switching from ntl

cocalls

good morning all

Was wondering if someone can help me i'm currently with NTL on their 3 for 30 package (Tv, phone & 1mb broadband) we dont use the tv package much and can get much the same from a freeview box if we buy one. So i'm wanting to just get phone & internet. Pipex & talk talk seem to be the cheapest at approx 20 quid/month but when i put my tel no details in their websites they say they cant help as im not a bt customer.Do i have to go back to Bt to get some of these cheap deals?

Your help on this sunny morning will be very much appreciated.

alared

Unfortunately you do need a BT line to get ANYTHING except NTL/Telewest.

cocalls

many thanks for quick reply-v annoying have a bt line in the house but me thinks it will be a big hassle to get it set up again just to leave them quickly?

TOBRUK

Cocalls,
Just wondering whether you have read through the 'cut ntl/telewest broadband costs' thread at all? Many people seem to be getting good deals from ntl. I have been looking around for cheaper deals - I am with ntl, on £24.99 a month broadband and unlimited uk phone calls. Yesterday when I called them (hoping to get a cheaper deal) I found that I was on ntl Freedom not ntl, different service, ntl is cable and ntl freedom is through phone line. I couldn't get anything less than £19.49 a month, but if I had cable I was told that I would be able to get a good deal. After checking the chap told me that I was not in a cable area and so I couldn't switch to ntl.

I have been looking at different, cheaper deals out there, but after reading through many threads on this forum I'm not sure it is a good time to change! At least with ntl freedom I never have problems with broadband - it is pretty solid, hardly ever get cut off, perhaps twice in a few years!

Would it be in your interest to phone ntl and ask if they could offer you a better deal and see what they offer you? If you have a good service regarding broadband perhaps it would be worth considering?

alared

Further to TOBRUK`s post

many people have been phoning NTL`s retentions line and threatening to closed their accounts if they don`t get a better deal from NTL.
I think you may have to have your present deal for a year for you to try this tactic.
retention line number is freefone 0800 052 9403

Stuart_W

Once you've been through your NTL minimum term, if you do decide to transfer back to BT -
1. If there has previously ever been a BT line in the house it is likely to be FREE and you can keep the same number. Recently done this and it was no problem. The engineer unscrewed the NTL phone point and the original BT wiring was behind it. There had been no BT service since 1998, some cabling needed renewing, but the whole thing was free. No loss of service.
2. With a BT line you do have many many more broadband and call supplier options BUT you need to grin and bear it for three months with BT before you are able to transfer your line rental supplier (necessary for the TalkTalk package for example). CPS(where just switch your calls but stick with BT for line rental) is available immediately, as is ADSL (broadband) activation with any supplier. I was up and running with my broadband supplier 7 days after applying.
3. A small number of broadband&phone suppliers - TalkTalk being one of them - will not accept ex-cable numbers, even though there is no actual reason for being unable to connect these numbers. Most shouldn't have a problem with this - but if you have a particular company in mind you shouold check with them first.

However, you're probably still going to do better by bartering for a deal with NTL - especially as TV is the element you're not interested in, they may offer a package including their new free TV pack (kind of equivalent of Freeview) as before any "deals" the regular monthly cost would be £25.99/month for their cheapest broadband, phoneline and free TV so there should be plently of room for negotiation.

cocalls

many thanks for all your replies guys-looked on the bt site to see how to go back to them and yes the phone line would be free but id have to sign up for internet to be fitted major hassle so i thought id take the easy option and so i rang ntl threatened to leave & i'm getting 11/ month for line rental & free freeview type thingy and they've reduced the internet to 9.99/mth for 6 mths so its reduced it by 9.01. not a major amount but useful thanks again