Thinking about dropping home phone --

[sam_gordon]

Since you live in a AT&T (former Ameritech) area, I know for a fact you can get a stripped-down landline with no extras for about $17 per month (plus a nickel for every local phone call you make).

I have AT&T for home phone. I pay $17 a month which includes unlimited local calls. Of course, there's another $15 in taxes and fees.

That might be a bundle price since I also have internet through ATT.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I have thought of it and still may do it, but hubby says we have had our same phone number since we have been married (18 years) so its hard to part with..

 

[seven dwarfs]

I have thought of it and still may do it, but hubby says we have had our same phone number since we have been married (18 years) so its hard to part with..

We had this same issue except we had our number only 15 yrs. I finally cancelled it almost six months ago. As crazy as this sounds, I was sad. But, I am now over it and don't miss the bill. I feel a little silly not doing it sooner. Glad to see we weren't the only ones to have a sentimental attachment to our number.

 

[Judique]

We had this same issue except we had our number only 15 yrs. I finally cancelled it almost six months ago. As crazy as this sounds, I was sad. But, I am now over it and don't miss the bill. I feel a little silly not doing it sooner. Glad to see we weren't the only ones to have a sentimental attachment to our number.

I gave up one of my home numbers yesterday. It was cut off today. I picked up the phone this morning and no more dial tone.

I'd had that number for 21 years.

It was my number and it's now gone.

I tried to get rid of the one I kept, but Verizon couldn't get it done.

They said they could.

But, they didn't.

This started back in April, 2010 when I came on these boards and read a thread about giving up your home phone. At the time I was paying for 2 home numbers, and three cell phones - time to cut back.

We first had the 'computer line'. Anyone remember those days? You had to go online using your phone line and if you only had one line you couldn't be on the phone and online at the same time. Then it became the kids line, after the cable company figured out how to sell internet. Then an extra house phone became obsolete after everybody got cell phones. But I just kept paying the bill.....all that money would pay for a very nice Disney trip!

Anyway for quite a while we've been at the point where we only answer that phone a few times a week....and it's usually a telemarketer. Everybody else rings our cells.

So, I'm trying to cut out the one line, and Verizon keeps saying they can do it, but it doesn't happen. The problem is the line I wanted to cut is the billing number, and that requires one Verizon department to send a work order to another Verizon department - or so I've been told numerous times. Well - nothing ever happened until yesterday when I called again after making the decision to just keep the billing number (not sure for how long).

Like I said above that was easy - the rep just pushed the button and it happened exactly as she said it would. (She would have tried to keep the other line for me - but I'd already heard that promise too often.)

So, I feel as if a small part of my identity is gone. Kinda silly - I know. But I've also had the same cell number from Verizon for 21 years. I don't change some things easily. No need to. The cell number was originally attached to a phone in my car and was officially a 'car phone'. My monthly rate was 9.99, before taxes and fees, but the phone itself cost a lot. Makes paying $50-$100 for a new phone seem like peanuts today.

Anyway - I may go to just cell, but I'll take a look at basic rate plans first, because we are not a 'soft' disconnect as far as I can research. And, in the 21 years I've had a cell, I know a landline has a few pluses to offer. Like the time the power had been off for week and I was walking by the housephone and I heard a little 'ping' from it - my brother was calling from 2 k miles away and the landline was back in service but with no 'ring' if you know what I mean. Water, gas, electric, cell, no - landline yes. It's nice to know someone is thinking of you at times like those.

But - sooner or later - so many people will have dropped their landline, it will probably disappear anyway.

 

[TamaraQT]

IMO its nice to see and hear everyones opinions and experience but it does come down to personal choice. I choose NOT to have a landline BUT I have children in the home without cell phones, so a landline is necessary for a few more years. I also have a bundle package with Verizon FIOS which is phone, internet and cable. If I drop the phone of course the bill increases. Talk about a setup!!!

Anyway, I think if 911 is important to you then don't be so quick to give up your landline until you are sure. If cell phone service is sufficient for you then that is great. I dont think of one as being any better or smarter or more economical than the other when it comes to peace of mind.

Finally, I was watching Investigative Discovery channel the other day. They told of a story of a woman who went missing. Her hubby tried to get the police to start a search for her but they wouldnt because she was over 18 and would not be considered "MISSING" unless there were some STRANGE circumstances. ANYWAY....he tried to get them to follow her cellphone records. At that time, cell phone records were considered "CONFIDENTIAL" and the company was NOT obligated to turn over the records UNTIL the hubby had a police report to say she was missing. WELL eventually they did get access to them and had them PING the tower for the last signal. The good news is they found her!!! (7 days later!!!!) She had a car accident and ran off the road and the phone was out of her reach due to being pinned in the vehicle. I say all that to say, in this case it wouldnt matter if she had a cell phone or landline. She wasnt at home to dial 911 and her cell phone was out of reach. BUT.....being able to see the area her phone was last used saved her life. Evidently access to cell phone records are not permitted in ALL states even by your spouse. I guess that may be what some posters mean by registering it with 911. So I agree. Do what you can for your own safety and peace of mind. Eventually I think landlines will become a thing of the past.....OR....cell phone service will become the NORM and home phone numbers will be optional. Just my opinion...thanks for listening.

 

[TMB1203]

I finally cancelled my home phone a couple weeks ago. We haven't used the phone since April. The only reason I kept it was because I needed it when I worked from home, but we no longer have that option due to company changes. I had it through Comcast-the Triple Play package. I cancelled the phone line and I am saving $64 per month. The customer service rep was also very nice and gave me an additional $20 per month discount for the next 12 months.

 

[Tree]

I have this attachment to my landline plus I need to keep one for my at home call center job. I just dropped all the extras on the line include long distance and chose the cheapest package for Verizon that is a $30 a month savings. I will take that! My husband mom will be outside of the calling area so I told him to use his cell phone instead to call her.

 

[abolanwoski]

I've been thinking about getting rid of my home phone for a while now, but I have pretty bad cell reception in my apartment. My parents suggest Magic Jack - an adapter that plugs into your computer and lets you use a traditional phone via the internet for $20/year. I'm seriously considering it.

Don't bother paying the money. You can use google dialer to call free to land lines and cell phones in the US. Great clarity and connectivity as long as your internet is high speed (better than Magic Jack IMHO) I've been using it to call home from the Middle East for free and it's worked great (although Dubai blocks it)

 

[reelmom]

We cancelled our landline 3 days ago. I didn't think about the 911 issue. Now I'm freaking out. We cancelled it because we were spending about 50 bucks a month to allow telemarketers to call. We are on the National Do Not Call List but they still got through. I figured we will save about $600.00 a year not having one.

 

[erincon23]

Thanks for all the responses! It's given me a lot to think about. I never thought about the DirecTV (which we have), and I'd hate to lose my TiVo service, which I love. So today I'll call them, then I'll call AT&T adn find out what my options are! It's my DH who wants to do this, mostly.

And one poster asked about internet through DirecTV -- we checked into that about 4 years ago, and it was ASTRONOMICAL. Don't know if it's changed, but it was more than $100/month just for internet.