Need home broadband for 6 months - but stuck with BT exit and connection fees!

singhy

Hi all,

Long time reader; first time poster - so please be gentle ;-)!

I have just moved into a rented flat on a 6 month lease, as temporary relocation forced upon me by work. I will be moving back to my old flat in 6 months but have sublet in the meantime. My new flat is new-build so there's never been any broadband or phoneline in the flat before. However, I'm desperate for broadband, particularly as I don't have a TV (e.g. for BBC iPlayer), but having looked around the forums and website I seem to have hit a brickwall, so any help would be much appreciated!

1. Virgin Media broadband only would have been great (as I don't care about a landline) - but my new postcode throws up a negative.

2. I considered mobile broadband but i) most are 12-24 month contracts and ii) PAYG broadband is very expensive; moreover as I plan to use iPlayer etc quite a lot the data allowances and speeds I can get in my area aren't satisfactory IMHO.

3. This seems to leave ADSL broadband, which I was keen to get. I found a provider (Be There) which does only 3 month contracts, and have good reviews.
However the problem is I need to get my landline connected first - and it appears BT are the only ones who can do this. There is a BT Openzone socket in the house but to connect it will cost me £125; a pain but having looked around the forums I seem to have no choice (the landlord won't pay).

Fine that I have to take a 12-month contract on the line when they connect it; fine as long as I can pass over the line to the new tenant in 6 months time. They categorically told me I could not do this, and that I would have to carry on paying line rental after I leave (or pay a £70 exit fee). Once more, they said the new tenant would also have to pay line rental and they would force 2 people to pay £11/month for the same line! Considering that I have to pay £185 over 6 months already for a phoneline which I won't even use, this £70 fee was the final straw, and I told them I couldn't afford to pay this (note the flat I am moving back to already has a landline). I've now reached a dead-end, please, has anyone got any ideas?

In particular:
- Am I missing any options?
- Does anyone know whether it is true that I cannot pass on the BT contract when my tenancy ends in 6 months?
- Is there anyone else who can connect and provide the phone line for 6 months only?

Thank you everyone for help!

Mike_by_the_Sea

Hi singhy

Have you tried the post office? They install lines as well and their phone package doesn't have a minimum term. The last I knew it cost £107 for installation by the PO.

singhy

Thanks Mike; I didn't know that and I spoke to them and you're right; it's only £107 for installation and there's no phone package minimum term! Great!

Only problem is it will take over 2 weeks to get an engineer (they said BT give BT customers priority) and then I have to get Be Broadband on top, which will probably take a few more weeks - but to be honest, its all worth it just so I don't have to give BT any money!

Thanks for the very helpful reply!