line rental/query

nogginthenog

Hi guys
could anyone tell me if i change my line rental from BT to another provider,say for instance Talk Talk. can i still shop around for a isp.
most isp's seem to stipulate BTline is needed, but i am wondering if
Talk Talk or post office can really stop anybody using there prefered isp. :xmassign:
merry christmas
everyone

chris

Heinz

Don't think so - but changing will certainly stop you using any CPS service for any of your calls.

AP

You are still able to choose any broadband ISP since your line is still a BT line and it is only that the line rental is billed by a different telephone company.

However, you must CPS your calls with the same telco that bills your line rental, though in my case, my line rental is billed by One.Tel, I'm still able to use the indirect access providers like 1899, 18866, etc.

phoneman44

Not entirely true, as although the line is provided by BT Wholesale it is leased directly to the service provider, which gives them direct control over your line. If you are looking at a ISP package where the ISP has a relationship with BT retail then you may run into problems.

Also be aware that if you put all of your calls via services such as 18866, your new line provider will soon cotton on and they have the ability to bar calls to short code access numbers on a line by line basis.

paul_h

phoneman44 wrote:

Also be aware that if you put all of your calls via services such as 18866, your new line provider will soon cotton on and they have the ability to bar calls to short code access numbers on a line by line basis.

As far as I know, no one using onetel has been barred from using indirect access numbers - I certainly haven't...

If they do eventually decide to change this, there's nothing stopping you moving your LR back to BT - In fact BT are currently ringing ex-customers offering them money (off next bill) to come back...

AP

paul_h wrote:

As far as I know, no one using onetel has been barred from using indirect access numbers - I certainly haven't...

If they do eventually decide to change this, there's nothing stopping you moving your LR back to BT - In fact BT are currently ringing ex-customers offering them money (off next bill) to come back...

Is there any way to stop BT from doing this - unsolicited sales/marketing calls? I've just taken up One.Tel's line rental and as I signed up before 30/11/05, I'm looking forward to my one month's free rental after six months.

Edinburghlass_2

I would have thought that if you were moving your line rental to another company other than BT it would be for a "deal" including free phone calls and therefore would not be putting all calls through 1899/18866/18185 anyway and would be unlikely to be stopped from doing so.

My main concern for shifting my line rental is that in my area we often have line faults and I would prefer to be at the top of BT's fault list rather than the bottom for fixing them.

However, as the question asked is about choice of ISP, moving paying your line rental to another supplier won't affect this.

Premier_2

AP wrote:

Is there any way to stop BT from doing this - unsolicited sales/marketing calls?

There certainly is.

You can either register with the TPS to prevent all unsolicited sales/marketing calls (at least those originating from the UK or representing UK companies).

Or if it is just BT you dont want calling you, call them first and inform them of your wishes - they have to comply by law.

paul_h

Edinburghlass wrote:

My main concern for shifting my line rental is that in my area we often have line faults and I would prefer to be at the top of BT's fault list rather than the bottom for fixing them.

This was one of my concerns when moving line rental.

However, you get the exact same guarantee of response with Onetel as you do with BT - i.e. response within 1 working day if a fault is reported before 5pm, excluding bank holidays.

The difference with Onetel is that you can choose an enhanced level of cover for an extra monthly fee if you wish - BT also offer the same services, but only to business customers and at slightly higher prices than Onetel's.

The highest level of cover - 'Premium Care Plus' - provides 365 days per year cover and a response guaranteed within four hours.

Note that Onetel offer this free to anyone on home renal dialysis machinery, home peritoneal dialysis machinery, artificial ventilator or anyone who is housebound due to chronic long term illness or disability.

This is worth £3.80 per month.

Premier_2

Aye, but it is only the BT engineers who can work on the BT lines/exchanges etc.

Who do you think will be given priority? BT's own customers or their competitors?

paul_h

Premier wrote:

Aye, but it is only the BT engineers who can work on the BT lines/exchanges etc.

Who do you think will be given priority? BT's own customers or their competitors?

I know what you're saying, but the guarantee of service is the same.

At the end of the day, you are still a customer of BT Wholesale who operates and maintains the infrastructure, albeit via a different retail company.

:santa2: