Ask our expert

Ask our Expert

If you’re having problems with your home phone supplier, from billing disputes to choosing a new calling plan, why not get in touch with us here

Simon Piper at Homephonechoices.co.uk can help with anything from contractual problems to giving tips on reducing your bills, or telling you how to save money on your home phone and line rental.

Due to the high volume of queries it isn't always possible to reply to individual questions. However we publish replies to many questions on a weekly basis below.

Your home phone questions answered...

How can I avoid line rental price increases?

Do you have any advice to help me avoid these rising costs? Are there ways of paying less for line rental? I only really need it for broadband.

How can I make cheap calls to Australia?

Can you suggest a call plan that would give me cheap international calls to Australia?

How much do calls to 0844 numbers cost?

My home phone provider is Virgin Media. Could you please inform me how much it will cost me to ring an 0844 number? Would I get cheaper calls with a different provider?

How will the BT price rises affect my home phone bill?

I have a home phone contract with BT, for line rental and free calls at evenings and weekends. It terminates in May 2012, but I hear BT is pushing up its prices. Will the new charges affect my existing contract or do they only impact new customers?

X Factor: How much does it cost to vote?

I’m a huge fan of the X Factor and want to vote for my favourite act, Little Mix, this week. Do you know how much it costs to call? I don’t want a nasty surprise on my landline bill next month!

What are the inclusive calling hours for Primus?

I’m thinking about getting my home phone line rental from Primus with an inclusive evening and weekend call package - but I’m not sure what the inclusive calling hours are. I want to make sure they cover the times that I’m most likely to be making calls. Can you help?

Can I switch my landline from Sky to Primus?

We are currently with Sky for evenings & weekends calls, unlimited broadband & digital TV, and our line rental is from BT. Can we change to Primus line rental but stay with Sky for the other services?

Can I block anonymous phone calls?

How can I block calls from withheld numbers to my landline?

What will happen to my rollover discount?

I've just read that BT isn’t doing rollover contracts anymore - does that mean my costs will go up once my rollover contract expires?

Can I get rid of my landline?

I only use my home phone for my internet connection and feel like I'm wasting my money on line rental each month. Can I get rid of my phone line but still have broadband?

How do I switch from Virgin Media to BT home phone?

How much it would cost to switch from Virgin Media to BT and keep my existing telephone number?

Can I get my BT package for less?

I am currently paying approximately £50 a month for free evening and weekend calls, broadband and BT Vision - Can I get it for less?

My home phone provider hasn’t resolved my complaint - what next?

I’ve been having problems with my home provider for some time regarding inaccurate bills.

Roaming price cuts: Will it be cheaper to phone home on holiday?

I’ve just read that is has become cheaper to make roaming calls in Europe. Does this mean it will cost me less to call home when I go away this summer?

Mobile termination rates: do they affect me?

I've heard that “mobile termination rates” have dropped - but what are these charges and how do they affect me?

How do I complain about my home phone provider?

I've had a few inaccurate bills from my home phone provider and their customer service is dreadful. How can I make a complaint?

Vonage or Skype - which is best?

I have looked into getting Skype but have also found Vonage, which appears to offer a similar service. Which would you recommend using?

Is bundling my phone and broadband really cheaper?

I would like one provider for my line rental and phone, and one for broadband. Would switching from an “all-in-one” phone and broadband package to two independent providers be cheaper?
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BT rollover contracts: Can I cancel my landline contract?

When I tried to switch to a cheaper landline provider I received a letter from BT saying I was locked into a “rollover contract”. What is a rollover contract, and how can I get out of it?

Can I block calls to certain numbers on my Virgin phone line?

I'm with Virgin Media for my line rental and calls and my children have made a lot of expensive calls to mobiles. Is there a way to block outgoing calls to particular numbers?

Can I switch my landline if I am renting?

I’m moving into a new flat in the New Year and I want to sign-up to the Primus Home Phone Saver deal - can I switch the landline service in my new flat if I am only renting?

How will the VAT change affect my BT landline bills?

Will my bills be affected by the rise in VAT in the New Year? Do you know if BT call and line rental prices will be changing?

Why can’t I switch to Primus?

When I applied for the Primus Home Phone Saver deal online I was told that I could not switch to Primus. Why is this?

X Factor: How much does it cost to vote?

I’m a huge fan of the X Factor, and want to vote for my favourite act, Matt Cardle, this week. Do you know how much it costs to call?

Can I pay my line rental in advance?

Do you know much about the new Line Rental Saver package from BT? I am an existing BT customer - will switching to the Line Rental Saver deal save me money?

Can I switch my mother’s home phone service?

Is it possible for me to switch my mother’s home phone service? I want all her bills sent to my address, as I want to pay the bills on my mother’s behalf...

Disputing a phone bill

I have just received my latest phone bill from BT. I think it is wrong and that I may have been charged for calls I didn’t make. What should I do?

Do any providers offer line rental-only deals?

I’m looking for a line rental-only deal that is both affordable and available to all, whatever their circumstances. Have you any suggestions?

Can I keep my number if I switch home phone provider?

I want to switch provider but I'd like to keep my current phone number - is this possible? Can I keep my exisiting landline number?

Can I get a cheaper phone and broadband package?

I am looking to cut my costs, as I know BT is raising its prices again later in the year. What is the cheapest home phone and broadband deal? Should I switch to Virgin Media?

My landline has been switched without my consent - what can I do?

If your landline has been switched to another provider, you are a victim of an extreme form of mis-selling, known as "slamming". Read our top tips on how to avoid landline slamming...

What is a virtual phone number?

I am working in Spain over the summer. Is there a way I can take my phone number with me to Spain, so people can still contact me?

How can I stop nuisance phone calls?

My elderly mother has recently started receiving a lot of nuisance calls from telesales companies and it is distressing her. Is there anything we can do to stop these calls?

Can I get a calls-only deal?

I am locked into my line rental contract with BT until the end of the year, but I would like to switch my calls to another provider. Is this possible? And if so, which providers offer calls-only packages?
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What is a ‘chargeable call’?

Can you tell me what is meant by “two chargeable calls per month”? Does this mean mobile or international calls?

Do I have to sign a contract to get a new phone line installed?

Is there any way I can get a line installed without signing up to a call plan? Do any providers other than BT install phone lines?

Free evening call times

I’ve seen that BT recently moved its evening calls to 7pm. I'm a Pipex customer and just wanted to make sure that its evening calls still start at 6pm?

I have a Tesco Internet Phone - can I switch to Vonage?

My Tesco Internet Phone service is being stopped, so I need to change. I want to use an internet phone service, so what are my options? Who else offers an internet phone service?

How much are calls to the Republic of Ireland?

I live in Northern Ireland and make a lot of calls to the Republic of Ireland. These are treated as national calls by BT and TalkTalk, but how much does Primus charge for these calls?

Can I get free calls to mobiles and international numbers?

Do any telephone companies offer a package where all local and national UK landline calls are included, as well as calls to UK mobiles and some international landlines?

Will switching to Primus affect my broadband?

I want to switch to Primus but I'm worried that switching will affect my broadband. Will switching to Primus will have an impact on my broadband?

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