£120 to convert from LLU to BT

msabet

Hello,

I have found a good phone + broadband deal with TalkTalk. So thinking to switch from my current Plusnet. However Plusnet is warning me that when my contract with TalkTalk ends in 18 months time. I will be liable to pay £120 to BT when I go from TalkTalk's LLU (Local Loop Unbundle) back to BT. I am on standard BT line in my road and not any cable company. Could any body advise me on this? I have not heard of LLU before. Should I switch? Is LLU any good?

regards,
Mas

456789

topic about it here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=691707

LLU = Local Loop Unbundling - basically in this case TalkTalk have installed some of their own equipment in the local BT telephone exchange and you will get connected to that for your internet - as it is their own equipment they can avouid the fixed charge that they have to pay BT to use their equipment and can offer a cheaper deal.

So if you switched back to a non-LLU provider (or possible another LLU) an engineer would have to go to the exchange and connect you back to BT's equipment - I think this is what the charge is for

If the saving from the new broadband is more than £120 it may be a charge you can put up with.

which providers do you have access to? http://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php

as for whether LLU is any good it depends on the company - generally BeThere/O2/Sky/UKonline are considered good and TalkTalk/AOL/Orange not so good (read the other threads around here for more info)

GeoThermal

It is rediculous that this charge isn't opening explained when speaking to ISPs.

Camp_Freddy

It's highly suspicious given that a company like Be (as one example) only charges £24 as a connection fee for, I would imagine, the same thing as BT, only at 20% of the cost.

456789

Camp_Freddy wrote: »

It's highly suspicious given that a company like Be (as one example) only charges £24 as a connection fee for, I would imagine, the same thing as BT, only at 20% of the cost.

Not suspicious it just happens that BT is a rip-off :mad:

TalkTalk

Hi Guys,

If you are on an LLU package with TalkTalk or any other provider then there would be no cost to return the line to BT under a "return to donor", there would be a contract period with BT though. If BT are telling you otherwise you need to speak to the Options team.

Cheers
EmmaL x

WhoKilledBambi?

Camp_Freddy wrote: »

It's highly suspicious given that a company like Be (as one example) only charges £24 as a connection fee for, I would imagine, the same thing as BT, only at 20% of the cost.

Be charge £24 for connecting broadband, the £120ish charge from BTw is for a new phone line. Two entirely different things.
In saying that there shouldn't be any fee involved returning to BT from full LLU under reverse migration. It is possible however as is the possibility of losing your number.
Be aware that TT may well be raising their prices shortly and in any case once BT start rolling out their FTTC kit LLU will die a death - http://www.samknows.com/broadband/news/bt-superfast-broadband-ofcom-speaks-522.html
And TT will be up for sale at the end of the year.

JohalaReewi

You might want to find other TalkTalk customers and check their experiences and search the forums.

My dad was with plusnet and decided that the phone+broadband deal from talk talk was too good and jumped ship. He was LLUed and sent a Talk Talk router which was useless. He was unable to use his own router (TalkTalk support refused to talk to him about it) so he had no internet. He then decided to cancel Talk Talk (after less than a week) under their leave within 30 days and you don't pay offer. He then got a bill from Talk Talk for transferring the line from BT to TalkTalk LLU. He also got a another bill from BT to move the line back to BT.

Also, Talk Talk block indirect phone services (like 18185 and 1280) which may be a problem for you if you use these services.

JohalaReewi

TalkTalk_Company_Representative wrote: »

Hi Guys,

If you are on an LLU package with TalkTalk or any other provider then there would be no cost to return the line to BT under a 'return to donor' there would be a contract period with BT though. If BT are telling you otherwise you need to speak to the Options team.

Cheers
EmmaL x

Is there a Talk Talk contact number my Dad can call to arrange this? He is being billed by both Talk Talk and BT for doing just this.

TalkTalk

If the account is in contract then TalkTalk will charge a cessation fee if you move back within the term. The only time this would not be the case is if the account was being taken back in the first 30 days. If BT are applying charges then you need to speak to the BT Options team to see why they are doing this.

To be 100% clear you should not request that TalkTalk cancel your service altough you should call the retentions team to provide the relevant notice that the account will be moving to another provider. You then need to contact the BT Options team and request a "return to donor" also known as a "reverse migration" which will be free of charge.

Cheers
EmmaL x