Want to save money on your phone bills? Get fair, unbiased advice in a language you understand
so you make the right choice.
Home Phone Switching Guide
Lots of people want to make savings by switching their home phone line away from BT but are worried that they won’t get the same standard of service or that they’ll have to pay to switch.
We’ve listed our customer’s 10 most common queries and misconceptions and busted the myths that are stopping you from making massive savings on your landline.
1. Will I have to change my number?
No. one of our customer’s main concerns is that they’ll have to change their phone number, which can cause a lot of hassle but the days of having to do this are long gone. Switching supplier no longer means switching phone number.
Line rental features such as premium rate barring can also be kept but you might have to add them on to your line again. If you’re only switching your calls, but not your line rental, your settings shouldn’t change. If however, you plan on switching both, you should check the charges for each service that you require as these could influence your decision. Doing a search using our Calculator and clicking on a package will bring up these details.
You will also be able to keep services such as 1461 and 1571 and you should still be able to stop unsolicited calls coming through to you too.
2. Will there be a break in my service?
Once you’ve given us some details online, your new supplier will take care of everything else. They will notify your old supplier that the change is taking place, and you’ll have a cooling-off period, usually of around 14 days, during which you can change your mind. You’ll receive a letter telling you the date of the switch, and from that date your calls will be charged by the new supplier. You won’t have to do anything else and there will be no interruption to your service.
3. Will I lose my broadband connection?
No. If you’re switching your broadband as well as your home phone the process will be the same. On the set date your service will automatically be supplied by and charged by your new provider. However, a technician might have to visit hour house if you’re switching from ADSL to cable or need a new BT line. If you’re not switching your broadband provider then you will simply be billed separately for your phone and broadband connections.
4. Will I have to pay to switch?
Switching doesn’t cost anything. However, you might have to pay an installation fee if you’re switching from cable to ADSL or vice versa. However, you wouldn’t pay anything to HomePhoneChoices.
5. Will I still be able to dial 999?
Yes. You can call the emergency service numbers 999 and 112 regardless of your supplier.
6. What will the customer service be like?
People who have been with BT for some time are also often worried about the standard of service that they’ll receive after switching. Most companies have excellent customer service records but if you are worried you could do some research such as reading customer reviews.
7. Will I still be billed by BT?
This depends on which supplier you choose to switch to. Some only provide calls while others offer to supply your line rental too. Opting for one that covers both can save you more money and means that you will only have one bill. If you choose to only switch your calls then you will continue to pay BT £11 a month (direct debit).
8. Can I still pay my bills by direct debit?
Of course. In fact, some home phone providers only accept payment via direct debit. This allows them to cut admin costs and pass the savings on to you in the form of cheaper line rental. Others allow you to pay in other ways but it will usually cost you more. Paying by direct debit is easy and means that you’ll never be charged a late payment fee, so if you are able to pay your bills in this way, you should.
9. Will my number still be in the phone book?
Yes, unless you have requested it to be ex-directory, in which case it should remain so.
10. How do I switch?
Switching is quick and easy and the process can be started on our website. Once you’ve filled in some details your new supplier will take care of everything else, leaving you hassle free and better off.
contact us 