We have a Panasonic with 4 handsets that we really like, but we've only had it a few months, so I can't speak to how long it will last.

Have you tried letting the battery completely discharge? I've heard that if you always leave some of these electronics in the recharger, they never fully charge. You have to let it run completely down and then it should accept a full charge. Don't know if it will work for you, but it might be worth a try (assuming you have another phone in the house to use).

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Linda