BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

hurrah

helentroy wrote: »

I'd just like to remind some of you out there that not everyone is moving into a home needing a new BT line installed that they are buying, in which case a line is part of the total investment. I'm moving into a Housing Association flat (for that I am grateful) that is a new conversion and all the tenants are being left with the bill to connect (8 flats). I was not expecting this extra £125 on top and it is proving a financial nightmare (may I add the parking arrangements for the removal van alone is £140). If I was fortunate to be able to afford to buy this flat for £300,000 then I would not be worried about the line cost. But I can't and unless I win the lottery I will never be able to buy my own home anywhere. So- at this moment- £125 means a great deal to me on my means tested/minimum wage income. I would have been very pleased to discover there was an alternative- but so far, I haven't discovered one.

If its any help they will let you pay by 4 instalments.

bob_climate

I've just moved into a new place (rent £525 a month). I'm on benefits at the moment, and have splashed out loads for deposit etc, and am now pretty much skint. Now despite the fact the house is a 1960's build and there is ALREADY a BT socket/phone line in the house which has been used before, BT insist (yes they really do) that I shall have to pay the £126 or whatever. Now surely according to this forum this is incorrect? There is also a Telewest connector there as well but they are fascist !!!!!!!s and so I don't fancy signing up with them again (or Virgin / whatever they're called now).

Is the fact that there is also a cable line there the reason that they want to charge me?? Someone once told me that once cable is put in the BT line gets yanked out, but surely thats !!!!!!!! isn't it?

So what's happening? I don't want to call out an engineer on the off chance that they don't have to fit boxes etc.

I simply cannot afford this fee at this point. It is that simple.

espresso

bob_climate wrote: »

So what's happening? I don't want to call out an engineer on the off chance that they don't have to fit boxes etc.

I simply cannot afford this fee at this point. It is that simple.

As I understand it, if the line has been used recently and an engineer does not need to do any work, it should be a free reconnection. see here where it asks you to call 0808 100 7722. See what they say.

bob_climate

I'll try that! Thanky!

papacool

I got new double glazing in about 4 years ago. As I was with NTL for the phone I also had the old BT cable coming from the pole at the bottom of my garden. When the guys fitted the new windows one of them cut the BT cable as it wasn't in use. This March 2k7, I was thinking of going to SKY [for the FREE internet], but needed a BT line. I contacted BT and asked for the line to be re-established. How much will it cost me I asked....? :rolleyes:
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS.:eek: That's £250.00:eek::mad::eek: So.. I'm still with Virgin Media as it's now known.

QUOTE=kelly1980;discussion/211879]Does anyone know if there is anybody else who can connect a phone line other than BT. Unfortunately this is the second time i am moving in to a 'NEW BUILD' house within a year and a half. When i moved in to here i had to pay £75 connection fee, now i have just found out that it has been increased to £125. A whopping £50 increase. How wrong is that!! Last time they came out it took 5 mins. How can they justify all that money?[/QUOTE]

papacool

I got new double glazing in about 4 years ago. As I was with NTL for the phone I also had the old BT cable coming from the pole at the bottom of my garden. When the guys fitted the new windows one of them cut the BT cable as it wasn't in use. This March 2k7, I was thinking of going to SKY [for the FREE internet], but needed a BT line. I contacted BT and asked for the line to be re-established. How much will it cost me I asked....? :rolleyes:
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS.:eek: That's £250.00:eek::mad::eek: So.. I'm still with Virgin Media as it's now known.

QUOTE=kelly1980;discussion/211879]Does anyone know if there is anybody else who can connect a phone line other than BT. Unfortunately this is the second time i am moving in to a 'NEW BUILD' house within a year and a half. When i moved in to here i had to pay £75 connection fee, now i have just found out that it has been increased to £125. A whopping £50 increase. How wrong is that!! Last time they came out it took 5 mins. How can they justify all that money?[/QUOTE]

BritBrat

When the guys fitted the new windows one of them cut the BT cable as it wasn't in use.

If you have enough spare cable you could connect it back yourself, I know it's illegal but when they charge so much more and more people are going to be DIYing phone lines. After all its only two wires and low voltage.

A reconnection is free of charge.

You might want to delete one of those posts papacool (you appear to somehow have posted the same thing 7 minutes apart).

Happens when the site lags and you think it's stuck and you click the send button again.

All these people who need a BT line and I have a spare that works. LOL

imroberts

I'm soon to be moving into a new property and will require a phone line, if only so I can get ADSL. Anyway, having looked at BT's website it quotes a figure of £125 for a brand new line, and says it will be cheaper if there is already a line and master socket in the property, which there is. Can anyone tell me how much this will cost?

imroberts

BritBrat wrote: »

If you have enough spare cable you could connect it back yourself, I know it's illegal but when they charge so much more and more people are going to be DIYing phone lines. After all its only two wires and low voltage.!!

I was actually going to move the socket anyway prior to reconnection if you don't tell anyone I won't!

BritBrat wrote: »

A reconnection is free of charge.

Very good to hear. Too many costs involved with moving :mad:

imroberts

Heinz wrote: »

I asked in the shop why don't I get any of these 'free' minutes with my PAYG mobile? I was told you have to pay a monthly charge to get 'free' minutes.

Doesn't that mean they're not free at all - just that I'd have to pay in advance for them?.

That makes it rather like PAYG really.

LMAO glad to see someone else thinks like me I prefer to call them "included" minutes rather than "free"

I guess the argument is that you are choosing to pay them £xx a month to post-pay rather than pre-pay, and as a bonus they offer you "free" minutes?