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Leaving Tiscali (TalkTalk) and the options/consequences

Hi,

I've been with Tiscali broadband for a number of years, I have the 8mb/unlimited download with weekend calls and line rental package.

With TalkTalk taking over Tiscali I've received a letter saying that sometime soon my broadband contract will be moved onto a TalkTalk package which is £22 a month and has a 40gb download limit, the pushy sales person is also saying that we will have to pay a £30 connection charge which, since we are already connected, seems a bit odd. The two options offered are 1. stay as we are with TalkTalk and start to pay £22 a month or 2. sign up to a 2 year TalkTalk contract and pay £18 a month.

As a result, I'm thinking of leaving TalkTalk for another provider but just wondered what the steps are and also the consequences as we currently pay line rental to them so will I have to pay the extortionate charge of £130 to BT to take my line back (it used to be with BT until we switched it to Tiscali) or is it possible to switch straight to another provider who offer line rental as part of their package?

Also if I move line rental can I keep my old number?


Thanks a lot for your time...


P.S. I think the opening up of Line rental to other companies has just made it more expensive and more hassle for customers. The price BT charges to reconnect is outrageous and it seems to be a major hassle, if not impossible, to switch Line rental between other Line rental companies (excluding BT). OFCOM really need to investigate this properly.

Comments

  • See.... now that seems odd to me...

    I've also been with tiscali for a couple of years and been moved over to talk talk...
    however,
    they're keeping me on a 8MB broadband... with free evening and weekend calls... (i think 40GB download) and line rental.. for £18.48... and I don't have to resign a contract or anything...
    altternatively.. if I were to sign up to an 18 month contract... it's still £18.48... but I get a £20 amazon voucher...

    sooo the options they've given you seem very odd to me!

    i'm not sure about the cost of changing lines.. however I think most places allow you to keep your number..

    Good Luck!!
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Touser wrote: »
    Hi,

    I've been with Tiscali broadband for a number of years, I have the 8mb/unlimited download with weekend calls and line rental package.

    With TalkTalk taking over Tiscali I've received a letter saying that sometime soon my broadband contract will be moved onto a TalkTalk package which is £22 a month and has a 40gb download limit, the pushy sales person is also saying that we will have to pay a £30 connection charge which, since we are already connected, seems a bit odd. The two options offered are 1. stay as we are with TalkTalk and start to pay £22 a month or 2. sign up to a 2 year TalkTalk contract and pay £18 a month.

    As a result, I'm thinking of leaving TalkTalk for another provider but just wondered what the steps are and also the consequences as we currently pay line rental to them so will I have to pay the extortionate charge of £130 to BT to take my line back (it used to be with BT until we switched it to Tiscali) or is it possible to switch straight to another provider who offer line rental as part of their package?

    Also if I move line rental can I keep my old number?


    Thanks a lot for your time...


    P.S. I think the opening up of Line rental to other companies has just made it more expensive and more hassle for customers. The price BT charges to reconnect is outrageous and it seems to be a major hassle, if not impossible, to switch Line rental between other Line rental companies (excluding BT). OFCOM really need to investigate this properly.

    If you line is already LLU'd to Tiscal then you have to get it back to BT first, you can't go direct from one LLU to another. So this means you will have to take your line rental and calls from BT for 12m. It does not cost you £130 (that is the charge for a new line), and you can keep your existing number.
    However once you are back on BT line rental you can then take your broadband from whichever ISP you like.
    First thing to establish is whether your line has been LLU'd or not.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Touser
    Touser Posts: 74 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 3 March 2010 at 11:01AM
    macman wrote: »
    If you line is already LLU'd to Tiscal then you have to get it back to BT first, you can't go direct from one LLU to another. So this means you will have to take your line rental and calls from BT for 12m. It does not cost you £130 (that is the charge for a new line), and you can keep your existing number.
    However once you are back on BT line rental you can then take your broadband from whichever ISP you like.
    First thing to establish is whether your line has been LLU'd or not.


    When I have switched between Line rental providers in the past back to BT they have charged £130 as they have argued that a new line/connection is needed as the previous company has taken the line, I even explained that the phone socket had the BT logo on it?

    Do BT charge for taking back the line?

    Also, I don't undertand why you can't go direct from one LLU to another, surely this was the main reason of opening up the line rental business so that BT didn't have a monopoly.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    BT don't normally charge for a return to donor,, as you are then contracting a years line rental.
    LLU: most people don't understand it either, but at present there is no industry-wide agreement on how to do it and no timetable for when it might be possible.
    BT still maintain the local loop.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Touser
    Touser Posts: 74 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Suppose I could just keep the contract rolling with TalkTalk untill May 2010 when O2 enter the Home Landline rental and go with them...
  • sadie11
    sadie11 Posts: 121 Forumite
    I'm just in the process of movonh back to BT from Tiscali

    NO CHARGE for reconnection
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Touser wrote: »
    Suppose I could just keep the contract rolling with TalkTalk untill May 2010 when O2 enter the Home Landline rental and go with them...

    But that would be an LLU to LLU transfer.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Touser
    Touser Posts: 74 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    macman wrote: »
    But that would be an LLU to LLU transfer.

    Forgot about that, It'll have to be back to BT for the line rental (for 12 months)and O2 for the Broadband then...
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