Posted on 02/25/2011 9:38:54 AM PST by teenyelliott
We are thinking of getting rid of our landline. We no longer use our fax machine and our internet is a five spot. We have scaled down our one remaining phone line to just the dial tone. We called to cancel the line completely and at&t threw in free caller ID/call waiting for a year, so we still have the line.
We are trying to cut costs everywhere we can, and we rarely use the phone. Not to mention that at&t is aligned with satan and always overcharges us (we keep changing companies to get away from them and then they buy the company we chose), and I simply cannot stomach all the taxes and fees.
I keep thinking we need it for security reasons, i.e. landlines almost always work even when the power is out, what if the cell batteries are dead (I have a solar cell charger, so don't know if that excuse holds), etc. etc.
Have any of you taken the plunge, and for those of you who have not, why not?
I had two useless cell phones during a hurricane but was able to keep in touch with family on the land line.
You should know that a lot of landline taxes aren't on a cell phone bill. Also, you usually get free caller id, call waiting, call transfer, 3 way, voice mail with Verizon and probably a lot of other providers.
Finally, I was only able to get in touch with my family during Hurricane Katrina using a cell phone with messaging. It took a while for the messages to go back and forth, but I was able to contact everyone and know they were safe. When the telecom lines are congested, (fast busy), you can get out a text in a few minutes.
There is one problem with cell phones, though. In the PSTN hierarchy, cell calls are the lowest priority, so if you have to reach someone by phone in an emergency, you will usually get more fast busys. This prevented me from getting reservations at Disney's Princess Buffet Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom in WDW, since it sells out a few minutes after it goes on sale.
several various solar cell phone charges available at Amazon
And a more specific (though more expensive ..est $71.00) example…
Etón American Red Cross ARCFR600R Solarlink Digital AM/FM/SW/NOAA S.A.M.E. Weather Radio with Flashlight, Siren, Solar and CellPhone Charger (Red) 4-way Power AC/Generator/Battery/Solar
I have several…even for my ‘BOB’ bags
I had bought mine for around $119.00 a couple of years ago. Much better deal then.
Guess I was hoping for something small, portable, powerful AND cheap!
Wow, that price is cheaper than Walmart.com. Thx!!
Thx!!
We dropped out landline over four years ago, and have never regretted it for a moment. Of course, we live about a half-mile from the local tower, so that might make it a bit easier for us (and out satellite internet comes from the same tower).
I haven’t had a land line since the fall of 1999
You can if you have a generator! ;-)
My area had Comcast’s first telephone service some time back. We had a 24 hour power outage - they came around and dropped off generators next to the phone polls to keep the phone (and cable) service up. Kind of a drag to have to listen to the generator all night - but I did have phone service ;-)
You don’t need a landline ,, for PPV you will have to call cust serv however with DISH or DTV..
I live rurally. We’re on our own. lol
True story-about four years ago we had a landline with SW Bell. One day I got a phone call from a NASTY woman complaining that I hadn’t paid my ATT bill. I calmly explained to this freak that my phone sevice was with SW Bell. She snottily replied that ATT had bought them out. I then realized, and politely explained to her that what had probably happened is, when I got the bill, I thought it was just another solicitation from ATT, which normally went straight to trash. Anyhow, she demanded immediate payment, insisting that I do a bank draft that minute. When I politely refused, she went into hyperdrive, threatening to cut off service. I thought for about two seconds, then said “Okay. Cut my service NOW and send me the final bill, which I will pay promptly upon receipt”. That old bag of s**t was still blubbering when I hung up! I just hope that was one those calls that they “monitor for quality control purposes”!
I don't make many L.D. calls...email is so much easier.
We had five lines and had two ported to At&T. We have the same numbers we have had for decades on the cells.
We were after very basic service but were sold on a plan with two I phones and data. It is very very good because we are both out and about and travel extensively. We have phone service and e mail and internet about everywhere.
I abandoned my old dedicated fax line and have free incoming fax from J2. I can’t send but can receive. No one uses fax any more so it is no big deal. I can scan and e mail any thing.
No listing in the phone book. So far no problem. Everyone that needs to know my little business number or my wife’s number seems to do all right. We don’t text so didn’t pay for that
We bought obsolete 3G I phones on sale at AT&T. They are having a truly great deal on I Phone 3GS for $49.95 to get rid of them. If you don’t insist on up to the minute capability I think that is a good deal.
There is trauma but it quickly passes
That’s great to know. Thanks! I will definitely look into this.
Thx.
I canceled my AT&T account four years ago and they are still harassing me. I use pre-paid cell phones now.
My old Samsung handset had a built-in answering machine. It was redundant because the carrier had voice mail. But it was more convenient to use, since I didn't need to call the carrier's voice mail service to retrieve calls. But the voice mail service was still useful for calls when I was on a plane or something.
yes I’m on cablevision voip, the only problem have is cell to voip, sometimes you get a little ghosting. and if the systems down your screwed. also you need a battery for the cablemodem. Love the fact that if I’m away just inplug the phone and you get voice emails on the crackberry. The problem with vonage, ect. is you need your computer on all the time so your screwed if it blows up.
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