BT Connection Charges (merged threads)

BritBrat

My mother who is 75 years old has moved into a sheltered house and needs a phone, BT quoted £125 to reconnect the line although two weeks before they had disconnected the previous tenant, probably at a charge, how many times can they rip off old people. I agree it cost for them to put the line in but then reconnect a number of times over the years and they are in profit.Can BT introduce a reduced rate for OAP, no way

If you pluged a phone into it and it had a dial tone, and then if you dialed 17070 and got a recorded message the reconnection should have been free.

If on the other hand there was no line and an engineeer had to restore it then it costs £125.

Edinburghlass_2

dewin wrote: »

I only changed from a business account with BT to a Residential account and got charged £125

You need to check what the actual charge was for as if you signed for a business account that included a package where if you spent so much per year you got reduced charges on calls and don't meet the "target" set, then they will charge you the difference of what you spent in the past year and the "target" you were supposed to spend.

SuzySmile

Hi, I have scanned through all these pages regarding the £125 reconnection fee. Just got a new property (well it is not a new-build it is over 200 years old!) No idea what the phone number is (haven't tried sticking a phone in) but....when I called BT they said it would be a £125 fee as the line was with another provider. I asked who that was, and they would not tell me. I have read somewhere, that if you find out who the line is with, then ask them to discontinue the service then go back to BT and ask them to reconnect, it is a free reconnection. To be honest I have had such problems with BT in the past I'd rather not use them, although I do have to say that throughout my problems with them in the past, that Openreach engineers have been fantastic and really helpful. As I said I do not know the telephone that was, which makes it hard for me when I go to other providers to ask. I have checked the telephone books etc. and no joy. If BT had just said the line had been dead for ages and needed rewiring to activate, I would have no problem with the £125, however, as they said it is there, just in another companies name, I'd just like to find out who it is! Does anyone know how I can find that out? I'm trying to contact the previous owners via the Estate agent, but this will take some time and I want to get a phone and get on-line asap - so any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time, Suzy

FannyHill

I have found that anytime I deal with BT I have a problem.Even trying to speak to someone takes forever.The people in India are helpful but I want to speak to people in this country if I have a problem not someone on another continent reading from a script.
Unfortunately BT do not care about their customers or how good or bad the customer service is.
I live in a very rural area and only have BT.
It has got so bad that I have now cancelled my BT landline and am using a mobile for calls and the library for internet.
I just could not take any more of them.The customer service is constantly deteriorating and customers are wasting hours of their time trying to sort out even that most basic problems.I was due a refund and had to phone numerous times before I got it.
Sometimes you have to say enough is enough and stop giving them your business.

rob16d

Arguing about it won't make it cheaper....sadly

Splatharri

I am contemplating foregoing NTL/VIRGIN for a non-cable provider.

I have existing BT sockets in my property (all be they disconnected at present) and enquired through BT about reconnection. I was informed that because of 're-allocation of unused domestic lines' (i.e. mine), it would cost me £128 to reactivate my BT sockets from the 'exchange'.

Does anyone know any more about this extortionate fee and whether there is a loophole etc. to avoid it.

This doesn't bode well for BT to entice new custom!

Thanks for any help

S.

gt94sss2

BT are currently offering half price connection if you agree to keeping your line rental with them for 18 months and make 10 calls per month/30 per quarter via them (though these calls can include the "free" weekend calls they give on BT Option 1)

You need to ask for the offer though

Regards
Sunil

deklan99

Or the phone co-op is £116.33 for 12 months http://www.thephone.coop/residential/linerental/installreconnect.html .
" Unfortunately if the original number of the line has been reallocated then wiring work may be needed and the new line installation fee may apply." may explain why the fee is due in your case.
Other companies can connect your line, not just BT.

Splatharri

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys

So BT doesn't have to be the company to re-connect your line? Hmmm... how does this work?

And where does OpenReach fit into the scheme of things?

Thanks

S.

gt94sss2

Splatharri wrote: »

So BT doesn't have to be the company to re-connect your line? Hmmm... how does this work?

And where does OpenReach fit into the scheme of things?

Openreach is the part of BT which looks after telephone lines between your house and the exchange.

You can go to any communications provider(not just BT Retail) who offers line installation services - in turn they contact Openreach and place an order for Openreach to do the work (and they pay Openreach)

Regards
Sunil