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Ethical phone companies

Tuesday 16 November, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Looking for a landline provider that’s not only going to help you cut your bills but also cut your carbon footprint? Read our guide about Britain’s ethical phone companies to help you choose.

Being “green” isn’t always easy. One thing that is easy however, is switching home phone provider. So by switching your landline service to a company that has ethical or charitable commitments, you’ll be doing your bit and saving money.

But which phone providers are ethical? We take a look at some of the smaller and larger companies’ efforts…

Ethical phone providers - who are they?

There are a few select phone companies in the UK that take their environmental responsibilities very seriously. Below is more information:

The Phone Co-op - The Phone Co-op (www.thephone.coop) is the only co-operative home phone provider in the UK. It is owned by its customers and is accountable to them - it even shares its profits with them through dividends.

Unlike other providers who “focus on the pursuit of profits at all costs”, The Phone Co-op promises to provide its customers with the best possible service at the lowest price while always maintaining its ethical and environmental commitments. It supports a range of community projects and invests in programmes such as the Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative which provides green electricity to 2,500 homes in Oxfordshire.

Auracall - Though a lesser known phone provider, Auracall (www.auracall.com) offers competitively priced call plans and super cheap international call rates. With over 200,000 customers in the UK, the company has a dedicated and multilingual customer services team based in the Britain.

Despite charging extremely cheap international rates, the company has a strong ethical policy. In 2005, the profits it made from calls after the tsunami disaster in India, the 7 and 21 July bombings in London and the Pakistan earthquake, were all donated to victims of the events. The company has also made donations to various groups including the British Red Cross, WOSP (one of the biggest non-governmental, non-profit, charity organisations in Poland) and Christian charity CARE.

Primus Eco Saver - Primus, the UK’s cheapest home phone provider, now offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to its popular Home Phone Saver deal. The new Primus Eco Saver tariff helps customers cut their bills and their carbon footprint.

As part of the Eco Saver tariff, Primus will make a donation to The Tree Council for every new customer that joins. Customers switching to the new tariff will get free evening and weekend calls and their line rental for just £9.69 a month. In order to take advantage of the discounted rate however, you must pay by monthly direct debit and receive your bills online via paperless e-billing - which will help you become even more environmentally-friendly.

See how the three providers compare in the table below:

While some of the other providers, such as BT and TalkTalk, don’t advertise their companies as ethical or green, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t.

BT, for example, has been recognised by animal charity WWF for successfully cutting business flights by a fifth, reducing the company’s carbon footprint. And the provider is also working in South Africa in partnership with UNICEF, to refurbish, renovate and build additional classrooms at 25 schools selected in association with South Africa's Department of Education.

Another of Britain’s phone companies, TalkTalk, takes a similar approach to helping the community. TalkTalk has partnered the TreeHouse charity since 2002, helping them raise over £750,000. Togther, the phone company and the charity have developed talkaboutautism.org.uk - an online community and hub of information for families and people on the spectrum to explore and discuss the issues surrounding autism.

Why choose an ethical phone provider?

Although a little more expensive than other phone providers on the market, switching to an ethical phone provider will give you the satisfaction that your money is going towards a good cause.

Whether you choose a tariff that will reduce your carbon footprint and help preserve the planet for future generations, or a tariff that gives to charities to help others now, you’ll feel better knowing that you’re helping the environment.

Other ways to reduce your phone bills

Even if switching your landline provider to an ethical company isn’t top of your agenda, switching to save money should be. Here are more top tips to reduce your phone bills:

1. Pay by direct debit - Most providers discourage payment by any means other than direct debit, and slap on charges of up to £5 a month for dealing with cash or cheques.
2. Sign-up for paperless billing - Some providers offer discounts if you receive your bills online via email, not in the post. You’ll also be doing your bit for the environment.
3. Beware mobile costs - Calling a mobile from your landline can cost you dear, so be sure to check how much it will cost you per minute; costs vary hugely between providers.
4. Consider call plan add-ons - If you make a lot of calls to friends and family overseas, it may be worth getting a suitable calling plan add-on to keep a lid on costs.
5. Pay annually - Paying for your line rental upfront can save even more money. When paying by lump sum, Primus and BT’s monthly line rental payments come down to £8.25 and £10.75 respectively.