Warning about LLU Broadband Packages

TLS_Sparky

I am Currently a Tiscali customer for phone and broadband. Our phone line has been placed on their equipment in the exchange .

It has become very clear that we are stuck with this slow crappy service unless we pay to be reconnected to the BT mainframe. £124 and then 12months contract

How can this be right, how can they get away with this and why on earth arn't we able to switch directly to another LLU provider (Tiscali, Talk Talk, Orange, Sky, AOL, O2). It seems this has taken away our choice of providers and has become a monopoly, exactly the opposite of why it was set up in the first place...to give choice.

Why Ofcom don't demand that providers return us to the mainframe once the contract is cancelled is beyond belief, and does really swapping a few patch cables justify the charge of a new line???

Please if you are wanting to move register your complaint with Ofcom. Hopefully they will react if enough people complain.

Be warned about going to an LLU provider, if you like the choice of swapping, if it turns out to be a pile of pants be prepared to pay at the end of your contract to switch.

kwikbreaks

There are effectively two levels of LLU. If you only have your ADSL LLU'd and leave your line with BT (or somebody who just resells the BT product such as the Post Office) then you can move around between ISPs with no problem.

The other level of LLU is where the phone line itself gets connected to non-BT kit and then indeed you are basically shafted. You can still move but it will not be a stress free process.

CharlieBilly

Your first mistake was going with talk talk you pay peanuts you get poor speeds.

They are renowned for being cheap/slow

TLS_Sparky

CharlieBilly wrote: »

Your first mistake was going with talk talk you pay peanuts you get poor speeds.

They are renowned for being cheap/slow

We joined Tiscali nearly 3 years ago, and to be honest the service was good. Its only recently we are experiencing problems. Maybe something to do with CFW take over but will never know.

Charly2010

We have just experienced this with OPAL on one of our lines (they did not infomr us at all - put incorrect contract details on our account which belonged to another customer), I have just posted a new thread without realising how common this is. It is not legal, it is known as "SLAMMING". Opal are part of the talk talk group, and know very well that if they LLU the line, customers are no longer able to connect to BT Broadband.

I read an article on a website about broadband reviews where OFCOM are getting tough on broadband slamming, with complaints averaging about 750 a month. They have released a new set of mandatory rules to address this known as "General Condition 24", it also states that if they fail to adhere, then hefty fines of up to 10 percent of their turnover could be imposed. IF THERE ARE ANY COMPANY REPS ON THE BOARDS - THEN PLEASE TAKE NOTE, YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IF FOREVER.

TLS Sparky - I totally empathise with your situation, and hope you resolve it soon.

TLS_Sparky

Charly2010 wrote: »

We have just experienced this with OPAL on one of our lines (they did not infomr us at all - put incorrect contract details on our account which belonged to another customer), I have just posted a new thread without realising how common this is. It is not legal, it is known as "SLAMMING". Opal are part of the talk talk group, and know very well that if they LLU the line, customers are no longer able to connect to BT Broadband.

I read an article on a website about broadband reviews where OFCOM are getting tough on broadband slamming, with complaints averaging about 750 a month. They have released a new set of mandatory rules to address this known as "General Condition 24", it also states that if they fail to adhere, then hefty fines of up to 10 percent of their turnover could be imposed. IF THERE ARE ANY COMPANY REPS ON THE BOARDS - THEN PLEASE TAKE NOTE, YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IF FOREVER.

TLS Sparky - I totally empathise with your situation, and hope you resolve it soon.

Thanks, I just feel that this isn't well known. I'm an engineer myself (not a telecoms) and I believe they have made it so complicated how ever will the older generation understand. How many people are blissfully unaware that they will face a reconnection charge to get their line back.

They have removed us from the BT system without our knowledge and that is not right.
Ofcom say that you benefit from cheaper line rental etc but on a 12month contract you would pay more if you switch providers at the end of this term if you include the reconnection charge.

mrtom21

TLS_Sparky wrote: »

I am Currently a Tiscali customer for phone and broadband. Our phone line has been placed on their equipment in the exchange .

It has become very clear that we are stuck with this slow crappy service unless we pay to be reconnected to the BT mainframe. £124 and then 12months contract.

Wrong... If you have an active LLU line BT will connect free of charge. Yes you still have to connect to BT for a year but it doesn't stop you setting up an LLU BB option such as O2 or Sky... Then after the 12 months you can decide what you wish to do with your phoneline.

bosk

You could actually sign with Plusnet for landline, "It's free to transfer a phone line from most providers. If you want to transfer from a cable provider then there may be a charge.........More time is needed to transfer an LLU....service than a phone line that's already with BT. This is because we've got to ask for authorisation to transfer an LLU...service back to the BT network, before we send the order for the phone service"
or as was posted elsewhere but I can't find the post, IDNET which suggest it's unlikely there would be a charge, "Transfers from some LLU based phone providers (Talk Talk) may result in additional charges. In the unlikely event that your line is subject to these charges we will contact you prior to transfer."
Never any need to either go to BT Retail and/or pay £124 or 12 month contract (IDNET 1 month).