A recent post detailed that PDPL and DV are not the same , the functionality of DV voicemail, using on line menus or directly from the phone keypad to alter settings isn’t available on the PDPL version of voicemail, it’s a basic ‘cut down’ telephone service never designed to be a forever service , only available to existing phone only customers and a short term solution to these customers removal from PSTN but not practical to provide DV as they don’t have broadband , apparently you need to call to change settings or turn it off completely.
In this case the OP neighbour never had voicemail, so turning it off completely puts them back to the position they were in previously when on PSTN , and seems the most appropriate action to take, especially if they way PDPL voicemail needs to be managed ( via calls to customer service ) is ‘unacceptable’ to the user .
TBH , if something is offered for free but isn’t to the users liking, but the option remove it is available, it’s difficult to see the case for complaining about it , use it as it is , or turn it off seems a reasonable choice .
