Digital Phone Switchover

FasterBroadband: Digital Voice Tool

We have been contacted by FasterBroadband, offering free support to older, disabled and other people who are finding difficulties with the switch from analogue to digital phones.

Here are some of the free support services offered:

The Digital Voice Switchover Support tool is designed for people who are worried about the change or unsure what to do. Particularly older people, disabled users, carers, and anyone who relies on their landline for emergency contact, telecare alarms, or other connected equipment.

It asks a short series of questions and produces practical next steps, including:

· A ready-to-copy message for their phone or broadband provider

· call or web chat notes so key concerns aren't missed

· a separate message for a telecare or alarm supplier where relevant

· provider contact details where available

The tool is free, contains no advertising or sponsored content, and has been developed as a not-for-profit resource to help people explain their circumstances clearly before their line moves to Digital Voice.

See how FasterBroadband can help here: https://www.fasterbroadband.co.uk/tools/digital-voice-switchover

Telephone No. 01172 800118. It is not constantly manned, you may be able to leave a message and your own phone number for a response.

Alongside the Digital Voice tool, FasterBroadband also provides a few other free resources that may be useful.

Their technical jargon support page lets people type in broadband or phone related terms they do not recognise and get a plain English explanation. The Data breach search is also an opportunity to promote online safety in workshops.

They 'provide the UK’s most comprehensive broadband social tariff support tool'. This is another not-for-profit resource designed to help people receiving qualifying benefits check whether they could move to a lower cost broadband package.

There are also other practical tools on the site, including a data usage calculator, which can help people avoid paying for more broadband than they actually need.

All of these tools include accessibility support.

Please circulate widely to your groups, family, friends, other sources where older people may be having difficulties.  Thank you.