Do you still have a "land" telephone line?

[sixdogs]

We have cell phones but for some reason also still have a land line. It's probably inertia since we have always had one but all we use it for is to answer telemarketer calls at supper despite being on the "do not call" list. We do not use it for long distance.

This month, the bill jumped from $27 to $32 because of a general cost increase, access increase and tax increase. The bill is now around half for service and the other half for taxes and I'm debating if enough is enough. I'm tempted to just yank the land line out and stick with our cell phones.

Have others done this and what do you think? What are others doing? Have land lines or cell phones or both? Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.

 

[toppop52]

We got rid of our landline years ago and never missed it. When we built farther out in the country Comcast offered us a sweetheart deal after I threatened to go solely with Direct TV, I wouldn't have because I need the internet speed but they didn't know that. So basically they offered us the highest speed connection, the TV package we wanted and threw in phone service for 3 years, for $25 more than the cost of cable. That's the reason I have one again. Once I was out here I was glad because the cell service gets spotty some days. If you have got cell reception toss the landline, you won't miss it.

 

[DT86]

My parents pulled the plug in about 2004. They both had cell phones with good service in the area and like you said the only people that called the land line were telemarketers. Well my grandmother and people trying to call the deli at the grocery store also called. As far as I know they haven't missed it at all. I myself have never had a land line and I'm not in the house to answer one anyway, so...

 

[brin]

We have cell phones but for some reason also still have a land line. It's probably inertia since we have always had one but all we use it for is to answer telemarketer calls at supper despite being on the "do not call" list. We do not use it for long distance.

This month, the bill jumped from $27 to $32 because of a general cost increase, access increase and tax increase. The bill is now around half for service and the other half for taxes and I'm debating if enough is enough. I'm tempted to just yank the land line out and stick with our cell phones.

Have others done this and what do you think? What are others doing? Have land lines or cell phones or both? Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.

We keep our landline for the following reasons: 911....for emergencies...they can't pinpoint a cell phone like they can your landline, we need the land line for our monitoring service on our security system and for our internet connection...DSL....If it wasn't for that we would get rid of our landline...plus we have a Dish Network package tied in through the phone co. and get a discount and if your DVR is not plugged into a phone line it costs more....Just things we thought about and reasons we keep the landline

 

[adirondackmtnman]

We keep our landline for the following reasons: 911....for emergencies...they can't pinpoint a cell phone like they can your landline, we need the land line for our monitoring service on our security system and for our internet connection...DSL....If it wasn't for that we would get rid of our landline...plus we have a Dish Network package tied in through the phone co. and get a discount and if your DVR is not plugged into a phone line it costs more....Just things we thought about and reasons we keep the landline

We keep ours for the 911 as well. If you call on a landline, regardless of whether you can speak to them or not, someone will be at your door.

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[polo1665]

We still have a landline and DSL internet. Only other option is to go with satellite internet, and I'm not to keen on that idea.

 

[sseelhoff]

We have not had a landline in 5 years. Cell only. works fine. Even with 911 calls. They get routed to the proper agency based in the location of the tower.

 

[k0ua]

We keep our landline for the following reasons: 911....for emergencies...they can't pinpoint a cell phone like they can your landline, we need the land line for our monitoring service on our security system and for our internet connection...DSL....If it wasn't for that we would get rid of our landline...plus we have a Dish Network package tied in through the phone co. and get a discount and if your DVR is not plugged into a phone line it costs more....Just things we thought about and reasons we keep the landline

That hits the majority of reasons to keep the dial-tone, another is when guests or children need to dial 911 that may not have a cellphone at all. Also in most areas, during an actual disaster the Land Line is somewhat more reliable than the Cell Service, because the Cell service is often overloaded, and the Land line may not be.

James K0UA

 

[adirondackmtnman]

We have not had a landline in 5 years. Cell only. works fine. Even with 911 calls. They get routed to the proper agency based in the location of the tower.

They do go to the proper dispatch center *usually* however the tower location can't tell the dispatch what address to send responding units. I spent years in emergency services, and for what little it costs to keep a land line, Ill bank on that. They may be able to find you eventually with a cell phone, but when minutes count, nothing beats a land line

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[timster2]

When I moved to PA I wanted high speed internet and the phone company was only offering DSL. I went with the cable for internet and got a magic jack plus for the phone. 911 is tied to the magic jack and returns the right address if used. At twenty bucks a year you cant beat it. For the most part we still use our cell phones, however, the magic jack comes in handy when the wife makes her hours long calls to family members. I have a second magic jack that I got a long time ago that I use for all the calls that I wouldn't answer. It goes to voice mail and sends me an email with the number and message I can easily avoid all the followup phone calls from dealers and others I really don't want to talk to.