Giving up your landline phone?

[DSNY4ever]

Okay I am sorry if this question has been asked a million times.

So has anyone given up their landline phone? Can you tell me the good and bad and if you are happy with that decision?

My DH is trying to convince me to do this. I am all for saving money, but it makes me nervous. I have a cell phone that I keep in my purse and only use for emergencies, I don't give the number to anyone as I don't like to be reached when I am out. I think it would get hard to only use a cell phone and I'll have to always remember to bring it with me and charge it and turn it on and off etc.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[msmayor]

I will never ditch my landline.

While many of the newer cell phones have GPS technology that can assist in 'locating' the phone (and the caller), there's nothing like a landline when you call 911 and they immediately know the address you're calling from.

 

[hffmnheidi]

We can't get rid of our landline because we're rural and need it for internet and 911. My parents already plan not to get rid of it because they have young grandkids and my mom has some medical conditions and it could be a tragedy if 911 isn't routed to the right county. We live 500 feet from the county division line.

Personally, I wouldn't want to give out my cellphone number to places like collections agencies, magazine ordering places, and places I do private business with.

 

[abmitch01]

I've been thinking about it but haven't done it for the same reasons as above plus I like to see who's calling my kids. It would be harder to check on their cells, kwim?

 

[Sadie22]

Cell phone accounts can be set up to provide a report of calls made and received. Some people in business need this sort of record. This report may be available online but I'm not sure how often it would be updated.

One DS does use his cell, which is part of our family plan, as his only personal phone. He has access to landline phones at his office.

DH and I keep our cell phones charged and turned on all the time. We never know when we will get an emergency call concerning an aged parent. However, because cell phones (and his pager) may not work in all locations we still have a landline because his work has to be able to contact him and leave a message at all times.

 

[Irin997]

I haven't had a landline in years and the only reason I had one was because my old apartment had terrible service. My parents haven't had a landline in at least 6+ years. My boyfriend and his brother live together and they do not have a landline. I'm pretty sure majority of my department (18 people) do not have landlines.

It's not really that difficult to remember. I look at my cell each night to make sure it is charged - if not, charge it. I remember it like I remember my purse. It's just 2nd nature not to leave the house without my cell. Shoot I don't even leave the house without my iPod in my purse.

 

[cyndylou]

I was reluctant to give up the landline phone number. However, I was able to tranfer it to my cell phone. We have been without a landline phone for about a year now, and we do not miss it at all. It took awhile to develop a habit of carrying the cell downstairs with me and also to put it by the bed at night. I try to keep my purse with the cell phone, even when charging the phone. That way I do not leave home without the phone.

 

[DisneyNutMic]

The ONLY reason I have a landline is that my cable company offered a bundle and it was cheaper to have a phone than not. We don't even turn the ringer on but it's there. FYI, you can always call 911 from a home phone even if you do not have service on it. As long as the lines are run you can call 911 from it.

 

[LuLuO]

We have a landline because we have an alarm system in our home. It is part of our cable bundle so it isn't very expensive.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I haven't had a home phone in years.

 

[r1lissa]

I gave up our landline some time last year. The only people who ever called it were charities begging for money and creditors looking for my in-laws (my husband has the same name as my fil). It was a major pain because we were in the phone book and they weren't.
So, it was a very easy decision for us. Our cell phones are all registered with the Do-Not-Call registry, so we don't get any unwanted phone calls.

 

[ocalla]

We got rid of ours years ago. Never a problem for us.

 

[RooRach0906]

We got rid of our home phone last September when we found out Verizon had this new aircard out that can have 5 computers online at one time, before we had to have it for our internet. We live in a very rural area. We love how much cheaper it has made everything even after you take what we pay for the aircard. Only problem is lately our cell phones have been dropping a lot of calls but if you live in town that would not be an issue. I am a SAHM so I am home all day basically and I still like having no house phone.

 

[susianew]

I gave mine up last summer- I was worried so I bought a Tracfone for $20 and had the home number ported over, just in case. It was definitely the best decision for me- I keep the Tracfone on the charger and hardly ever use it. (Usually I use it to call my cellphone when I can't find it!) It cost about $80 per year to keep active, but I was spending over $300 per year on the land line I never used.

 

[abmitch01]

how do you handle giving out the number when you have to provide one, like when you order something? do you end up getting tons of solicitations?

