Do any providers offer line rental-only deals?

Advertisement

Unlimited calls to UK landlines + 0845 and 0870 numbers FREE for 3 months Go

Unlimited calls to UK landlines + 20 calling features From only £3.99 a month Go

Our expert says...

Dear Brian, if you’re a low user who doesn’t make many calls, it is understandable that you’d want a cheap line rental-only deal, something similar to the In Contact Plus scheme that used to be offered by BT (www.bt.com).

Unfortunately though, the choice for standalone landline line rental-only deals available in the UK is pretty limited. Only one provider currently offers a line-rental only deal: this is the Line Rental Saver package from Primus. There's more information about this tariff below.

It is also possible to get a calls-only tariff, which would give you discounted calls on top of your BT line rental. And both Be broadband and O2 let you sign-up for a line rental-only tariff with your broadband, in a bundle.

If none of these options suit you, there are several things you could do that may help keep your bills low. Read on for some suggestions…

In Contact Plus to BT Basic?

The BT In Contact Plus tariff was designed for people who wanted a low-cost phone service so that family and friends could keep in touch. Both the In Contact Plus and the Light User Scheme tariffs offered by BT have been replaced by a new low user plan - BT Basic.

BT Basic is a new low-cost phone package being offered by home phone and broadband provider BT. Designed especially for customers who receive benefits or who are state pensioners, the BT Basic call plan combines line rental and a select amount of calls for an affordable quarterly price.

As you know Brian, the new call plan is only available to customers that meet certain criteria however - customers call BT on 0800 800 150 for more details.

BT says if you are not eligible for the new BT Basic tariff, it will write to you to outline which home phone options are available to you. You may find it beneficial to switch to another provider rather than stay with BT, in order to save money.

Primus Line Rental Saver

The new Line Rental Saver tariff from Primus is a line rental-only deal and costs just £6.29 a month - 50% less than line rental from BT. Although the tariff doesn’t include any free calls, call rates are competitive. The table below has more detailed information:

The Line Rental Saver tariff is ideal for anyone wanting to save money on their phone bills by getting a line-rental only deal. These kind of tariffs are great if you just need your phone line for your broadband, and you don’t plan on making many calls.

Compare line rental charges using the online postcode checker on Homephonechoices.co.uk - we’ll find the cheapest deal for you.

Line rental-only deals with broadband

Two broadband suppliers currently offer line rental-only packages, when you bundle their home phone service with their broadband. These are:

• O2 - If you’re an O2 broadband customer, you can opt to bundle your line rental with your broadband for an extra £7.66 a month. This deal doesn’t include any free calls, so if you use your mobile for the majority of your calls it is an ideal solution.

• BE broadband - Like its parent company O2, BE broadband also offers a line rental-only deal that you can bundle with your BE broadband. At £9.70 a month, you’ll simply have to pay for any calls that you do make.

Both of these options are great if you’re looking to bundle your broadband with your phone service, however they aren’t available to everyone so it’s important you do a price comparison to check they’re available in your area first.

Pay your line rental costs upfront

You could also consider paying for your line rental in advance, with BT’s Line Rental Saver option.

This tariff lets you save money on your phone bills by paying for one year’s worth of line rental in advance. It costs just £129 for 12 months, which amounts to just £10.75 a month.

BT line rental usually costs £14.60 a month when you pay by monthly direct debit. This means you could save over £40 a year on your line rental.

To find out more, ring BT on 0800 028 4474 and read our guide to BT Line Rental Saver.

I hope this overview gives you a few options to choose from Brian. Remember to compare deals using our price comparison calculator - it will help you find the cheapest line rental deals online.

Ask us a question

If you have a general switching or provider query please email us at ourexpert@homephonechoices.co.uk