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Post by eebud on Jul 8, 2014 21:17:36 GMT
We gave up our landline over 10 years ago so I have nothing to add other than this photo. I just took this phone from my mother's house last month and gave it to my SIL who collects old stuff. Isn't it lovely?   I used to work at the Western Electric plant where this was made. We also made the popular princess phone. I think those came after this one. I worked on the what was the super popular business phones back in the day. It had the red button to put a call on hold, white buttons for the different lines. I think you could have up to 5 lines. I then moved to the next generation of business phones that again, you used to see in every business. I forget the name of it now. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2014 21:21:26 GMT
Oh, and I've heard that blowing an airhorn or whistle into the phone will stop the calls. Just sayin' ...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2014 21:26:23 GMT
Would he agree to a VOIP service like Vonage, or the loads of others that are out there now? It sounds like he's arguing for the convenience over anything else, and a VOIP phone would give you that convenience for a LOT less money.
I also have to say that the only times I've had to call 911 were years ago (before cell phones-but I def. would have used one had they been around) to report an accident I had happened upon, and at work when someone collapsed in their car in the parking lot.
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Post by ptamom on Jul 8, 2014 21:40:22 GMT
we are on the do not call list and we average 10 telemarketing calls per day. Is there some loophole they're going through? What's the point of the list if it doesn't work, LOL. You have to renew it at some point too, I think. My mom is adamant about reporting telemarketers who call her (she's on Do Not Call) and they stop once she reports the number. But I ain't got time for that  We let all calls go to the machine on low volume and just delete the hangups once in a while. Register your phone number: www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspxReport a complaint: complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspxOkay, well, I checked my registered numbers and there must not be a time limit. Our home number has been registered since 2003 and my cell since 2012. The do not call list is a joke. We registered and still get tons of calls. And most are robo-calls, so even if we answer, there's nobody to tell to take us off their list. I've made complaints and nothing ever comes of it. |
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TXMary
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And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
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Post by TXMary on Jul 8, 2014 21:41:05 GMT
DH and I have been debating getting rid of our landline for a couple of years. We've had our number for 28 years and it's hard to let that go. I thought this thread might give me the push I needed to get rid of it. Instead, I'm seeing the same concerns that I have about the 911 thing and the electricity thing. Plus the fact that I don't always have my cell phone handy. I'm another who keeps a spare corded phone just in case. I think I'm better off dropping the coverage on it to the absolute bare minimum and keeping it just for emergencies.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2014 21:49:53 GMT
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suzastampin
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Post by suzastampin on Jul 8, 2014 22:06:50 GMT
We got rid of ours about 5 years ago. Actually, my husband suggested it and I was surprised. He usually doesn't like change. We use my number for the main number for things like doctors, etc. I've had to call 911 a few times since our corner has numerous accidents every year. I've had no trouble reaching them, but we live very closer to a county border and the closet tower is in the other county. I just tell them where I'm calling from and they switch me to our county. That said, if I had kids at home or a babysitter, I would probably keep the landline.
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Post by vronn on Jul 8, 2014 22:30:47 GMT
Another one who hasn't had a landline in years. We had cordless phones, so when the power went out they were useless.
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moodyblue
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Post by moodyblue on Jul 8, 2014 22:38:03 GMT
We still have a landline - and we have one corded phone along with numerous cordless.
I like having the backup of a landline and phone if we need it.
I don't like to give out my cell number to everyone, because I don't want a ton of calls on it.
We have a call screening device on our landline so we get almost no telemarketing calls.
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Post by gardengoddess on Jul 8, 2014 22:43:29 GMT
Our land line costs us $17 a month (no long distance, no call waiting, just caller id) so we'll keep ours in case of an emergency.
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Post by JustKim on Jul 8, 2014 23:00:10 GMT
My dh will not give it up but it is routed to his cellphone. I hear the phone beep in the house and I know he is getting a call on his phone. I do not have to deal with the sales calls and that is all that comes thru on the house phone. I do like to be able to use the house phone when mine is needing to be charged tho
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2014 23:24:42 GMT
I'm not trying to convince you of a thing- just telling my story: I was an early adopter of going completely cellular and gave up my landline 12-13 years ago. Fast forward to last year. DH and I are both in the same profession and it still uses faxes. We decided to set up a home office (after having given that up for awhile, also) and we wanted fax capability. So, in went a "landline" from the cable provider, which is in essence a VOIP line. At that time, I started redirecting our home & personal service providers to our home phone. I found I was really relieved to not get all of those calls on my cell phone - it was like getting a break.  I have the home voicemail sent to my and DH's email (transcribed), which we get on our phones, so I get messages right away if I want them. Also, that darn provider has an app that lets me answer the home phone right from my cell - but I'm not so sure I like it!!  So, my story is that I gave it up and then put it back in.    YMMV. |
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Post by mightyme on Jul 8, 2014 23:34:07 GMT
"Does DH give you any reasons he wants to keep it?" (Haven't figured out quoting yet) He feels like it is the universal number where our family can be reached. "It rings upstairs and down, I don't have to carry my phone with me". But that doesn't mean they can't leave messages. And we all have cell phones that we use for most of our contacts. The home phone is just a telemarketer haven, in my opinion. Get the phones with bluetooth. You link your cell phone to the home phones and it will ring on any of the phones. |
