Landline/wireless

[Pupart]

On Suze Ormans show last week she was telling her audience ways to save money.
One of the things she said was to get rid of your landline phone and go wireless.
I have never written to Suze O before but went to her site and send her an email.
I am not comfortable giving any personal info over the phone unless I am sure it is secure. I think landline is more secure. What do any of you think?
Is it safe to give sensitive info over a cordless phone or cell phone?

Thanks for all the great advice , inspiration , and help I have found on this forum.
It really is the greatest!

Happy New Year to all!

Bonnie

[tabbycat31]

I gave up my landline back in 2002 and I havent looked back. I only use a landline at work (company phone) and that's been that way since then.

AS for the personal information. With a landline you have to pay to not have your information shared. With a cellphone, I know that the only people who have access to the number are those who *I* give it to. With an uncommon last name like mine, I don't feel comfortable having a listing in the phonebook after what happened to me growing up (prank calls off the hook).

As for personal information........ what kind of info are you giving over the phone? I do most of my financial transactions online to avoid that (ie cc payments, banking, etc).

[Broken Arrow]

Well yes, landlines are generally more secure but... I think contemporary digital cellphones are "safe enough" for personal use. The real downside to me is cost, but if you look hard enough, there are phones and cards / plans that are fairly affordable.

[froggie]

We dropped our landline about two years ago when dsl became available in our area. We haven't encountered any problems.

[Pupart]

As for personal information........ what kind of info are you giving over the phone? I do most of my financial transactions online to avoid that (ie cc payments, banking, etc).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I use online banking too, but many times I want to talk with someone at USAA. Then I need to give personal info and feel more secure using a landline.
I don't use credit cards, but I use a debit card. I am not comfortable putting that number online no matter how secure the co says their website is. When I order I call the co and give my info over the phone. Maybe that is just a false sense of security.. I don't know.
I am scared of ID theft though and want to make sure I take every precaution I can.
Bonnie

[Broken Arrow]

Hi Bonnie.

I'm not sure why you don't feel safe using a cellphone... but I guarantee you they are much more secure than the care-free analog days. Plus, some communication protocols are tower-only, which means phreaks (that's phone freaks... people who hack telecommunication stuff) would have to attempt to intercept within the location of your cellphone towers. Some are satellite based, but um... I don't know anyone that can hack at that level yet... except Uncle Sam of course.

Contrast that with, say, the internet where anyone from anywhere on the planet can attempt to hack anyone else on the planet. So, in terms of accessibility, the internet is much less secure.

Security is a bit of a balancing act. Too little is bad but so is too much. Much like budgeting or investing, how much depends on the individual's real world needs. But the question I am wondering is why you need a high level of phone security? Even someone who is as security-conscious as me hasn't seen the need of it yet... but I don't know you or your situation so I really can't say for sure.

Of course, if you still prefer landlines, I don't see anything wrong with that either. They certainly will provide you greater security at a reasonable enough price.

While we're on the subject, it's worth noting that using a debit card is not as safe as it using a credit card. Most credit cards offer superior fraud protection, whereas debit cards will draw money straight out of your bank account.

In fact, I have a cousin who just found out that he got defrauded $3000 and is going to have trouble paying his mortgage this month because of it! That's because he uses a debit card for all his transactions. I recommended that he (and you) get a small limit credit card and use that from now on. Not only will the credit card protect you, but it can also help improve your credit rating.

That's my opinion anyway. Whatever you decide on, I guarantee you that you are actually at more risk being on the internet and using a debit card right now.

[Pupart]

Broken Arrow,
Thanks for your advice.
I may consider a cell phone sometime. There have been times when I am out and about that it would have been nice to have one.
I'm kinda living in limbo right now, going through a divorce after 22 years of marrige and not knowing what the settlement will be. I may go back to school and do some other kind of work. 2007 will definately bring many changes for me I am sure.

When my situation changes and I have a steady source of income I may consider applying for a credit card at USAA.
For now, I am going to use my debit card. I'm sorry about your cousin. That is frightening.
Bonnie

[Darsa]

I'm curious as to how using a cell over a land line owuld be cheaper? I guess I'm just not sure I understand the way it would work; my phone and DSL service are linked, and the price I pay is painful to see coming from my account every month!

[gackle]

We ditched the land line in an effort to reduce costs. Overall we have been happy with Vonage. We had moved locally, but were in a different area code than most of our friends and all our calls were long distance. With Vonage we were able to get the same area code as our friends and not have to pay long distance now. Also, it is great to not have to pay all of those dumb fees that you find on a land line (it's almost as good as getting a rebate from Uncle Sam!).

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Sound clarity is my reason for not dumping the landline. When the time comes that I really don't ever have to ask the ol' "can you hear me now" question, then I'll be satisfied with cell only.

Secretly, I'm waiting for pin-on Star Trek "communicators." Then we'll never have to worry about losing the darn things.

[KellyJef]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

Sound clarity is my reason for not dumping the landline.

Yeah, that's the reason we keep the landline, too. We don't even own a cell phone because DH wears hearing aids and has trouble hearing on DD's cell phone.

Also, DH has huge hands and can't even begin to be able to dial those little tiny buttons

[starving_student]

My cell phone is giving me headache. Proven link with cancer or not, I am getting rid of mine. We got a landline as part of an internet combo for 10$ a month. I will be saving a lot compared to what my cell phone plan used to cost me.

[Broken Arrow]

Uh, just for clarification, cellphones are generally more expensive than landlines. The typical discussion here usually involves a household that has both, and is deciding which to eliminate to reduce the bills. Perhaps I got confused.

No, wait, I just checked the original post, that's what Suze has supposedly recommended. Strange.

Well, anyways, best of luck Pupart.

[JanH]

We keep a landline for hurricane season. Even where we evacuated, you couldn't get through on cell phones as well as the landlines. I used the landlines to call all my creditors and insurance companies. Since we lose power, we have at least one phone that is not cordless.

I, too, hate to give out information on a cell phone. I only use my landline with a cord for those types of calls. I have a credit card with a smaller limit that is dedicated to online use only. That way I can watch for wrong usage. I still don't do many things online yet.

[lrjohnson]

We pay $17 a month for a landline. If I could get two cells and service for that. I'd consider it.