BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

sobnan

sobnan wrote: »

Hi can some one please enlighten me on my little problem.
I moved house in September, it didn't have a phone line and we got one installed with BT and of course paid what ever it was £110 I think. Anyway, BT changed their terms and conditions, which didn't suit us so we got out of the contract about 6 months later. We got out of the contract in March. Now we are looking to have a land line again (haven't had one since March). Post Office home phone say they are going to charge me to have a line put in.I have told them I already have a line and I paid for it only 6 months ago.But they say the number has gone to another address since and maybe it isn't connected to the exchange.
I have a phone line installed already and it has a tone as well.Basically I don't have a choice. Either
a) I pay for a land line again
b)Or I go back to BT
Can someone tell me if this is right? Do I have to pay again?
Thank you
So Confused

Well the engineer did come today and he said that I already had a line and it was working and he did not understand why the company had sent him out!! This is what I had been telling Post Office Home Phone all along!
I have taken his name and all so I can put up a fight.
But it takes so long, and is such a tedious process I guess that's why most people just end up paying... but not this time!!
Grrrrr

FannyHill

They want to try and make every visit chargeable whether it is or not......it's all about the money BT and Openreach are not interested in the customer.
Some other telecoms seem to be the same they want to charge if they possibly can even if you have a phoneline and a dialtone they will try and find a reason to charge.


BT/Openreach have people who check over engineers visits to try and find a reason to charge if the engineer hasn't charged for the visit.


Get as much as you can off of the mugs....... that's the way business is done nowadays.
Send them a bill and if they argue we'll deal with that later.

Mr_Oink

FannyHill wrote: »

They want to try and make every visit chargeable whether it is or not......it's all about the money BT and Openreach are not interested in the customer.
Some other telecoms seem to be the same they want to charge if they possibly can even if you have a phoneline and a dialtone they will try and find a reason to charge.


BT/Openreach have people who check over engineers visits to try and find a reason to charge if the engineer hasn't charged for the visit.


Get as much as you can off of the mugs....... that's the way business is done nowadays.
Send them a bill and if they argue we'll deal with that later.

There is pressure to charge people - but there are two sides to this. Many faults *are* down to customer equipment and wiring and they seem to think it is BT's job to sort it out for free. That is pretty unreasonable and I fully support BT/Openreach charging in these circumstances with the caveat the customer is capable of unplugging their equipment / extensions for checking. I fully support the introduction of the external NTE where pulling out a simple plug will *isolate* the customers equipment/wiring for testing.

However, in this case this test does not apply. In my opinion (and if I have read and followed this correctly) the issue here is the Communications Provider (CP)(Post Office Telephones in this case) limiting outbound calls for whatever reason. This again is not the remit of BT Openreach to fix. It looks like an issue with the programming of the CP's exchange and network infrastructure. So Openreach should (and quite rightly) charge for this visit. It's not a fault with their plant or circuit. It could be the number has not been successfully imported into the CP's network - but again, that is not Openreach's problem. You rent from The Post Office, their job to fix it. Much in the same way if you were to rent a TV from 'Radio Rentals' which developed a fault, you would not call in 'DER' and expect them to fix it for free because Radio Rental were useless.

The issue now is making sure that the CP does not pass this charge onto the end user - who has no control over the CP's equipment and how it is set up. Their error, their job to fix it.

What I wholly object to is the charging end users who clearly have faults and issues (such as intermittent noisy lines and dsl drop outs) that their overpaid and under-worked engineers are too lazy and stupid to locate and fix inside of a dozen visits. I also object to the rate they charge and believe it beyond reasonable justification given the actual cost of providing a visit from an engineer who probably lives (or is stabled) within a couple of miles of the end user.

I'm so passionate about this that I plan to do something about it in due course - but wish to remain tight lipped about this at the moment. All I will say is there are a small army of skilled individuals, QCP'd and accredited to work in the BT network, who can quite legally start climbing poles and opening footway/roadway boxes to repair/prove these faults into the BT network for a fraction of the cost.

Drusillamac

Bit of a long story this one.

My SO and I have moved into a new flat. Due to some confusion we originally created an order for the wrong flat. This was cancelled and a new order was set up. However the paperwork has come through saying that we will be charged the full £127.99 connection charge. Even though I requested the £29.99 charge when making the second order.

What annoys us is that the previous tenant had a BT line and BT Broadband until a week before we moved in. Therefore the full connection charge seems a bit rich. Luckily I have a 'contact' at BT who is looking into the matter on the side. She has advised that we should let the order go ahead (a BT engineer has been 'booked' for next week) and the charges issue can be settled later on.

Is this a good idea?

Heinz

The full charge on the order with a credit on the first bill to take the charge down to £29.99 is standard.

However, unless there were very unusual circumstances which resulted in some of the wiring being used elsewhere, that should have been a free of charge reconnection.

Drusillamac

Heinz wrote: »

The full charge on the order with a credit on the first bill to take the charge down to £29.99 is standard.

However, unless there were very unusual circumstances which resulted in some of the wiring being used elsewhere, that should have been a free of charge reconnection.

As per some comments from our landlord (and BT marked post that has come for the previous tenant) it is possible the previous tenant might have been very, very behind in their bills. Would this have an impact on the reconnection?

Heinz

It shouldn't do - you're not him/her are you?

Drusillamac

Heinz wrote: »

It shouldn't do - you're not him/her are you?

Its just when I've mentioned this to agents at BT, they've brushed over it. The previous tenant's debts I mean. I wondered if they couldn't discuss that because it technically related to another customer's account.

Saeed

Just checked - The 29.99 offer is still available if you phone up on a 18month contract.

Does anyone have a link where i could sign up for this offer online?

Heinz

Drusillamac wrote: »

Its just when I've mentioned this to agents at BT, they've brushed over it. The previous tenant's debts I mean. I wondered if they couldn't discuss that because it technically related to another customer's account.

No, you misunderstood me. I was saying that the debts of the previous tenant would not have any bearing on you.

OTOH, of course, BT would not discuss those debts with you - data protection rules, you know!