BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

DArcy

We've just moved into a new property in Aberdeen. I've never had an account with BT as I've just moved to the UK. There's a phoneline in the property but BT have told me it's inactive. The customer services advisor took all my details and told me that someone from BT would ring me back in 48 hours to arrange reactivation of the line and that I would have to pay £124.99. That was 6 weeks ago. I have since contacted them 3 more times, and each time they just take my details and say someone will ring me back. Nobody ever rings back.

I'm not overly familiar with the situation in the UK with regard to phonelines. I originally thought I could just have a phone line with whoever I wanted, but after contacting TalkTalk, Tiscali and other such broadband and phoneline providers, I've realised that I need this BT line to be reconnected.

I have absolutely no problem paying the £124.99, especially if an engineer has to be sent out. I just want it done!!! I've been waiting 6 weeks and each time I ring I get more and more annoyed (which is unfair on the BT staff who take my calls!). Does anybody have any personal experience of how long it takes BT to get back to you and then send somebody out to do the carry out the reactivation job?? I can't wait much longer and I'm extremely dismayed at this monopoly that BT have. How do you all cope?!?! I'm only 2 months in the country and already I'm at the end of my tether!

Also, something I'm confused about...I just want BT to reactivate the line. I don't want line rental or any other products from them. If they're this bad at answering the phone and getting back to customers, I definitely want nothing more to do with them. What I want to know is this - is it possible I can just pay the £124.99, have the line reactivated and then take my line rental, etc. elsewhere without having to pay BT anything more than that one off £124.99?? I do not wanna be tied into anything with BT. I'm going nuts here day in day out waiting for them to call..... :mad:

Metermaid

I am about to move house and have just learned that the current owner disconnected the BT phone line as she hasn't lived at the property for several months.

It's going to cost me £125 to have the line re-connected. I use my mobile almost exclusively for everyday calls and the only reason really to have the landline is for my AOL broadband internet connection.

Are the other/better options to having the landline connection? Sorry I'm not very clued up!

Metermaid

Ummmm ok, I just did what I should have before posting and read the sticky on this subject - please don't flame me for moaning!!

Metermaid

Hang on though, reading on - most of that thread is about people in new builds etc having to have wiring installed. Why is it the same price just to resurrect a line that's been dormant for a couple of months?

BritBrat

Originally Posted by dawny10

For info, the companies I have come across that say they do reconnections/installs:

BT - £125

Madasafish - £115

PlusNet - £105

Bulldog - £99



With Madasafish and PlusNet you are not tied into a 12 month contract for phone - just need to give 1 months notice.



An amendment to the above, PlusNet will only do an install for you if you are an existing customer moving home - it's not available to new customers.

SOURCE : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=5895688&postcount=338

lee634

OK the way BT work are as follows;
They say they will charge £125 for re-connection this is only true if
1. there is no line into the house
2. The BT master socket is damaged
3. there is a fault on the line to the house and it needs replacing.

If the other person at the new house had just had the line disconnected as she was not using it then there SHOULD be no charge

Drunkstar

Wrong I am afraid.

If Openreach have put the line into a state of CEASE then they charge for the reconnection. They charge BT Retail over £200 for that service, so BT will then charge the customer the £125. Previously this wasnt the case as BT Retail werent charged by Openreach for a ceased line.
I am afraid your information is out of date Lee.

gt94sss2

Drunkstar wrote: »

For those who are interested teh cost to BT/Talk Talk/whoever else wants to set up a line through Openreach is around the £210 mark I was yesterday informed.

Its actually £103.40 (or £88+ VAT)

Regards
Sunil

Drunkstar

Hmmm, guess I was told wrong then. If thats the cost I cant see how BT can justify the extra charge for customers.

Metermaid

Would it still be the same charge if the person who had the account ceased asked to resurrect it - just thinking because she still owns the property at the moment and is the account holder - would she be able to have the account reinstated without paying or would BT charge her £125 also?