Installing Phone Line In Room

akea

I am about to move to a room in a SHARED house in Salisbury.
I noticed that the existing tenants HAVE a line BUT they are using dial-up.
However, as I am a HEAVY internet user I was wondering:

1) Whether I could get a new phone line from BT installed into my room (located on 1st floor)

2) How much it would cost to install it. (I heard its 130GBP, is it true?)

3) How long would the process normally take.

4) Does the engineer visit during the weekends (I will be starting work soon)

I would appreciate if anyone can reply to this thread as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance.

A slight edit:
Haven't seen new housemates yet, no idea what they are like.
Saw the phone line connected to ONE computer (OMG!)
Not hopeful they would share so just planing for the worst.

Thanks for the quick reply. (WOW!!)

Blue_Lou

Why don't you get broadband and share the connection with the housemates using a wireless router? Their existing ISP may have a broadband facility and so they can keep their email address. All that will happen is they get a faster connection (probably cheaper too because you will be sharing the bill?).

A wireless router and pci card cost no more than £70 nowadays.. So that's saving you £65 from new line installation alone. Also you wont have to pay line rental at £11.50 per month as you'll be sharing

patwa_2

I agree with the above, especially if you're only sharing the house (e.g for Uni or temporary work whilst you find a house of your own) and hence getting a new line will probably not be in your best interests.

You can halve the broadband bill, which will be cheaper than your line rental for your phone line + setup charges, wireless routers are around £40 and wireless cards are as cheap as £15. Also you can then use the broadband from desktop as well as laptop computers.

But re: your BT question.

Yes they will install onto any floor. The setup charge seems to vary - some have paid as little as £70 and others as much as £135. You can try to negotiate with BT as it does appear to be a sort of 'mini postcode lottery' from those people that I've spoken to. No, the engineers will not usually call in at weekends, but you do not have to be in personally when they call. Someone you trust, like a flatmate or relative can be in to oversee the installation. When you sign up for a new line, they will make an appointment for your installation to take place. It's a first-come-first-served basis. They will offer you a two-hour window within which the engineer will call. Please note that occasionally more than one visit is required, especially if you live in an older house, where BT's own wiring may not be easily accessible above ground.

Hope this helps.

Hussein.