 

[vsimeone]

I finally convinced my DH to cancel our landline about a month ago.

I will never ditch my landline.

While many of the newer cell phones have GPS technology that can assist in 'locating' the phone (and the caller), there's nothing like a landline when you call 911 and they immediately know the address you're calling from.

This issue only comes into play IF you HAPPEN to be at home when you get sick or hurt and can actually access and use your phone (ie you are unconsious or can't move). A cell phone may be handier and if you can use your cell phone, you can tell the dispatcher your address/location.

Personally, I wouldn't want to give out my cellphone number to places like collections agencies, magazine ordering places, and places I do private business with.

I agree. I signed up for a free Google Voice number which is routed to my cell phone voice mail. I give out this number to people that I don't want to actually talk to. If/when they call, my cell phone alerts me that I have a message from my Google Voice number and I can address it when I want to.

I convinced DH after explaining that of 4 people who live in our house (at least on some basis - DS is 19, DD is 22) we all have cell phones and over the years, everyone that we would ever talk to have at LEAST one of the four numbers. DH paid attention one month and found out that we had 2 phone calls on our landline and they were both from some agency or another asking for money. When calling to cancel, the phone company offered to lower our monthly bill to $10 a month - which was tempting - but that equates to paying $5 per call to talk to people that we don't even want to talk to. He declined the offer and we canceled the line. It's only been about a month but I'm thrilled!

 

[LMC]

I have never heard of the google voice. We turned off our landline 4 yrs ago. It got hit by lighting and the phone company did not fix it properly so the critters would eat thru it, it was broke more than it worked and I got tired of paying $80 for a phone that didn't work. Don't miss it. We have satellite internet (only option till the new aircards that carry 5 pcs) so we don't need that phone. Plus I LOVE not getting phone calls all night from people I don't know wanting me to buy or sign up for crap I don't want. I do have a majicjack number and I give that out to places and don't give my cell

 

[locolala]

We also only have cell phones here. We had a landline when I first moved in with DH, but turned it off pretty soon afterwards. The only people who called it were solicitors. Comcast (phone/internet/cable company) openly admits it sells peoples phone numbers to telemarketers, so what's the point of having one? We've had to call 911 a couple of times from the cells and never had a problem getting through to the correct county.

 

[mb_uh]

As a former 911 operator I will never give up my landline. Most places have not upgraded the technology to give exact locations of cellphone- think 1 mile or larger radius. If you are unable to give your address or your kids can not remember it in an emergeny then the police or ambulance may not beable to locate you. Or if perhaps you a have an invader and you are afraid to give your location. If you hang up on a landline 911 will call you back and if no one answers then the police come.

Given the current economy most cities are not paying for the infrastructure required to be precise with cells. Someday after the recession is over, probably. But I will not risk my families life to save 20 bucks a month.

I do not mean to be preachy but it was so upsetting to get cellphone calls from people that needed help but we could not find them.

Also the way cellphone calls are routed by satelite you often reach the wrong agency and have to wait to be transfered unless you live somewhere without multiple jurisdictions. This was also a big problem and sometimes people would hang up or get disconnected while we transfered them to the right place.

 

[Swimalie]

As a former 911 operator I will never give up my landline. Most places have not upgraded the technology to give exact locations of cellphone- think 1 mile or larger radius. If you are unable to give your address or your kids can not remember it in an emergeny then the police or ambulance may not beable to locate you. Or if perhaps you a have an invader and you are afraid to give your location. If you hang up on a landline 911 will call you back and if no one answers then the police come.

Given the current economy most cities are not paying for the infrastructure required to be precise with cells. Someday after the recession is over, probably. But I will not risk my families life to save 20 bucks a month.

I do not mean to be preachy but it was so upsetting to get cellphone calls from people that needed help but we could not find them.

Also the way cellphone calls are routed by satelite you often reach the wrong agency and have to wait to be transfered unless you live somewhere without multiple jurisdictions. This was also a big problem and sometimes people would hang up or get disconnected while we transfered them to the right place.

My husband is a former police officer and I agree with the above. We will never give up our land line for the same reason. Plus, when giving out personal information over the phone, the safest way it through a corded phone and you can't have a corded cel phone. So we have 3 cordless phones and a corded phone at home for secure calling.