Landlines

Competition between companies providing home telephone services or ‘Landlines’ to consumers is fierce, so look out for special offers or introductory deals for switching to a particular provider. But check the terms and conditions to make sure switching offers you real value.

Landline providers may also offer additional services like cable TV or broadband, so you might consider combining or “bundling” these services with the one supplier. You can use the combined services calculator on the CallCosts.ie and the www.uchoose.ie websites to help you work out the costs of different options.

Switching landline

Switching your home phone provider is easy – it involves signing a consent form, or confirming your consent over the phone. It is important to remember that giving your consent by phone commits you to a contract, so make sure you read the detail of the contract and the terms and conditions when you get a copy – all information about the contract must be given to you in writing.

If you don’t like any of the terms and conditions, you will usually have a period of seven working days to cancel the contract – this is called the “cooling-off” period. But remember, if you use the service before the end of that seven-day period, you give up your right to cancel under the cooling-off period. So if you do want to cancel, do it quickly or you could get stuck in a long-term contract. Remember that there is no physical work involved in switching - nobody has to call at your house.

Shop around for the landline package that best suits your needs - but remember that price is not the only factor in choosing a landline. You should also consider:

What is the contract period?

Check the length of the contract and the terms and conditions. Always check your existing contract before switching tariff plans or operators, as penalties can apply.

What is the customer service like?

Check if they have a customer service charter on their website, and ring their helpline to see how quickly you might be dealt with if you need help after signing-up. Ask friends or family how they find the service.

What are the billing and payment options?

Check what payment options are offered. Can you only pay by direct debit or can you pay in other ways? Are there discounts for paying by direct debit or paying your bills online?

What additional services are offered?

Are additional services like broadband provided? What do they cost and are there any discounts if you take out multiple services with the same operator? Check out the combined services calculator on the CallCosts.ie and the www.uchoose.ie websites to help you work out the costs of different options.

What conditions apply to inclusive minutes?

If free minutes are included, ask what conditions apply – for example, can you use your free minutes to call any other landline or mobile?