Home phone Providers

first:telecom home phone

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

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first:telecom was set up in 1994 to provide a competitive alternative to BT. The company offers four phone options: three for customers with a BT line and one for those with cable supplier Virgin Media… (Updated 19/6/09)

first:telecom is operated by First Utility Ltd, a UK-based independent utilities group. The company was one of the first operators in the UK to offer customers better value than BT (www.bt.com), and has been helping households cut their phone bills since 1994.

• What is first:telecom home phone?
• Why should I get first:telecom home phone?
• What do I need for first:telecom home phone?
• How much does first:telecom home phone cost?

What is first:telecom home phone?

first:telecom currently offers four home phone deals. These packages include line rental and calls, as well as free calls to other first:telecom customers.

Below is a breakdown of the deals available from first:telecom for BT line customers:

first:Weekend - A home phone tariff that offers:

• Line rental
• Free unlimited weekend calls to all UK landlines
• Free anytime calls to other first:telecom customers
• Online paperless billing.

This call plan is subject to a 12-month contract with first:telecom.

first:Evening & Weekend - A home phone tariff that offers:

• Line rental
• Free unlimited evening and weekend calls to all UK landlines
• Free anytime calls to other first:telecom customers
• Online paperless billing.

This call plan is subject to a 12-month contract with first:telecom. The call plan is also available contract-free for a fixed monthly fee of £2.50.

first:Anytime - A home phone tariff that offers:

• Line rental
• Unlimited anytime calls to all UK landlines
• Online paperless billing.

This call plan is subject to a 12-month contract with first:telecom. The call plan is also available contract-free for a fixed monthly fee of £5.35.

first:telecom also offers an option for cable customers (i.e. Virgin Media). Cable Saver is a free package with no contract. Designed for people who already have a cable phone line, customers can cut the cost of their calls using first:telecom.

The basic Virgin Media phone service comes with line rental and free weekend calls. All other calls to local and national landlines are charged at 5.39p per minute (ppm). The Cable Saver package reduces the call charge to 1.6ppm, a saving of 3.79ppm.

While a 30 minute call will cost £1.71 with Virgin Media, it’ll only cost 54p with first:telecom. However, bear in mind that you could upgrade your Virgin Media package to Size L: Free evening and weekend calls, or Size XL: Free anytime calls. It is important to calculate when you make the majority of your calls though, as the cost of the upgrade may cancel out any savings.

With any of these home phone packages, you will receive one monthly bill from first:telecom, and the company will deal with all aspects of your service, including any faults on your phone line. Call first:telecom customer services on 0845 215 1640 if you have a problem with your service.

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Why should I get first:telecom home phone?

Unlike other home phone providers offering free calls, first:telecom lets customers talk for free for longer than 60 minutes. There is no need to hang up and redial – all of your inclusive calls will be free, no matter how long the duration.

When you sign up to first:telecom, you’ll have exactly the same access to the operator and emergency numbers. However, when you register if you do not select the call features you currently use with your existing provider (e.g. call barring, anonymous caller ID) they could be lost from your line when your service with first:telecom begins. Check with first:telecom before switching suppliers for charges for these features.

first:telecom is also one of the few home phone providers that offer an option for Virgin Media cable customers to cut the cost of their home.

first:telecom accepts any method of payment, however there is a £1.00 charge for customers who don’t by monthly direct debit. Online paperless billing is free. If you would like to receive a paper bill in the post there is an additional £1.00 processing fee.

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What do I need for first:telecom home phone?

Switching your home phone service to first:telecom is really simple, and can be done online in minutes, or by calling 0845 215 1640. The whole switching process will take around 14 days. If you already have an active BT phone line, there will be no interruption to your service, and you will be able to keep the same phone number.

The switch will be carried out at your local telephone exchange, so an engineer won’t need to visit your house, and first:telecom will inform your existing home phone provider that it will be billing you for your line rental and calls in the future.

You can only join first:telecom if you have an active BT phone line (or a cable line if you are signing up to the Cable Saver plan). If you have call barring with BT or are on their Light User Scheme, ask BT to change your service to “standard line rental” before you register with first:telecom (call BT on 150 to do this).

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How much does first:telecom home phone cost?

first:telecom’s home phone packages are competitively-priced, and all include line rental, which costs £10.28 a month, when taken with online paperless billing and paid for by monthly direct debit.

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