Who to choose depends on whether you’re just looking for a phone alone or want bundled broadband too. For that, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/broadband. Here, I want to focus on phones.
The easy option.
Vast numbers are with BT for line rental and calls, and can’t be bothered to switch. If that’s you, BT gives Ôfree’ calls to other landlines at weekends on its standard line rental, yet if you agree to a year’s contract, you get 'free’ evening calls too. Though 'free’ just means for the first 60 minutes.
You pay after that, so simply hang up and redial to keep it cheap. To pay the minimum £11.25 a month, make sure you pay by direct debit and ask for paperless (email) billing, otherwise it can be £14.
£9.50 line rental with evening and weekend calls The best deal is Primus Home saver at £9.50/month, if you sign up via the comparison site Consumer Choices.
It includes free evening & weekend calls to landlines (first 90 minutes) and it’s guaranteed to allow override calls.
£11.75 line rental with calls to mobiles at weekends The Post Office’s basic Home Phone package is £11.75/month. This includes the first 60 minutes of evening and weekend calls to landlines.
At weekends, there are free calls to mobiles and 40 international destinations.
If you make more than ten minutes of mobile calls at the weekend, you’re better off with this than BT's basic line deal.
Override providers are allowed, and it tells me there are no plans to change this. For more info and options on these go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/homephones
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