BT customers have been told they must utter five magic words to the telecoms company if they wish to keep their current landline.
The firm is ‘modernising’ its UK phone network, with crews converting analogue lines to digital after the former were deemed too expensive to maintain.
They are following a timetable to transition their entire network by January 27, and firms like Virgin Media and O2, among others, are expected to follow.
While the change to digital is not expected to bring any connection hiccups to analogue households, their reliance on electricity will mean they don’t work during power cuts or other unexpected outages.
Vulnerable Britons who require 24/7 access to their landlines will want to keep their current connections, and they can do so if they tell BT.
Anyone classed as vulnerable who wishes to remain attached to an analogue network – which can operate separately from an internet connection – must inform BT.
Vulnerable Britons are those who claim disability allowance, suffer from mental health issues, or feel confused and anxious about the digital switch.
They may also be people living in isolated areas where power cuts are more commonplace or where there is limited mobile reception.
Those who fall within these criteria must call BT on 0330 1234 150 and press “one”, “one”, and “five” after they reach the automated response.
They must then say “I am a vulnerable customer”, and explain why they don’t want to switch to digital.
People will be informed beforehand whether they live in an area that is being transitioned to the digital service, usually through letter communications.
Those who choose to accept the switch will be given a date on which they can anticipate the switch and a small, palm-sized adapter in the mail that they can plug into an electricity outlet.
The outlet comes equipped with a remote signal that will enable phone calls over the internet via wifi.