# Glad I kept call forwarding on my landline
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-i-kept-call-forwarding-on-my-landline/592480
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 12, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-i-kept-call-forwarding-on-my-landline/592480 "2011-08-12T18:06:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-i-kept-call-forwarding-on-my-landline/592480/1 "2011-08-12T18:06:41Z")
The extra fee for call forwarding always annoys me. I’ve had the option for nearly fifteen years. I don’t even want to add up the extra cost. It’s several bucks a month.
Once in awhile it does come in handy. I gave my land line number to the appliance repairman. I’m off work and at home. But, I’m craving pizza. 😛 So, I’ll press \*72 and 10 digits local phone number and divert to my cell phone.
I’m free. Free at last. \
Last step is the most important. \*73 to turn off forwarding when I get home again. Otherwise I’ll get odd home phone calls that I’m not expecting on my cell.
Technology is so much fun… 😃
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### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-i-kept-call-forwarding-on-my-landline/592480/2 "2011-08-12T19:02:12Z")
You may want to look into VOIP providers like Vonage or PhonePower. They send you a device that you plug your phone into and it works pretty much like a normal phone but the signal goes over the internet. The cost is way less than a traditional land line. Vonage is $25/mo and Phone Power is like $8 (if you get 2 years).
The advantage to VOIP is that they give you every calling feature for free. Call waiting, call forwarding, 3-way-calling, voicemail, ring multiple lines, etc., etc. This way you can have every feature and not feel bad about not using them.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-i-kept-call-forwarding-on-my-landline/592480/3 "2011-08-12T20:55:01Z")
I got curious and checked the phone bill. $6.99 for the _privilege_ of call forwarding from AT&T. $83.88 a year.
times 15 years… 1,258.20
Then the bloody sods wonder why customers despise AT&T. Biggest bunch of vampires out there. They stick me $5.50 a month for an unlisted number too.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-i-kept-call-forwarding-on-my-landline/592480/4 "2011-08-12T21:12:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Then the bloody sods wonder why customers despise AT&T. Biggest bunch of vampires out there. They stick me $5.50 a month for an unlisted number too.
Ahh, but what you’re forgetting is the huge expense they have to go to every time someone de-lists their number.
All of the entries in the phone book after that name have to be moved up one. Not so bad if your name begins with “Z”, a lot of work if it begins with “A”.
They probably have to outsource the work overseas.
🙂