BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

DonnyDave

aquarian3 wrote: »

In response to a question I asked for my brothers flat and a neighbours property - both wanting phones but not wanting to pay BT's charges, Satellitebadger replied and mentioned some companies that I could try.

I think you will find that in circumstances where other companies like Madasafish do not charge, then BT will not charge either. That is because a line has already been in service at that address previously.

If BT (BT Retail) charge, then it's logical to assume that any company will do because the charge is (presumably) made by BT Wholesale who connect you in the first place. So it's not a case that if you go with Madasafish that there will be no charge where with BT there will be.

The charge is dependant on the work that may need to be done to get the line working.

hurrah

aquarian 3.

Nothing special about this offer.

BT will connect you free if the wiring etc is in place and the line has been used/working before,and they will let you cps your calls and use 18185 etc .Where as Madasafish will not let you do this with your calls.

BT will also let you pay the £125 in four instalments.

Heinz

So, in summary, Madasafish's connection charge would be £9.99 cheaper if it has to be a 'new connection' rather than a 'reconnection' but Madasafish would not allow CPS (or, probably, the use of prefx-dial companies like 1899).

OTOH, BT allow the £124.99 to be spread over the first year - do Madasafish allow that with their £115?

peteski22

There are other posts on this forum that name a company such as Mad4something or other, which offer connection for £115 or around that which is cheaper than BT... Also fair enough if BT need to recoup costs of installation, but why should it be the duty of the first person to move into a new build? Why not just make a cheaper activation fee for anyone that moves into a home anywhere? I think that the idea of £125 fee to get connected when you can't have cable.. simply to get the internet is a sore thought. But I understand why BT charge, just not why its the first one in that gets hit with it.

Thanks
Peter

Heinz

Welcome to the MSE forums peteski22.

If you scroll up to post #244 and read from there, you'll find what you're looking for.

wirralite69

BT came out to fix a line problem at our home, They came out with the usual 'if it's your equipment at fault we will charge you' The engineer agreed that it wasn't our fault but they have still charged us £99 + VAT!!!!!!!!!!! Anybody else had this??????

pinkshoes

I'm about to have to pay the £125 BT connection fee so we can have a phone line in our new build flat. I feel like it's a bit unfair to charge this much because they seem to have a monopoly over phone lines, and maybe if there was someone in direct competition, then they could have a price war!

My main objection is to the horrendous and chaotic customer service that BT seem to have. I tried phoning to ask about getting the phone line connected (i.e. i wanted to know what I got for my £125 and how this price was justified - a normal thing to ask when you're paying for something!!), and was shunted from person to person (5 in total) in the indian call centre, each asking "what is your landline you have the problem with?", despite me ringing the line and going through their answer service to be connected to the "I don't have a land line" department!! After 30 minutes, and still not getting to speak to someone that spoke enough english, i finally gave up!

does anyone know if they have an english call centre you can phone?!?!

djkarl

you can request to be put through the English call centre, they will try but the overseas centres still act as overflows when they are busy

bt is moving all of it's call centre work back to the UK

hurrah

pinkshoes wrote: »

I'm about to have to pay the £125 BT connection fee so we can have a phone line in our new build flat. I feel like it's a bit unfair to charge this much because they seem to have a monopoly over phone lines, and maybe if there was someone in direct competition, then they could have a price war!

My main objection is to the horrendous and chaotic customer service that BT seem to have. I tried phoning to ask about getting the phone line connected (i.e. i wanted to know what I got for my £125 and how this price was justified - a normal thing to ask when you're paying for something!!), and was shunted from person to person (5 in total) in the indian call centre, each asking "what is your landline you have the problem with?", despite me ringing the line and going through their answer service to be connected to the "I don't have a land line" department!! After 30 minutes, and still not getting to speak to someone that spoke enough english, i finally gave up!

does anyone know if they have an english call centre you can phone?!?!

Try a call to FREEPHONE 0808 100 7722.

pinkshoes

Actually, I made a call to the builder, because there's a BT point in the newbuild flat, and outside the 15 flats there's a shiney new metal drain thingy saying "BT" on it... The builder told me that BT have already been round and installed the phone lines, so there's no way that all 15 flats should have to pay a £125 installation charge. Activation should be free as it's all been done already! cheeky BT!

they reluctantly seemed to agree with this, but now say we HAVE to sign up for at least 3 months if they activate our line. We need broadband, and this has a minimum 12 month sign up, but we don't want BT to be our service provider, we want to use another company. I thought they had to share their phone lines nicely and allow fair competition?

i'm confused