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Cancel landline
Question: My husband and I each have a cell phone, and are thinking of cancelling our landline phone service, which we almost never use. Is there any chance that cancelling our landline could make us look like a poor credit risk? We will be in the market to buy a home in the next year or so. Susan, Hollister, CA
Answer: Getting rid of your landline should not impact your credit score. Lots of people--including me--have dropped their landline phones and rely on their cell phones. There really can't be an issue with your credit report or your credit score if you've paid everything you owe. Go ahead and cancel.
About the author
Christopher Farrell is economics editor of Marketplace Money, a nationally syndicated one-hour weekly personal finance show produced by American Public Media.
Getting rid of the reliable, conventional telephone line may be convenient and save you a few bucks, but it will lose you some friends if they are anything like me. Any time I am talking to someone whose connection is poor, I tell them to call me back on a reliable connection. I have had it with crappy connections in the 21st century.
Richard, I agree. It is extremely annoying to have people phase in and out and then lose them. When the quality of cell phone connections approach landlines it might be a different story. Besides, I feel like there's more for the buck with the landline.
I have DSL internet. By default they assign me a phone number but do not charge me for it (your DSL carrier may vary). This phone number is free for use with incoming calls, 800 numbers and 911. I never use it (I've always used a cell phone), but it might be a nice safety for those that are concerned with ditching a landline for emergency purposes.
Conventional telephone lines don't always provide the best connection or the most reliability. Several times per year, particularly after heavy rains, the copper phone line has a lot of static and sometimes stops working for days. Verizon didn't fix this problem after many complaints over about 18 months. My landline was about 95% reliable, but my I've never noticed a problem with my cell phone in four years. The conventional wisdom was about landlines being more reliable was wrong for me, and it may be for you too. I'd consider this factor on a case-by-case basis. Which service is more reliable in your neighborhood?
Just a note about 911 safety. Calling 911 from your landline will automatically display your address to the 911 call center. Your cell phone, depending on your location, may first go to the highway patrol and then have to be transfered to your local fire or police department (it depends on how calls are handled in your area).
It is a good idea to contact your local fire and police and get from them the 7-digit number directly into their 911 center. You can then program this into your cell phone to get directly to your local 911 center or fire/police.
Also, your 911 center might be collecting cell phone numbers to call or txt in case of an emergency (those "reverse 911" emergency calls) to alert you of evacuations, etc.
If you drop your landline, please talk to your local safety officials to see how you can efficiently call them and they can call you in an emergency.
