Millions of landline customers urged to contact their provider NOW ahead of digital switchover
MILLIONS of landline customers have been encouraged to speak to their provider now ahead of a big switch off.
Two million vulnerable people rely on lifesaving telecare alarms to call for help in an emergency.
1
The alarms can alert call centres or carers if the user experiences an issue at home, such as a fall.
Many of these devices use analogue landlines and copper networks to operate.
But these analogue lines are being moved to digital as they have become increasingly unreliable and spare parts are no longer available.
BT plans to retire its analogue service by January 2027, which means other providers that use BT's network must follow the same timescale.
Other companies including Virgin Media plan to follow a similar timescale.
The switchover will also affect thousands of households with landline telephones.
It comes as a major campaign to urge millions of telecare users to contact their provider launches today.
The campaign is funded by BT and Virgin Media and is backed by the Government.
Once the customer contacts their provider an engineer will visit them to carry out the switchover and personally test the telecare alarm to ensure it still works.
Customers will also be given a free battery back-up device so their landline will continue to work in an outage.
Easy ways to slash your mobile bill
Local authorities, telecare companies and landline providers have been working together to identify and contact vulnerable customers.
More than two thirds of landlines have already migrated, so the campaign aims to contact the last customers who have not yet switched.
Telecoms minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "We cannot afford to leave anyone behind during the vital transition to digital landlines.
'This industry-led campaign marks a further step towards keeping people safe as we boost the resilience of our networks for the digital age."
I feel reassured after engineer visit
Ann, 90, became reliant on her telecare device after a fall last year.
The mother, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, is backing the campaign after her provider successfully migrated her landline to digital last year.
Ann said she is feeling more 'reassured and confident' after the engineer's visit.
She said: 'The visit with the engineer was most enjoyable and very smooth, they handled everything for me.
'It's also given my daughter Vickey peace of mind, knowing that if I need support, my pendant will work as it should.
'I'd encourage other people like me who rely on a personal alarm to get in touch with their landline provider for support.'
He added that he has personally set a strict checklist of safeguards for the industry to comply with before they migrate a telecare user.
What does the switchover mean for me?
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said that moving from the analogue landline system to a digital network will give users clearer and more reliable connections.
But the changes are understandably worrying for those who use a telecare device.
She said: 'If you have a telecare system, your landline provider should reach out to offer support but if you haven't heard or have any questions, you should contact them directly to get the help you need.'
She added that telecare and landline companies must ensure that no vulnerable customers are switched until they have a working telecare device.
You can find your landline provider's number online or on any letters it has sent you.
If you are unable to call yourself then ask a loved one or carer to do so for you.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
33 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Farage plans to charge non-doms £250,000 fee which will be given to poor
On Monday, the party leader and MP for Clacton will reveal the policy which he said would 'encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom', according to the Telegraph. The Labour Government abolished the non-dom tax status in April, which is where UK residents whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the UK. Last year, former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to scrap the tax status before successor Rachel Reeves sped up the process. Reform UK's policy would mean 'every high-net-worth newcoming (or returning leaver)' would pay a £250,000 one-off fee 'in return for a stable, indefinite remittance-style regime on offshore income and a 20-year inheritance-tax shield', Mr Farage wrote in an article for the Telegraph. All of this fee would be given to Britain's lowest-paid full-time workers through an automatic tax-free dividend via HMRC, the party leader added. In response, Labour said the policy was a 'golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country'. Mr Farage wrote: 'Our policy is simple – Britain must be a place where success is celebrated, not punished with excessive taxes, crippling energy costs, or punitive inheritance levies. 'We will actively encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom, on the clear condition that those who come here deliver immediate, visible benefits to our workers.' The plan would mean around 2.5 million 'hard-working Britons' would receive an 'annual cash bonus', the Reform UK leader claimed. He added: 'Our policy is not a 'golden visa' or a backdoor to citizenship. 'It is a one-time flat tax paid by newcomers in exchange for the certainty of a favourable tax status. 'Individuals will still be liable for all standard UK taxes on UK-sourced income, property and spending. 'But they won't be taxed on offshore income and gains for the duration of their agreed status.' A Labour spokesperson said: 'Nigel Farage can brand this whatever he wants – the reality is his first proper policy is a golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country. 'As ever with Reform, the devil is in the detail. 'This giveaway would reduce revenues raised from the rich that would have to be made up elsewhere – through tax hikes on working families or through Farage's promise to charge them to use the NHS.'
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Farage plans to charge non-doms £250,000 fee which will be given to poor
On Monday, the party leader and MP for Clacton will reveal the policy which he said would 'encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom', according to the Telegraph. The Labour Government abolished the non-dom tax status in April, which is where UK residents whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the UK. Last year, former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to scrap the tax status before successor Rachel Reeves sped up the process. Reform UK's policy would mean 'every high-net-worth newcoming (or returning leaver)' would pay a £250,000 one-off fee 'in return for a stable, indefinite remittance-style regime on offshore income and a 20-year inheritance-tax shield', Mr Farage wrote in an article for the Telegraph. All of this fee would be given to Britain's lowest-paid full-time workers through an automatic tax-free dividend via HMRC, the party leader added. In response, Labour said the policy was a 'golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country'. Mr Farage wrote: 'Our policy is simple – Britain must be a place where success is celebrated, not punished with excessive taxes, crippling energy costs, or punitive inheritance levies. 'We will actively encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom, on the clear condition that those who come here deliver immediate, visible benefits to our workers.' The plan would mean around 2.5 million 'hard-working Britons' would receive an 'annual cash bonus', the Reform UK leader claimed. He added: 'Our policy is not a 'golden visa' or a backdoor to citizenship. 'It is a one-time flat tax paid by newcomers in exchange for the certainty of a favourable tax status. 'Individuals will still be liable for all standard UK taxes on UK-sourced income, property and spending. 'But they won't be taxed on offshore income and gains for the duration of their agreed status.' A Labour spokesperson said: 'Nigel Farage can brand this whatever he wants – the reality is his first proper policy is a golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country. 'As ever with Reform, the devil is in the detail. 'This giveaway would reduce revenues raised from the rich that would have to be made up elsewhere – through tax hikes on working families or through Farage's promise to charge them to use the NHS.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Fury as woke council ‘bans fun' by scrapping popular airshow despite it making £60 MILLION for local economy
A WOKE council blamed climate change as it axed a popular air show despite it making £60million for the local economy. The four-day Bournemouth Air Festival, featuring the Red Arrows, has run for 16 years and attracts 600,000 fans. 2 2 But the cash-strapped local authority said it cannot afford £250,000 to stage it and also cited the carbon emissions the planes and the extra traffic produce as a reason for stopping it. Bosses at the Lib Dem -run council, which has just hired a new chief executive on a salary of £220,000, are accused of being killjoys and lacking ambition. Conservative councillor Phil Broadhead said: 'Saying we don't like planes, therefore we should ban the air festival for the sake of three or four days that brings millions to the local economy is a step too far. 'On that note, we shouldn't be doing anything that generates any carbon whatsoever. 'What we are doing is banning fun.' Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association chairwoman Rosie Radwell said: 'It is a great shame because the air festival was a big boost for Bournemouth. 'It is a huge loss to the area. 'I don't think tourism is the top priority for this council.' Asked about its impact on the climate she said: 'I don't think it was as bad as they said. 'And I don't think it's as bad as they say.'
