While many households are choosing to rely solely on cell phones, landlines remain useful tools for accessing Internet DSL connections and 911 emergency services.
Typical costs:
Basic phone service that includes unlimited local calls generally cost $15-$30 per month, depending on additional features. For example, AT&T[1] charges $23 for a home residential line that includes a few additional basic features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail.
Home phone service plans that include local and long-distance calling cost $30-$45 per month. For example. Comcast XFINITY calling plans[2] with unlimited nationwide calls start at $30. Plans typically include other calling features such as caller ID and call waiting.
Some phone companies connect calls on high-speed Internet connections. The plans allow both long distance and local calls for about $10-$30 a month. For example, Vonage[3] offers international calling plans that start at $26 per month with a one-year commitment and a three-month introductory price of $10 per month.
Single-line business calling plans typically cost $25-$60 per month. For example, Verizon business lines[4] with local calling only start at $25 per month; plans with long distance calling as well start at $50 per month. Multi-lines plans cost more. For example, Charter Communications[5] charges $25 per phone line and additional features are billed separately.
All home phone landlines should include unlimited local calling and a listing in the local telephone directory as well as access to 911 emergency services.
Some plans include additional features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail.
Additional costs:
Additional charges such as federal and local taxes apply to phone lines. Typically, taxes account for less than 1% of the total bill.
Optional maintenance insurance (charged as a monthly premium) will cover any in-home wiring repairs and service. This costs about $5-$10 per month.
Some home phone plans require one-time fees for setup, activation, installation and equipment rental or purchase.
Phone lines require customers to purchase phones for various locations in the house or business. Cordless phones are popular for both uses and cost $10-$300, depending on the features.
Discounts:
In some states, such as California, low-income households can receive discounts on a basic home phone line. Expect to pay $6 to $10 monthly for the phone line plus unlimited local calling. Recipients of the discount are often required to provide proof of low-income, such as receiving aid from the country of residence.
Bundling phone service with other services such as Internet or cable television provides discounts. For example, Charter Communications[6] discounts business lines packaged with Internet service. Comcast[7] offers discounted deals for customers who combine multiple services as well, with packages for voice, Internet and TV channels starting at $100.
Shopping for a phone line:
Connect my phone[8] provides a search engine to find phone line providers in the local area.
When switching landline providers, users can often transfer the existing phone number to the new provider.
When selecting a phone line service, examine previous phone bills to get a clear idea of how many calls are made locally, in state and out-of-state.
7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013
7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013
This company bought Cableone, some time ago. Having the same problems.......keep loosing connections when talking & WiFi also. Have tried to get help & problems still happening.....Hope to find a great replacement soon,,,,,,,Please help..Joan
Frontier Communications is the only landline available in the nursing home. The quote is $32.99 per month for just the landline. Nevertheless, there are hidden charges of $22.54 for recovery surcharges, state, and federal taxes. The monthly charge comes out to $60.77. Quite a large bill for a senior citizen on a fixed income.
Local calls in NY means only those calls made within allowable areas. exchanges in your location....regional includes NYC to areas in Queens and brooklyn and long island and Westchester - aka North and south -but not upstate like Albany and Syracuse..that's a long distance and 'price per minute rates.
$30.00 Base Rate Landline. $12.48 Phone/Long Distance Surcharges & Fees $4.55 Total Taxes Calling long distance out of the US... $3.50 to $4.75 per minute Porting my landline to my DLS internet router involved conflicting instructions between CSR vs Packet instructions sent to me by UPS I was told would not be sent to me. CSR said it would be a simple activation procedure. Not so according to packet. Also fine print said no guarantees 911 will work as it does with landline. I cancelled the order due to not trusting the claimed/promised $17 in reduced charges going off landline. A search on this indicates $50 is about what most are paying with other plans.
Landline lifeline is rediculous!! The carriers I was given to choose from was ridiculous.the carriers did not service my area#! I finally got one who did and it was a grewsome 1hour× on the phone to get the service and it was !15.00 but now they claim an additional $15.00 as a TAX. What kind of company taxes a $15.00 charge of $15.00?? Thats a 100% Tax fee.
I am terminating my service but I wanted to ask show questions about a recent promotion on landlines. Why do they announce $15 - $30 a month if you cannot find where and how you can only pay $15? For example: if you do not want any extra stuff and not even national or international calls, why charge you and, as in my case, allow to have another company get in your line and charge you the extra money?
Phone service has gone up in PASt 5 years because Verizon now passes on $20 of Fe3es and taxes to the consumer each month. They have No List of Prices and won't provide you with any list at the billing or Customer service level. THey have a cheaper Regional & flat rate plan; but their people will NEVER tell you about it. They also are supposed to have measured service. You never hear about that either. Have friends paying over $100 per month for Landline service3. This is ridiculous when 5 years ago it only cost $55/-- This doesn't seem like a "REGULATED " company to me anymore Not in the Landline division in rural areas they are "gouging residents and businesses with this business plan where they have no competition. Why doesn't the FCC do something???
Oh yes $24 is the basic charge, then you add $8 for ATT long distance...then tax and other fees/surcharges brings you up to $56 a month. No where near the $24 you are saying in the article....Some people are going to get STICKER SHOCK for sure!
When speaking with a representative (Which took some creative doing to locate!) the base line price was $38.00 a month - nowhere near $23.00 as indicated above. To me, in my situation, that is a pretty big difference
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.
CostHelper Community
UTI urgent care visit Paid: 147.00 Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more]
Spanish Medical Interpreter Paid: 150.00 I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more]
Skin prick allergy test Paid: 573.00 Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more]