Emergency Backup Line version 3 - availability

[47Dave]

In the virgin media phone user guide at https://store.virginmedia.com/content/dam/eSales/Downloads/Phone%20User%20Guide.pdf near the bottom of the page, it includes details of two different emergency backup line devices: V(ersion) 1 and V3. V1 seems to be the one provided so far,  to homes with accessibility needs.

However, V3 looks like an actual phone and allows 9 speed dial numbers in addition to the two emergency services numbers. This is an important development.

There seems to be no information on the VM website about the V3 EBL and none has been sent to me at least, in a VM home with accessibility needs. So the question is:

1. Does this V3 device exist?
2. Is it available now on request and if not, when?
3. Is it free?

Hopefully someone knows the answers because it's what  is needed and should have been introduced before anyone was forced to switch to VOIP.

[Zach_R]

Hi @47Dave,

Thank you for your post and welcome back to our community forums. We're here to help.

It's correct that we have two different EBUL products, with the latter being one that was developed and introduced more recently. Do you currently have an EBUL? If so, are you experiencing any issues with it?

Thanks,
 

[47Dave]

Hi @Zach_R

I am a carer of a vulnerable adult  who cannot properly use mobile phones and with speech difficulties is often unable to be understood by strangers. Therefore, use of the 999 system is not a safe or proper option for them and accordongly, I did not request the EBUL device as described when it was offered by VM some time ago. It appears to have been the V1 device and the V3 option was not mentioned.

A V3 device programmed with speed dial numbers of specific people, who would be able to understand in the event of an emergency, would be suitable. Can you advise me how to obtain one?

[Travis_M · Accepted solution]

Hi @47Dave

Thanks for your response!

I'll drop you a private message now to collect some more information so we can have this resolved for you. Please keep an eye on your inbox for a message from myself to confirm some details for this.

Regards

[47Dave]

Update:

Backup phone v3 was ordered for me, is installed, working and does what I need. Thanks to @Travis_M and anyone else involved!

[Molly_T]

Hi Dave, thank you for returning to the thread to keep it updated! 

Really pleased to hear this is now all sorted. Just let us know if you have any further issues and we will be happy to help! 

All the best. 

[47Dave]

Quick visit to mention that starting late Friday evening, there was a 3-4 hour VM broadband outage here... and my new landline backup phone V3 switched automatically to the VM mobile network as intended. Excellent.

[Reece_MH]

Hi @47Dave,

Thanks for the update on this. I'm sorry to hear there was an outage on the service, but I am very glad to hear that the EBUL immediately switched, and began to work as intended.

Please let us know if you need anything else, and we'll be more than happy to help out.

Cheers, 

[Ben-Jovi]

Hi Dave, AFAIK even though the V3 has speed dial, you can still only call 999 or 112 during power / network outages

[Camleaper]

Hi Travis, hope you can help me too. I need an emergency backup device for my 94 year old mother. Tried 0345 4541111 number but couldn’t find an option to order this. How can I get one ?