Do you pay for Inside Wire Protection for your house phone?

Radiance · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:33 AM

My phone bill includes $7.50 for Inside Wire Protection
Includes "repairs to the telephone wiring inside your home. "

Is this really necesary?
I am big in peace of mind, but how feasible is for me to need repairs to the telehone wiring inside the house?

The only reason I have a phone at home is for the burglery alarm to work.
VOIP is not properly covered by the alarm company...I never use the phone myself.

disneysteve · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:43 AM

Cancel it. Like most "extended warranty" type of stuff, it isn't necessary. It is just like all the protection plans from the utility companies to cover your appliances and heater and air conditioner.

Keep an emergency fund and use that money if and when something actually breaks or needs repair.

Joan.of.the.Arch · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:55 AM

Absolutely not. Once a phone company service person had to be in our house. I don't remember why, but it was not to repair our wiring. He did, of course, see our wiring and he laughed because our wires are so old. They are the kind with the fabric insulation on them. In what decade was that last used?! (House is 99 years old.) I grew up in a house built in 1960, and that kind of phone wire seemed ancient even then. Our 1960 house did not have it.

But we have fine phone service and now DSL over those lines. Maybe it's only a good example of how they "used tah make 'em," while more modern wiring is the pits, but I doubt it. If you don't have raccoons chewing your wiring, or an earthquake severing connections, what can go wrong?

RedThunderBird · #4 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:58 AM

I went trough that , and faithfully paid what ever it was I was paying for ----- I removed it from my bill -------- if you going to move , as a worker told me when i did move , just ask for it till the job is done , and then cancel it ===== I was flabbergasted by his statement , but the fact is that in my case I never used it , very likely you will never use this service either -

Radiance · #5 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 11:46 AM

Agree!

And I am setting those 7 buks aside.

Now if I can only get to a frigging ATT representative. I was on hold for 40 minutes, I had to hang up for a restroom brake.

ATT customer service sucks big time! Too bad they are the only land line phone provider. And their internet is cheaper than comcast....a little slower, but cheaper.

Radiance · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 12:13 PM

Ah! Finally, all done.
It is actuallt $9.99 because I had equipment maintenance as well... that is crazy even for me.

Know I need to check they really made the change for next bill

P.S. I know I have been picky about reducing other services (cable, cell)... and I appretiate your concern, but, one step at a time.

poundwise · #7 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 12:19 PM

Nice. You definitely shouldn't pay for those types of 'protection' plans.

Frankly, however, I'd also look for an alarm system that didn't require a land-line. There are options available from various services, such as ADT and Brinks, including broadband and cellular.

arthurb999 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 02:09 PM

You should go through each bill with a fine tooth comb... 9 buck here, 7 there, it all adds up.

Radiance · #9 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 02:25 PM

My alarm service is part of the staggering $287 /month I pay on HOA fees.
If I change I have to pay additional....

Aleta · #10 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 02:35 PM

We still have that fee and because I live in a hurricane area, I don't change it especially from June thru Nov (hurricane season). I really need to get rid of this charge.

Radiance · #11 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 07:17 PM

I am too in hurricane area (south Florida) but I still canceled it...

kork13 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 08:06 PM

The hurricane argument is kinda weak IMO... Growing up, I went through at least 2-3 dozen of them, and our phones normally were the only things that DID work after the storm! The chance that the wiring in your home will fail is absurdly low. Sure, telephone lines could be downed by a storm, but that's the phone company's responsibility.

mom-from-missouri · #13 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 08:59 PM

Speaking as a former phone repair person and also as a customer service rep.....
I recommend it IF you are moving or for a new instal--at least until you see what the wiring is at your new location. Then if its good wiring I would rop it unless--
You have old wiring that has one line that runs from jack to jack (like the old christmas tree lights--with that wiring, if one jack goes out, they all go out). If you have that, put in a new jack that is independent then cancel the others.
It would save you money if you lost every jack in the house--but for that to happen, usually there is lightening or something else involved in which case your home owners insurance would cover it.
A jack is real easy to istall (unless you have concrete or brick). If one breaks sometimes it is just easier to run a new one.

RedThunderBird · #14 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 12:32 AM

mom-from-missouri === thank you for you advice , it's extremely helpful , as for others fearing the hurricanes , what I could tell you is that during the worst hurricane I ever experienced back in 1992 [ Andrew ] that telephone line worked just fine , but you will be surprised about other stuff that not only the telephone company , but many other like the cell phone would sale you [ sometimes they will charge you without telling you ] would be in your statements in not way helping , and draining money from you ======= check carefully every statement , you may be able to stop a lot money , your money being wasted

Tree0164 · #15 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 07:38 AM

No you don't

We had a phone issue with Verizon one of the jacks had some issues with the wiring attached. I was expecting to be billed $100 or so buck but the tech put it in on the work order that it went from outside the house.

Radiance · #16 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 09:24 AM

My take is that I might or might not need it but the chances are indeed low.

If it does happen I have a few handy friends and there are even websites that explain how to troubleshoot and repair.

Also, I can afford to be without phone for a few days if it comes to that while I figure things out.

In the very worse scenario, I will have an unexpected expense, I can live with that.

So my personal choice is not to pay for it.
I would consider it again if I move.

I have been in the house for 5 years, if I had set that money aside, I would have $600 now for eventualities.

So, technically I am not betting it will never happen, I am betting it will not happen for 2-3years.

RedThunderBird · #17 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WealthyMe

My take is that I might or might not need it but the chances are indeed low.

If it does happen I have a few handy friends and there are even websites that explain how to troubleshoot and repair.

Also, I can afford to be without phone for a few days if it comes to that while I figure things out.

In the very worse scenario, I will have an unexpected expense, I can live with that.

So my personal choice is not to pay for it.
I would consider it again if I move.

I have been in the house for 5 years, if I had set that money aside, I would have $600 now for eventualities.

So, technically I am not betting it will never happen, I am betting it will not happen for 2-3years.

I am a person , that likes to be ready as much as I can for any potential problem in the future , I can see that you are too . so I will tell you this , there are more possibility of you winning the lottery [ i do not believe in that scam ] by walking down the street , and finding the ticket on the floor , than you ever having to use a service , that as far as I know only one person whom I knew need it , and that was because all the wiring in the house was messed up , including the telephone wires ===== in the other hand if one day , while walking you find a lotto ticket on the floor ---- pick it up !