leaving VM; concerned re affording pos BT reconnection fee

catalina66

Hi :-)

Basically my questions are due to having had enough of Virgin Media already, but to then also find out just now through reading threads that VM is allied with Phorm … last straw! (have signed the petition).

I want to move to O2 asap (Virgin, O2 LLU, TalkTalk, BT and Sky are available in my area). There’s a BT socket in the flat that can be reconnected, but BT’s site says it can cost £122.33 to reconnect, which I won’t know until after placing the order … I don’t have that money at all, and wanted to ask others’ experience before risking that kind of leap.

BT say that “If your home has had telephone service from BT in the recent past, and the wiring and socket is undamaged and the line still has dialling tone, it's likely you won't need to pay this charge”. Have never used the BT socket that was already here when I moved in 5 years ago, but I’ve just plugged in an old phone I have no idea if is broken or not, and there’s not a dialling tone, so am a bit worried. Haven’t got another phone to test the socket with. I can’t risk the £122.33 charge though, as I can’t afford that at all! Anybody can reassure about this?

Many thanks, Cat

PS tried to edit colours pasted over from Word, but can't!

PaulK_3

You won't get a dial tone as its not connected at the exchange end at a guess. As long as they line works when commisioned at the exchange end you probably won't get charged, if the engineer has to sort out your socket etc then you may get charged.Trouble is that unless you get it cast iron guaranteed by BT in writing you will not know if you will be charged and no one here can tell you either.

Altarf

catalina66 wrote: »

Have never used the BT socket that was already here when I moved in 5 years ago

Was your house/flat new when you moved in? If not did the previous owner use BT?

BT pay developers to install phone lines to new developments, so just because there is a BT socket doesn't mean than it has ever been connected and you would have to pay.

However BT are doing a deal until the end of March where the connection charge is £29.35 - https://www.secureorder.bt.com/phone/anytimesignup/ more details at the end of this thread - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=211879

catalina66

Many thanks PaulK and Altarf

I'm thinking I'd best call them to ask, after reading the thread you linked me to altarf. Flat is 30 years old, but I haven't used the socket in the 5 years I've been here. I don't know if the previous owner used BT for definite, and really hadn't crossed my mind that the socket may be just installed but unused to date. Learnt something there!

Many thanks for telling me about the cheaper connection charge. Had no idea. Am I right in understanding that if I call them and ask first if there actually is a line and then about the £29.35 connection charge, that I have to take on a call package also? Can I just ask for the connection charge and then pay the line rental? (read that need to make 10 chargeable calls a month too for the 18 months). Noticed in the other thread that they can give an idea of the charge that may be made generally when first call, but also people posting saying agreements not honoured, so to take the name/date/time of call. Scary stuff! Even the lower charge I'd struggle with, but noticed someone on the other thread had been offered that they can pay in installments, but had a job getting BT to honour this. Keeping a record about calls is looking a really good idea!

Many thanks, Cat

iniltous

If the BT line hasnt been used in the last 5 years you would will almost certainly be charged the full install price.....BT offer a reduced install price (£30) but you have to take a calls and rental contract but this would allow you to have O2 as an ISP but obviously you wouldnt be able to move your calls or line rental to another service provider without paying a penalty within the BT contract period.
The bit about making a number of chargable calls per month or quarter is to qualify for 'free' caller display and '1571' (BT answer) if you
dont want that you dont have to have it, as far as paying the install charge monthly, if you have no previous billing history with BT, they may not allow paying for the install monthly, thay may even insist on you paying a deposit as well as the install charge

catalina66

iniltous wrote: »

If the BT line hasnt been used in the last 5 years you would will almost certainly be charged the full install price.....BT offer a reduced install price (£30) but you have to take a calls and rental contract but this would allow you to have O2 as an ISP but obviously you wouldnt be able to move your calls or line rental to another service provider without paying a penalty within the BT contract period.
The bit about making a number of chargable calls per month or quarter is to qualify for 'free' caller display and '1571' (BT answer) if you
dont want that you dont have to have it, as far as paying the install charge monthly, if you have no previous billing history with BT, they may not allow paying for the install monthly, thay may even insist on you paying a deposit as well as the install charge

Many thanks iniltous for putting things so directly. Needn't spend any more time worrying about it now, plus was thinking it was all looking a bit shaky! Accepting I'm stuck with good old Virgin Media for now!
Much appreciate all responses. Many thanks again, Cat :beer:

duchy

Sky do their own line inst[FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]alltions now. I think you'll be ple[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]asently surprised -I w[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]as !
Ended up been either £10 or £30 in the end (c[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]a[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]n't remember [/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]and w[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]aiting for the bill now)
I h[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]ad st[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]ayed with Virgin for too long sinply bec[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]ause I refused to p[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]ay BT such [/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]an outr[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]a[/FONT][FONT=verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]gous fee !
[/FONT]

catalina66

Many thanks duchy, and yes, must have been great to not have to cover the fee plus get out of VM after waiting! Will look into Sky.

EDIT: forgot to say I'm not with Sky at all now, so couldn't just sign up with them for cheap broadband?

Thanks, Cat

jhp

iniltous wrote: »

The bit about making a number of chargable calls per month or quarter is to qualify for 'free' caller display and '1571' (BT answer) i

If you take up the BT £30 connection offer on a 18 month contract,you have to agree to make 10 inclusive or chargeable calls a month irrespective of whether you want inclusive caller display and 1571 or not.

To qualify for inclusive caller display and 1571 on BT you only in fact need to make 2 inclusive/chargeable calls a month.

Sky seem to have withdrawn their recent FREE connection offer.