BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

stevenq

Hi, sorry to bring this up yet again but I've looked and not found anything elsewhere:
I've just moved into a house, and had the BT line activated in anticipation of Sky being installed. Problem is, the Sky installation guy has just beeen and told me that the phone line has been cut outside the house, hence, no dial tone.

So far I've not managed to get through to BT, but when I do am I looking at a £120 charge for them to come out and fix the line? If so, does anyone know of a right to cancel the line rental if this is the case? As theres already an NTL/Virgin line installed it'd probably be cheaper to go that way.

Cheers,

Steve

espresso

It's £125 for an engineer visit.

:eek:

Portlouis

I started reading and was annoyed with the £125 cost but i accept it's necessary. It's just next week we're due to move into a new build and want a BT connection to get broadband.

The only thing is that the flat we're moving into is the show home for the flats and as such has a working phone line already. It's just when calling BT, they say they have no knowledge of it and want to charge £125. I'm just not clear on what is happening. I'm pretty sure the line is being provided by BT at present, so we shouldn't have to pay the £125 connection, right?

Just wondered if anyone could explain it, where else might the company be getting the phone line for the showhome from? Is a business line completely different then? Which is why BT don't know anything about it when we call?

Cheers and hello

normanmark

You shouldnt pay then if the line is there. BT staff are advised to warn of any potential costs.

What i'd do is call up ask to speak to an advisor about the line & how its present. If she still says its going to charge then ask to speak to a team leader & explain the situation

Portlouis

normanmark wrote: »

You shouldnt pay then if the line is there. BT staff are advised to warn of any potential costs.

What i'd do is call up ask to speak to an advisor about the line & how its present. If she still says its going to charge then ask to speak to a team leader & explain the situation

Thanks for the reply. It's just BT have no knowledge of the line, I mean we have the phone number for it and everything.

Thanks for the advice though,

espresso

Portlouis wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. It's just BT have no knowledge of the line, I mean we have the phone number for it and everything.

Thanks for the advice though,

So presumably the line has been taken over by another provider if BT have no knowledge.

mellymell_2

I've had exactly the same problem with BT, I'm renting a brand new flat and even though there's a line I've been told I have to pay £125 to connect it, guess I'm justgoing to have to pay it. Apparently i've heard from a friend that if all you are doing id reconnecting an existing line that has been used in the past and has been disconnected, the way to do it is to phone BT and ask them to send an engineer out to you because you want to see it the line is active or not. For this you have to have a phone line plugged in. then the engineer will go to the exchange and flick the switch and call you to see if you answer. In this case, it is most likely that the engineer will leave the line on (because they dont work for bt, they work for openreach).
This is worth a try, but it only works if you do it this way, then once it's active register as a new customer. you'll still be locked in for 12 months, but dont forget you can always transfer the account when or if you move out. :T

It may not work for everyone but have a go, my friend got away with paying nothing!

calvinholbrook

OK OK, seems this one has gone ona while but I have a query. I have just moved into a an flat (not new build) and there is a BT socket with a working dial tone. But BT told me that the line had ceased and I would still have to pay £125 to get it reconnected.

However, on BT's own website under Support & Advice, they state: "If your house has had BT phone service in the past and the line still has a dialling tone, it's highly likely it won't cost you anything to get your line working again. You'll simply have to pay your line rental."

This is my situation, but they still want to charge. I don't mind paying if it is legitimate but not if I am getting ripped off!

any suggestions,
thanks
CAlvin

Heinz

Welcome to the MSE forums calvinholbrook.

You can try arguing that there's a dial tone and so there's no 'on site' work to do - but you may well still have to pay.

See http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=211879

calvinholbrook

Thanks! Yes, I explained that there was a dial tone but it made no difference. I even quoted back what was on their website and they still said I had to pay. What I am actually paying £125 for if the line is already there?