Help and Support

What to look for when buying a home phone

We appreciate how important it is that you have equipment that suits your needs in order to get the most from your service.

This page describes some of the features on modern handsets that are designed to help people who might have difficulties using a standard phone.

Some of these features will be available on most modern phones, but some are a bit more unusual and might require a specific make or model. If you're looking to purchase a new home phone, we recommend that you visit our Telephones buying guide

  1. Hearing
  2. Sight
  3. Mobility
  4. Dexterity
  5. Understanding and using technology
  6. Other features and services

Hearing

If you have difficulties with your hearing, here are some phone features that may help you:

  • Hearing aid compatibility: You can buy phones that are specifically designed to be compatible with hearing aids, to prevent any buzzing or interfere.
  • Hands-free options: Some phones have a hands-free option, such as a nce loudspeaker or separate headphones. This means that the sound can travel to both ears. It also allows for easy note taking.
  • Separate keypad: A lot of phones have the keypad built into the handset which sits by your ear. However, a phone with the keys on the base unit will allow you to keep the handset next to your ear if you need to press any buttons during the call.
  • Visual call indicators: You can get handsets with a visual call indicator, such as a flashing light, to let you know when someone is calling you.
  • Amplify button: Most phones should have a volume control which allows you to boost the sound of the ringtone and the incoming volume of the other caller. You can also get phones that make your own voice louder for the other person.
  • Two-way recording: Two-way recording allows you to record parts of a phone conversation and replay it later.
  • Slow playback: Some phones allow for slow playback of recorded messages, so that you can take down details more easily.

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Sight

The term 'visual impairment' covers a wide range of types and degrees of sight loss, which can affect people in different ways. If you have a visual impairment, here are some features to consider when you're choosing a phone:

  • Large buttons: Some phones have specially designed, oversized keys with good contrast between the background colour and the number. This makes the buttons more prominent and easier to use.
  • Keypad with sounds: Many phones play an audible beep when a button is pressed. Some even have a different sound for each button, helping you dial more accurately.
  • Backlit keypad: You can get phones that have a light under each button to make the buttons more defined.
  • Button 5: Most home phones have a raised dot on button number 5 to help you navigate around the keypad.

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Mobility

Having difficulty moving around doesn't have to affect a person's independence. Here are some ideas to help make the phone work harder for you:

  • Cordless phones: Many modern phones are now cordless, meaning you can keep it with so you don't have to go to a fixed place to make or receive calls.
  • Answer machine: Many phones now have an inbuilt answering machine service so callers can leave a message if you can't get to the phone.

    We also offer a free '1571' Voicemail service, which acts like a built-in answerphone to make sure you don't miss a call. Free Voicemail is included with all our phone packages. You can switch it on or off from within the Phone Control Panel.

    We offer some additional features with Voicemail Extra, which currently costs £3 a month. With Voicemail Extra you can check your voicemail messages from a mobile phone and it also allows other options, like choosing the number of rings before the voicemail service kicks in. Find out more about Voicemail and Voicemail Extra.
  • Additional handsets: You can connect more than one handset to your line. This means you could have one upstairs and one downstairs, or in all the areas of your home you use the most, making it easier to reach the phone when you are called.

If you'd like phones in several different rooms, you might need extension cables or extra sockets. You can buy extension socket kits and cables from DIY and electrical shops.

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Dexterity

If you find it hard to pick up a phone handset or hold it to your ear, look out for some of these features

  • Easy-grip handset: Some phones are specially designed so they are easier to handle, making them more comfortable and practical to use.
  • Hands-free/headset option: Many phones have a hands free option, so you can set your phone down and hear what's being said without having to hold the handset to your ear. Additionally, some phones have a port to plug in a headset, so you can still have a private conversation without having to hold the handset.
  • Large buttons: You can buy a handset with particularly large and well-spaced buttons, making it easier to accurately press one button at a time.
  • Memory buttons: Some handsets have a memory feature, meaning you can store numbers you use regularly and call them by just pressing one or two buttons.
  • Pre-dial check: This feature shows the number entered, so you can check you're dialling the right one. Numbers can be dialled with no worries about being disconnected before the dialling has finished, and you can confirm the correct number has been dialled before it connects.
  • Fixed telephone: Some phones can be wall mounted for more stability when you're dialling.

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Understanding and using technology

Learning disabilities and mental health conditions can bring their own communication challenges. So can issues with memory or understanding resulting from, say, dementia, brain damage or the effects of a stroke. If you, or someone you know, struggles with issues like this, consider a phone with the following features:

  • Memory buttons: Easily accessible memory buttons, like speed dial (one touch) or quick dial (two touch) buttons. This means you can store the numbers you call most often and ring them by pressing one or two buttons, without the need to remember the whole number.
  • Pre-dial check: This feature allows you to read back the number entered, so you can double check you're dialling the right one.
  • Emergency button: Some phones have a built-in emergency button, which you can use to call for help in an emergency.
  • Keypad lock: This feature allows you to lock the phone (normally by pressing a certain key combination) to stop calls being made until you decide to unlock it
  • Different ringtones:If you feel anxious about speaking to people you don't know, using different ringtones can help. With some phones, you can set different ringtones for each person you know. So when they call, you'll be able to tell who it is straight away.
  • Two-way recording: This feature lets you record your conversations. This can be useful as you can play the conversation back afterwards to make sure you didn't miss anything, and to remind you of what was said in the call.

