BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

Heinz

It's swings and roundabouts.

In the 9 homes I've lived in, I have only had to pay BT line installation once (and that just had to be the place where I wanted 2 lines so had to pay double).

So, in effect, I 'won' 8 times out of 9.

Hopefully, you will benefit in a similar manner as you move on.

patwa_2

I know this is oversimplifying the matter a lot, and to many people is well beyond the point of this whole thread, but:

Taking a six month stay at a new flat.
Installation for a new line is £125. Let's imagine the most conservative user spending £5 a month on calls, which is an additional £30 over the 6 months. So £150 in total, or an average £25 a month. Basic mobile phone is £20. So you're down to £21.50 a month, with on a basic PAYG tariff is 100 mins of calls a month.

Do you REALLY need a landline? Are you REALLY looking at saving money yourself or for the cost saving to the person calling you? For broadband, maybe you could use wireless broadband, or even some of the pay-per-day GPRS tariffs via a mobile phone.

A friend of mine has a mobile phone, he pays about £10 a month for calls, and about £10 a month for internet (that's 10 days usage £1 a day).

I guess what I'm trying to say is, think outside the box. You have to balance convenience with cost, desire with convenience.

Cheers and take care.

Hussein.

hammy_the_hammer

to be blunt if the BT connection charge is such an issue for people moving into a new property ( bought or rented ) they should maybe look for a more suitable property ie one with previous phone service.
the last charge on my mind that i think i might have been 'shafted' over when going through the buying stage is the BT one. do you really think you have had great value for money from the estate agent, solicitor etc

tulips

This question is aimed at macminiuser but I welcome replies from all. Thanks!

I have a similar problem to others (renting for 6 months, so don't want to be tied in for 12).

I understand you work for youcalls so don't worry about that. In your post on page two of this thread you alluded to a company that could install a line (via openreach) for a few pounds less than BT and then not tie you into a 12 month contract. I assume that this company was yourcalls? Also what is the situation regarding broadband with a yourcalls supplied line? Are there any restrictions or are you open to the market available to a tradational BT line? Cheers.

mattyh

Just thought i'd lump in on this debate, as i'm just about to move into a new-build rented property for 3 months before moving into my own new-build after that. Net result if I want BT to connect me is £125 TWICE!

Hell will freeze over before I pay that, and i'm surprised at how much unjustified love there is for BT in this forum! I don't accept the argument about recouping costs, that just shows a lack of understanding of simple economies of scale. It's the equivalent of visiting a newly opened shop for a loaf of bread and them charging you a £10 fee to go towards the cost of their new tills!! (Hey, they're not free y'know.....)

There's no competition in our case, so BT has a monopoly here and should be investigated.

ahrimaniac

'There's no competition in our case, so BT has a monopoly here and should be investigated.'

Or, the cable companies could be investigated for not providing a service where they don't think they'll recoup the costs?

Or is that alright, but it's not OK for BT to attempt to reclaim some of the costs of providing a line at almost any requested address?

What right do you have to a BT line?

mattyh

No right at all, that's not my argument.

My argument is that they're deliberately using their position to stiff a bit extra money out of people, when they know very well that having a connected BT line in a property will obviously pay for itself many hundreds (thousands?) of times over during it's lifetime.

ahrimaniac

'My argument is that they're deliberately using their position to stiff a bit extra money out of people, when they know very well that having a connected BT line in a property will obviously pay for itself many hundreds (thousands?) of times over during it's lifetime.'

Nope - you don't have to use the BT line, it's not being 'forced upon you'. If you want a line, ask cable to put one in, or there are a couple of other landline providers, like Bulldog were for example.

Or do you want the BT line for the benefits of using CPS's, any broadband you like?

hurrah

mattyh wrote:

No right at all, that's not my argument.

My argument is that they're deliberately using their position to stiff a bit extra money out of people, when they know very well that having a connected BT line in a property will obviously pay for itself many hundreds (thousands?) of times over during it's lifetime.

Get real. Like any other business they have to recoup their initial outlay to provide the service.Thats all they are doing nothing more,nothing less.You get nowt for nowt in this world.:D

mattyh

I'd use NTL broadband if it was in the area, it's a good product, but it's not available here. I don't care about the politics of that.

You don't make reference to my point that hits the nail right on the head and demonstrates BTs greed completely. However much it costs BT to install a line, they can pretty much rely on having line rental paid on it more or less constantly for the next 100 years? Beyond?

So charging an installation fee like this is ludicrous. All business has up-front costs and a break-even point - why is this any different?