ISPs that provide phone line too?

TheChillPill

I'm soon to be moving into a brand new property, currently with a BT socket, but as it's a new build, never been connected.

BT want to charge me an arm and a leg to connect the line, then obviously I need to order broadband thereafter.

So, I figured I'd look at providers that can provide the telephone line aswell as the broadband (in the hope that I can be provided with both of them at the same time).

Only one I can find so far is Bulldog - they will connect for £1, and both services are activated the same day. My only concern with them is that I keep reading about horrendous turnaround times getting connected.

Any other providers offering something similar? (cable is out of the question - NTL said they wont go into a new property).

wealthsaver

TheChillPill wrote:

BT want to charge me an arm and a leg to connect the line, then obviously I need to order broadband thereafter.

So, I figured I'd look at providers that can provide the telephone line aswell as the broadband (in the hope that I can be provided with both of them at the same time).

I think you will find that the installer of your physical landline termination at your house will be an employee of BT. They are responsible for the last mile from the exchange. I think they are rebranding to Openreach currently.

The other providers of a line acutually co-locate their own DSLAM equipment in BT Exchanges and connect the phone copper pair to the HDF (Handover distribution frame). BT then jumper to the MDF (Mux distribution frame) that runs out to your house. Whichever LLU ISP you choose will have this restriction. What you are paying for is the transfer of billing and the line rental for phone service. BT are the incumbant monopoly except where you are lucky enought to have Telewest or NTL.

Example of Bulldog broadband connection fee.
Connection
£1.00 if you transfer your line from BT
£60.00 if you want a new line.
This is required for cable (NTL and Telewest) customers.

I suspect the £60 charge is for the Openreach business to connect your house to the local exchange.

TheChillPill

No, Bulldog are not charging for a new line - the £1 connection fee is the only charge they are making. Thats why the idea is so appealing - I get to save a bundle not having to get BT to connect me in the first place.

mhendo

At £1 connection, this is your best best (I did the same in the middle of last year, but it took them months & months to get the new line arranged, due to capacity issues on their own network).

I would never recommend Bulldog, but if you can cope with a less than perfect ADSL service for 6 months and poor technical support then you'll be fine. I signed up when it was still a 1 month contract period. Unfortunately its now 6 months - once that is up you can continue with Bulldog, or if you wish to transfer to BT you can call BT and ask for the "return to donor" service (this is the process of transferring the line from Bulldog's network to BT's).

A good way of getting out of the £75 BT connection fee.

Note, the Bulldog £1 new line fee offer ends today so get your order in quick.

TheChillPill

Thanks - I have placed an order with bulldog. I'll watch the progress of that over the next few days, and see if they stick to their own ideas of when things should happen. If it starts looking bleak, I'll bite the bullet and go with BT.