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Other features and services

For people who have difficulties using the phone, one of the most helpful things can be to block or avoid unwanted calls. The following features may help with this:

  • Nuisance call blocking: You can now purchase phones with built-in technology that will identify and block unsolicited marketing calls. This means the phone won't even ring and you won't be bothered by the unwanted intrusion
  • Caller display: Caller display is a feature where your phone will display the number of the person calling you, meaning you can choose not to answer if you don't recognise the number. To use caller display with us, you will need to activate the service. To find out more, see our article on call features

Don't forget, we also offer a range of other services designed to help customers with disabilities and vulnerabilities. These include:

  • Allowing a third party to manage your account
  • Access to your bill and other documents in large print, braille or audio formats
  • Free directory enquiries services
  • Free priority fault repair for phone lines
  • Text relay services
  • Emergency SMS services
Find more information about these other features and services

We hope you've found this page useful. If you want to buy a new handset for yourself or someone you know, you can do this online or in one of our shops.

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For your information

John Lewis Broadband is provided by Plusnet plc.

John Lewis Broadband is a trading name of John Lewis plc, but the services are provided by Plusnet and the contract for these services is between you and Plusnet plc.

Broadband and Fibre Broadband

To sign up to one of John Lewis Broadband's services, you will also have to sign up to John Lewis Broadband Phone, both on a 12-month contract. John Lewis Broadband Phone includes the Evening and Weekend† call plan as standard. You can choose to take one of our other call plans at an additional monthly charge.

*Broadband speed is described as 'average download speed of 10Mb' and 'average upload speed of 1Mb' as it is based on speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time (8-10pm). Your actual speed will be dependent on your location, phone line, home wiring, wifi connection and time of day. Find out why speeds vary. Check your speed and products available at your location at www.johnlewisbroadband.com.

*Fibre broadband speed is described as'average download speed of 36Mb' and 'average upload speed of 9Mb' on Fibre and 'average download speed of 66Mb' and 'average upload speed of 18Mb' on Fibre Extra as it is based on speed available to at least 50% of customers at peak time (8-10pm). Your actual speed will be dependent on your location, phone line, home wiring, wifi connection and time of day. Find out why speeds vary. Check your speed and products available at your location at www.johnlewisbroadband.com.

Our broadband contracts: You must sign-up to a 12-month contract for one of the broadband services (John Lewis Broadband Unlimited, Fibre or Fibre Extra) and John Lewis Broadband Phone. If you choose to end either or both services within the minimum period, you will have to pay an early termination charge by way of compensation for ending your service(s) early. This charge depends on your monthly price and the length of time remaining in your minimum term. How we calculate these charges is set out in the Price Guide.

Phone

To sign up to the John Lewis Broadband Phone service, you will also have to sign up to one of the broadband services (John Lewis Broadband Unlimited, Fibre or Fibre Extra), both on a 12-month contract. If you choose to end either or both services within the minimum period, you will have to pay an early termination charge by way of compensation for ending your service(s) early. This charge depends on your monthly price and the length of time remaining in your minimum term. How we calculate these charges is set out in the Price Guide.

John Lewis Broadband Phone includes the Evening and Weekend† call plan as standard. You can choose to take one of the other call plans at an additional monthly charge. If you need a new phone line installing at your property, there is a £49.99 installation charge (excluding external construction charges). Details on the available call plans are set out below:-

†Call Plans

Evening and Weekend calls: Means calls to UK landlines beginning with 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 made Monday-Friday 19:00-07:00 and anytime Saturday or Sunday (except calls to indirect access numbers (which include calling cards), dial-up Internet access and calls longer than 60 minutes). Calls must be started and finished within these times to be inclusive (non-chargeable) and any call that lasts more than 60 minutes will be chargeable. A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes a month (whichever is reached first) applies to calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers. (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions). Our Evening and Weekend call plan is included as standard when you take John Lewis Broadband Phone.

Anytime calls: Means calls to UK landlines beginning with 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 at anytime (except calls to indirect access numbers (which include calling cards), dial-up Internet access and calls longer than 60 minutes). Anytime also includes a 25% discount on calls to the top 35 international destinations. A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes a month (whichever is reached first) applies to calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers. (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions). Our Anytime call plan costs £6.86 a month.

Anytime and International: Means calls to UK landlines beginning with 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 at anytime (except calls to indirect access numbers (which includes calling cards), dial-up Internet access and calls longer than 60 minutes). Hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes (local) and you won't be charged. Anytime and International also provides 300 inclusive minutes per month to the top 35 international destinations and a 25% discount on any further calls made to those 35 destinations over this amount within the month. Hang up and re-dial before 30 minutes on international calls, whilst in your inclusive minutes, and you won't be charged. A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes a month (whichever is reached first) applies to calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers. (if you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions). Our Anytime and International call plan costs £9.15 a month.

Mobile Bolt-on: Unlimited calls to UK mobile and 070 personal numbering services, hang up and re-dial before 60 minutes and you won't be charged. Mobile Bolt-on is available only to Anytime and Anytime and International call plan customers. A fair usage limit of 150 calls or 1000 minutes (whichever is reached first) a month applies to calls to 070 personal numbering services. If you exceed this limit, we have the right to charge you for further calls made, suspend and/or terminate your service in accordance with our terms and conditions. A Mobile Bolt-on costs £5.00 a month.

Service calls outside of your inclusive minutes: The charge for calls to service numbers beginning 084, 087, 09 and 118 consists of a 9.58p per minute access charge from John Lewis Broadband, plus a service charge set by the company you called. For all John Lewis Broadband Phone pricing, please see our Price Guide.