Re-enable a BT line & no ties broadband

cornish1

I'm not ready to commit to 18 months line rental/broadband with anybody but need to get a BT landline re-enabled and broadband-ed up ASAP.

I've checked the line by dialling 17070 and the number is still current - do I have to ask BT to enable it or is there anyone cheaper/quicker/better ?

Once enabled I only need *incoming calls only, if possible* (a BT monthly contract, I suspect) and cheap broadband with no ties - I expect to sign up for a long term deal with a provider in the summer when I've settled in a bit !

Any advice on:

(a) who to enable the line ?
(b) who to pay line rental to ?
(c) who to get for no ties broadband ? (with a simple/inexpensive exit policy)

Would be most gratefully received !

Many Thanks, Tim

Quentin

a) Don't go to BT or you will end up in a minimum term 12 month contract. Any of the others are a better option - eg phone co-op make a £5.75 charge, with a minimum 3 month contract, post office do it free with no minimum contract.

b) Post office package has free calls all weekend and every evening, plus free calls to mobiles all weekens and free calls to 20 international destinations.

c) harder to find these days as plusnet have stopped doing their no minimum period. If you can get their £6/month deal (18 months), then having to cancel mid term wouldn't be too much. o2 at £7.34 (if you have an 02 mobile), (£40 cashback via quidco) for 12 months is good, and again cancelling early wouldn't be too expensive.

Mike_by_the_Sea

cornish1 wrote: »

(c) who to get for no ties broadband ? (with a simple/inexpensive exit policy)

Would be most gratefully received !

Many Thanks, Tim

Hi Tim

Further to Quentin's good advice, if you don't want to commit to a minimum term, pop over to the

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/

and ask on there for their advice re: any other providers that are still offering monthly contracts.

Good luck

Mike

1carminestocky

Be careful with Post Office Phone and their 'connection charge'.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1586761

I'm still amazed the PO Phone experts like Quentin haven't got involved in this thread and tried to help. He only seems keen to help when someone is considering joining. No idea why.

cornish1

Post Office couldn't guarantee a 'cheap' reconnection, said it might cost 'over £100' where as Phone Co-Op agreed to do it for £5.75 so went with them - will have it done within 5 days too, apparently.

Have signed up for their standard line rental and (probably) Plusnet's cheap 18 month deal via Quidco in a day or 2 - biting the bullet.

Thanks all, for your advice. Tim

Quentin

Glad to help.

No reason why you can't switch to the post office deal to get their included free calls when the 3 months are up with the co-op.

Check out plusnets speed restrictions are ok for what you intend to use the net for.

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/quality_broadband/speed.shtml#1

cornish1

Hmmm .... thanks, Quentin ... that's interesting, I hadn't checked those speeds before and they are a bit poor if I am doing the occasional ... ahem .... peer to peer download ...

Do you know of a value-type provider that offers better speed ?

(Checking madasafish and other now ...)

Quentin

Can you get o2 adsl2? That's flavour of the month, and reasonable if you have a mobile (contract or payg).

cornish1

Don't think so, where I am has no 02 (or Vodafone) reception so no iPhone or 02 ADSL either, tragically !

Could do some PAYG SIM thing and not use it but it's a bit of a schlep …

Reckon I might do the cheapo Plusnet thing anyway, not doing so much peer to peer these days ….

Quentin

No, it's nothing to do with your mobile reception.

Check out your number at samknows and see the options available for your broadband.

cornish1

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/WWBOSC

Does that mean yes ?