BT Line Activation via SKY / Love Digital

bubbafluff

BT_company_representative wrote: »

Hi bubbafluff,

Just to clarify if BT activate an existing line that has wiring etc intact there is no connection fee. If there has been no line previously at the property or the existing wiring needs replaced or if previous wiring has been removed then an installation fee of £122.50 will be raised. There is a minimum 12 month contract period with all new service, However you are still free to have your calls with another supplier. Hope this helps.

Donna
BT Support

You may want to mention that to your CS who are insisting on £122 connection fee. The line is in place, it was working when we moved in (ie calls received and made), but has recently been disconnected by the previous tenants.

I did enquire as to a brand new line. £122 so I'm told. But then advised that with the line already at the premises it's unlikely an engineer will need to visit as all in place, just needs activated. But that'll be £122 for the privilege of somebody flicking a switch in the exchange.

Everybody says it's free to reactivate the line. Everybody except BT customer services!!

Can you help?? Do you know why CS would be insisting on £122 when they say the line is perfectly fine??

Thanks

BF.

bubbafluff

iniltous wrote: »

If the flat is new build and has never had working tele service, then the full install cost is raised ( bt paid the builder to fit the socket and duct/cables outside, so the first user is charged even though a socket is in the property)....if the line had been used previously by the former occupant of the flat, and there is still a dialtone on the socket, then the line should be able to be 'activated' without charge ( but with lots of other companys apart from BT offering landline service this isnt always the case)
if your flat has got sockets has had service in the past but there is no dialtone on the main socket, then the full install fee applies as bt need to sent out an engineer to re-install the line from the exchange to the socket to get the line working again

I'm afraid I don't understand that. Surely a line with dial tone is active? You may not have a carrier in place to allow for routing of calls but the line is active as connected at the exchange.

No dial tone should surely mean the line is not active? Otherwise what would BT need to do to the line?

I realise that lines are removed from the exchange after a period of time, but there was a dial tone a few weeks back, and well within the standard period before the line is removed from the exchange.

BF.

payless

can we clarify if a fee is charged IF there is a line into house, that was used until last occupiers - no dial tone though ? ( I know there's an offer on to poss get free BUT just interested if this would incur a fee under standard terms)

bubbafluff

payless wrote: »

can we clarify if a fee is charged IF there is a line into house, that was used until last occupiers - no dial tone though ? ( I know there's an offer on to poss get free BUT just interested if this would incur a fee under standard terms)

Hi, do you have a link to the offer? I have managed to get another carrier to switch it on for £30 but would of course prefer FREE!!


BF.

payless

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Notice09_boo/2-FrameworkImpl337855.htm

bubbafluff

Thanks for that. Right pain to deal with, unless you are firing out the calls each month they'll hit you with charge after charge.

Looks like the £30 deal is a better option, unless somebody from BT can sort out the free activation and standard 12mth contract? :beer:

BF.

silvercar

My parents have just moved to a new build flat. There are soclets in place but obviously there has never been an active line. They have arranged with sky to have BB, sky TV and phone line and sky have said there is no connection charge.

Only downside is that it is taking sky 6 weeks to find them a phone number and complete the install!

RiCh_2

silvercar wrote: »

My parents have just moved to a new build flat. There are soclets in place but obviously there has never been an active line. They have arranged with sky to have BB, sky TV and phone line and sky have said there is no connection charge.

Only downside is that it is taking sky 6 weeks to find them a phone number and complete the install!

Did your parents order from Sky themselves or were they put in touch with a local installation company?

Just asking as im in the same position. Just moved in to a new build flat and wanted to get sky hd and my phone line activated.Sky said they cant offer me anything and i need order through a local specialist. The last company i spoke to was charging £39 to activate my BT line so i could join Sky Talk, they said that is how much Sky charges everyone. I think if you sign up to Sky directly through them they can offer a better deal and can offer free phone line activation. Its just a shame that i live in a flat and need to deal with a local installer.

silvercar

They are in a flat. They contacted sky themselves, but it was a local contractor that actually fitted their TV installation; still waiting for phone and broadband.

fluffboo

Hi..have only just found this thread - I posted this on the main "BT free connection thread" but this thread seems to be closer to my issue so Im posed it here as well...

As I refer to in the title we are moving into a rented house and the previous tenant had BT and the phone has a dialtone so I am assuming the line can just be reactivated (Won't dial out but I can do a 17070 to find the number)... as it says on the website

"Connecting a new BT line costs £122.50 (incl. VAT). This charge only applies in some cases, but before we can confirm this we need to check your property. Most of our new customers find they don't need to pay this charge.
If your home has had a 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. But where there's no suitable BT line available in your property, no dialling tone on the line, or if you have been disconnected for non-payment in the past, the standard connection charge will apply."

Ive started an order for a new line - to reactivate this line - and Im waiting for the "Survey" - but rang the Home Movers Department to see whats involved in moving my number over (seems Ive done this the wrong way round) but the BT Rep has a quick look at the system and says I will need to pay the 122.50 after all - Something to do with the length of time (can only be a matter of months) since deactivation (or whatever state its in) How can this be? I seem to have the classic "no charge" situation above - Is there a chance he may be wrong and the Survey comes back ok? - I don't want to sign up for the 18 months free connection deal with all its catches - I was hoping for a bog standard 12 month deal Help!!