a service charge of $20 a month just to have a landline and for that you can take any incoming calls free. Handsets are upwards of $20 to buy new if you don't own one already.

There's no service charge for a pay-as-you-go cellphone (well, technically I suppose it might be $1.20 a year to keep the service active but that's minimal) and for that you can take any incoming calls free. Cellphones are upwards of $60 to buy new if you don't own one already and connecting to a network is a nominal $1.

Outgoing calls are far more expensive on a cellphone, that's where the usage comes into the question.

VoIP is cheaper than any of those assuming you have an internet connection to hang it on.

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:11 am

sunny104;737995 wrote: we haven't had one for a year now and I doubt we'll ever get one again.

we just noticed over the last few years that we hardly ever used it so we were paying 40 dollars a month for nothing....

I just wanted to clarify

that the $40 bill was for a plan we chose, you can get basic landline service for around $20 a month or so.

Wolverine · Post by **Wolverine** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:20 am

i have no land line. just my cell. haven't had a land line since college living in the dorms

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:00 am

My fiance and I have a landline and a cell phone each. The landline is used mostly for faxes. Our 2 cells are on one bill since we share a family plan and minutes. Luckily, we're both not big cell phone chatters! And, I'd do away with the landline altogether if it weren't for those pesky faxes! :rolleyes:

Mystery · Post by **Mystery** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:12 am

I use my cell habitually, as it's my contact for my techs to call me if they're problems on the unit I manage. In addition, all my friends/family use my cell to contact me, so the landline is basically just a way to have internet, as in my little podunk community we have no other options besides DSL and dial-up.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:45 am

We have a landline for the internet as we cant receive cable here yet:-5:-5Also need it for hubbys company calls..then we both have a cell phone on pay as you go tariffs as do my two girls.

moonpie · Post by **moonpie** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:03 pm

Hubby and I got rid of our land line about 4 years ago, and we both have cell phones. It costs us approx $64.00 per month with taxes for the two of them as opposed to about $50 plus taxes for land line. We really use our cells when we are trying to hook up after work for him to pick me up.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:46 pm

Our landline comes with the broadband so no chioce.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:49 pm

We have a landline and I have a cell. I don't want to be without a landline phone in case something goes wrong and I need 911 to know where to trace me r if my cell stops working. What adds up for us are all those extra charges like for having 911 access and all the state, country, federal etc etc etc taxes. That alone is what makes our phone bill so darn high! We don't even know what half those charges mean.

911 · Post by **911** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:59 pm

RedGlitter;738235 wrote: We have a landline and I have a cell. I don't want to be without a landline phone in case something goes wrong and I need 911 to know where to trace me r if my cell stops working. What adds up for us are all those extra charges like for having 911 access and all the state, country, federal etc etc etc taxes. That alone is what makes our phone bill so darn high! We don't even know what half those charges mean.

That is exactly what I was going to say.

As a 911 dispatcher, I advise everyone to try to keep a landline. If not, then at least, here in the states, be sure the new phone you buy has a GPS chip in it. If you are at home and unable to talk, maybe I can find you. There is nothing worse than trying to find someone in a thunderstorm when they have no idea where they are! Who keeps up with the milemarkers while you travel? Who can, at any point, during a long trip say for sure the last town you passed? Do you know if you are north, south, east or westbound on the interstate or some other road? And, please, don't try and read a billboard to me. . . for the love of Pete, they don't let me out of the office!!:wah:

As for landlines, it doesn't take but one tornado to cause a tree to cut off your power and land on your car. Whatcha gonna do if your cell phone is dead? Most landlines are underground, so the land line phone will still work.

How much is your life or the lives of your children worth per month? :-2

BTW, we are the only county in the state that does not force it citizens to pay taxes for 911 landlines. Cell phones are different, I think that is a Federal thing. Not sure.