Are Virgin abandoning Landlines?

I do not recommend porting a number to a VoIP provider for the vast majority of landline users as they lose benefits of operator-managed VoIP (namely zero setup by plug-and-play with preconfigured hardware and thus no SIP credential management, quality of service (QoS) by prioritising voice packets, guaranteed routing of all UK short code and service numbers (including 999/112, 101, 111 and 105) and a single point of contact when there is a problem), not to mention discounts which VM typically provides for those who bundle phone with broadband or broadband/TV.

Thanks for the replies - I plan to see what other options there are first, then decide if I'll try to see if Virgin can match them.  I know of a couple who do offer landlines, one of which gives me pretty close to what I've got on the whole Virgin package PLUS Sky Sports Football and F1, and for considerably less than I am paying now.  I'm also wondering if their landline (I guess over new wiring from the recently upgraded phone masts locally) may give better reception.

I have to say, much of the VOIP conversation above goes right over my head, but thanks for sharing it folks!

Well that's interesting. There were various discussions in this forum a few years back when VM first introduced VOIP, when it was stated that VM used a different encoding format to stand-alone VOIP providers. Was that wrong, or has something changed? 

wilber_force wrote:

What happens when I get a power cut and need to call 999?

No power, no ability to call BUT if I still had a PROPER landline, I could.

If you do not have a mobile phone, VM should provide you with an emergency backup line (EBUL). See explanation below

Bang & Olufsen Beocom 2 and 6000 not working | Virgin Media Community - 5685354

It’s not only VM, ALL PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) landlines are being removed.

You could move your 'landline' number to BT, but they would probably not give you a copper line now because they are busy closing them and moving users to VOIP.   

My VM VoIP works well. In my case I ran foul of call centre staff who didn't seem able to understand what I wanted so a tech came round. He made a call to get the VoIP provisioning done, he then connected my handset to my hub 5 and a test call confirmed it worked.

Oldfogi wrote:

Has anybody else had problems with landline quality and moved their Landline to BT and kept their Virgin?  That is an option I am considering (and think of each time I get clicks/voice going robotic/interference on my calls).

If a poor quality landline connection was the prompt for your topic (and you are not currently planning to ditch VM just yet) then trying to get VM to fix your landline quality would seem like the next action you need to pursue.

You could possibly port your VM number elsewhere as discussed in this topic but that may well cause you more problems to do with VM's bundle pricing. You may possibly find your price goes up and/or you start a new contract with VM if you port your number away from VM.

You have said that VM has already moved you to a landline connection from the back of the hub.

Do you have just one phone plugged in to that connection?

What kind of phone is it (corded or cordless)?

Did VM rewire any existing telephone sockets into the back of the VM hub when they switched you over?

I doubt your issue is to do do with your handset but, for the purposes of elimination, are you able to try one single telephone plugged directly into the back of the hub via the VM adapter? Then see if the interference persists.

Ideally, if you can borrow another telephone handset from a friend, family member, neighbour etc., try another single handset plugged into the VM hub via the VM adapter.

If you still get the interference with a single phone and/or a different single phone connected to the VM hub then you must have an issue with your line which VM should fix for you (once other possibilities have been eliminated).

"PM asked for details I was not willing to put online" VM staff have to verify who you are just like customer services call centre staff. PM messages are not visible to any forum users and the board uses HTTPS. You have more change of an old POTS call being intercepted. 

Hi Oldfogi thanks for your reply.

As mentioned, we must ask for specific details over PM to be able to assist, without this we can't clear security in line with data protection.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused here.

Oldfogi wrote:

PM asked for details I was not willing to put online

The security question which normally makes people twitchy is bank sort code. It is a daft question for VM to require IMO as it immediately puts people on alert when dealing with an online interaction.

If you are replying via PM, your info should be secure. VM people on here are identified by the words 'Forum Team' alongside their name and the red VM infinity logo. They are the only people you should provide personal info to via PM and they are probably the most likely route to keep chasing the problem for you via VM's internal procedures. The process on here is slow an cumbersome but it does seem to be one of the more reliable routes to a fix if you can stick with it.