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Home Phone Providers
Choosing between home phone providers can be a daunting and confusing process, especially when new providers are appearing all the time.
Before you look for a new home phone provider, you should think about the type of phone service you need. Home phone providers in the UK each fall into one of the following groups.
Cable Line Providers
These include VirginMedia (formerlly Telewest:ntl). The phone lines they work through are completely different from BT lines, so if you choose a cable company an engineer will have to come to your house and install a new phone system. The cable network does not reach every part of the UK, so you should use the HomePhoneChoices calculator to see which ones are available in your area.
BT Openreach Network
BT owns and maintains the UK’s national landline network, this is run by a division called BT Openreach. BT Openreach then lease lines on their network to third party providers that want to offer their own call packages (i.e. Toucan).
Secondary phone suppliers
These home phone providers divert calls through their own networks, but they use BT’s lines and sockets. TalkTalk, Tesco and Equitalk are some of the secondary suppliers available, and the majority of the UK phone market is made up of this type of company. They divert your calls by one of three methods:
Autodialler: This is a piece of equipment that plugs into your phone line to divert your calls.
Prefix number: Some providers require you to dial a short number before each call.
Carrier pre-selection: This is becoming the most popular method as it automatically diverts calls without the customer having to do anything.
Switching home phone providers
You might be surprised to hear that you can save money on your phone bills just by switching home phone providers. Each provider caters for different types of call, so you could be wasting money by using the wrong one. And what’s more, switching doesn’t cost a penny. Just choose a new supplier by searching on the Home Phone Choices calculator or best buy tables, sign up online, and the rest of the process is taken care of by your new home phone providers. It couldn’t be simpler to start saving money.
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