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Post by jennifercw on Jul 8, 2014 23:36:20 GMT
If you have a cell phone only, does it have a pass code? Is it always fully charged? Always in the same place? Always somewhere your child can physically reach it without help? Does your child know how to access the phone portion? Do they have your pass code to get into it? Do they know how to charge it? Can they cut it on if it's off? I think it's easy to cut a landline to save money and not consider these things if you have young children. It takes seconds for a child to pick up a landline and dial 911. There are entirely too many variables that can block a child's access to a successful 911 call on a cell phone. It isn't worth the risk to me. Good points! DH, DD#1, and I all have cell phones. DD#2 does not. When we recently cut our landline service we bought a fourth cell to keep in the house for those rare times when she is home alone. It does not have a passcode and it sits in a docking station on the counter so it is always charged. When youngest DD is old enough for her own cell (age 13 in our household) we may just transfer that number to her. How do you do this? I was the holdout in our household and the 911 issue still makes me nervous. It is my understanding that you need a dial tone to call 911 and we no longer have a dial tone. |
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Post by mightyme on Jul 8, 2014 23:48:33 GMT
Since he seems determined to keep it (which I agree with for 9-1-1 purposes but that's neither here nor there, lol), can you find a cheaper plan? Are you on the Do Not Call list? That seems like a crazy amount of calls. I work from home and we have a landline. Ever since being on the Do Not Call list, we get maybe 1 unsolicited call per week. I get more annoying calls on my cell phone than our landline. we are on the do not call list and we average 10 telemarketing calls per day. Is your number listed? Ours isnt and never receive tm calls |
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Post by mommaho on Jul 9, 2014 0:32:29 GMT
We have a land line because our cell service doesn't work in the house built in 1863; Verizon is fine for outside and everywhere else but we live in an old (1863) house that has 2 ft. thick walls. This is the same reason why we won't get Direct TV - it just wouldn't work!  |
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Post by ptamom on Jul 12, 2014 4:41:41 GMT
Our cell service is good, we also have WIFI, and we all have cell phones. Youngest is 15.
Reportedly, a corded phone plugged into a phone jack can call 911 even if not a paying phone company customer. And we have always had a corded phone in case of a power outage.
I would like to hear other arguments against letting our landline go, since DH may be softening a bit.
Give me your worst! I need to show DH I've done my research!
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Post by Dreamsofnyssa on Jul 12, 2014 7:17:07 GMT
Is there some loophole they're going through? What's the point of the list if it doesn't work, LOL. Yes. There is a loophole. Surveys, political stuff and charities are still allowed to call. And boy do they call. |
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Post by ptamom on Jul 13, 2014 5:34:17 GMT
we are on the do not call list and we average 10 telemarketing calls per day. Is your number listed? Ours isnt and never receive tm calls Your number doesn't have to be listed. The robo dialers go through numbers one by one, looking for viable ones. |
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Post by Susie_Homemaker on Jul 13, 2014 23:12:30 GMT
Can't you just unplug all of the house phones from the walls? That way there is nothing to ring. If your DH wants it to be connected he can plug it in when he gets home and deal with the telemarketers.
I haven't read all of the replies so sorry if this has been suggested already.
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mallie
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Post by mallie on Jul 13, 2014 23:34:20 GMT
we are on the do not call list and we average 10 telemarketing calls per day. Is there some loophole they're going through? What's the point of the list if it doesn't work, LOL. You have to renew it at some point too, I think. My mom is adamant about reporting telemarketers who call her (she's on Do Not Call) and they stop once she reports the number. But I ain't got time for that We let all calls go to the machine on low volume and just delete the hangups once in a while. Register your phone number: www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspxReport a complaint: complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspxOkay, well, I checked my registered numbers and there must not be a time limit. Our home number has been registered since 2003 and my cell since 2012. My number is on the do not call list. We renew it whenever we should It makes no difference. In fact, I checked on Friday when I got home -- I had TWELVE calls from unknown numbers. Friday night we got 5 calls between the hours of 7 and 9pm. Two of them were from that bogus Firefighter's Association. Another one was a political call from the Republican party (we are not now nor have ever been or voted Republican). One was from a lawn service. The last one was from someone trying to sell us a coupon book for a local charity (and it's not one to which we have ever donated or given our names.) Our number is not listed. I think it's like someone said above -- robocalls that just dial numbers in sequences until they hit one. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 0:34:35 GMT
I will never give up my landline. I had to call 911 when my daughter fell over the upstairs balcony wall. I was so upset I couldn't get my address communicated to the dispatcher. The 911 operator was able to get my address from my phone number and had an ambulance on its way in seconds. If I had a cell phone there is on guarantee that would have happened and my city did not have E911 capabilities at that time. DD was OK but she broke her skull clean through from the top of her head to the bridge of her nose.
Also our burglar alarm uses our landline as a backup in case the cellular network goes down or is over capacity and cannot connect.
I also work from home and there are times where I still have to use a fax machine.
Yes, I'm a dinosaur when it comes to my landline.
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Jul 14, 2014 2:09:44 GMT
We've been without a landline for 5 years and never once have either of us wished we still had one. Personally, I would turn the ringer off and never answer the thing.
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We let all calls go to the machine on low volume and just delete the hangups once in a while. 
I have the home voicemail sent to my and DH's email (transcribed), which we get on our phones, so I get messages right away if I want them. Also, that darn provider has an app that lets me answer the home phone right from my cell - but I'm not so sure I like it!! 
YMMV. 
