Complicated telephone situation!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2008
Complicated telephone situation!
10
Thu, 02-05-2009 - 8:25pm

I'm so frustrated with our current telephone situation and would appreciate any ideas that might reduce our bottom line.


We live in Western, MA and our accounts are with Verizon.


We have two structures on the property...a cottage (shack) where we live and a barn.

Avatar for earnhardt_jr_fan
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 02-05-2009 - 9:47pm

I will tell you that for what you're paying for two phone lines with Verizon, you COULD get cable internet. It's a more reliable connection and is miles ahead in speed. I do not know what you use the internet for (other than using ivillage.. hehehe) but you might find you enjoy having a better connection.


You CAN get cell phones that are pre-paid. The costs vary. Yes, you would be able to retrieve any messages on the phone by accessing your voicemail (most of them come with voicemail as a standard feature). You can also get ones that offer you free nights and weekends (so you wouldn't use any minutes if you needed to make or receive a call on the weekends or at night). I don't know what kind of phone calls you have to make,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 1:30am

Question how handy is your husband? I don't know anything about Verizon but if you had a standard land line and the distance is not that far from the barn and the cottage This might be something you can do.


Most ATT land lines have a box with 4 leads connected to the outside of a house. Sometimes if it is really big house ATT will put on bigger box on your house with six leads on in for extentions in the house.


People have

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 8:30am
I agree with Brandee, you really need to track how much you would use the phone before switching. Could I suggest for the next month tracking every minute you are on the phone and to who (i.e local/long distance). I know in my case, my phone company charges me long distance even if someone is calling me. Its really annoying!! These are things you have to consider when deciding on whether or not to get rid of a landline.

Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2003
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 9:15am

Why not check out the cost for one phone line with DSL internet.

Avatar for earnhardt_jr_fan
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 2:47pm

I agree about never being without a cell phone. I've had a couple of scary incidents that I was ever so grateful for that tiny piece of equipment sitting on the seat next to me.


I had to laugh about your phone is for talking/computer for texting comment. I can't hear with a darn (something happened to my inner ears when my mom and I went to Alaska in 2007 -- hasn't been the same since) so I text A LOT. It seems, for me, to be the best way to communicate. However, I do NOT text while driving (I also try and avoid talking while driving...).

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2003
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 3:07pm

Me too: a couple scary incidents when I was grateful I had my cell phone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 3:53pm

I agree, I cannot be without the cell phone.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


Avatar for earnhardt_jr_fan
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 4:16pm

My older daughter has a cell phone on our plan. She rarely uses it to call anyone,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 4:49pm

Brandee -


Yours sounds like mine (daugher 17), good kid, nice friends too.




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-17-2003
Fri, 02-06-2009 - 5:32pm

Thanks for the reminder: that's the primary reason I have the POTS at the house: the alarm system.