want to be BT free.

new__member_3

Hello.

Other than using cable operators, is there any way I can have a phone line without BT making any profit from me?

Presumably paying my line rental to a phone provider other than BT doesnt really do this, as I assume that they just act as middlemen and BT still get a cut (if not all of it) ?

Unfortunately I think i'm going to be feeding the horrible organisation, as my preferred options so far are : BT line rental + Tiscali 2MB broadband = £26/month (with voice calls routed via an appropriate number/VOIP.)

Without using cable operators, how can I get broadband and phone line without involving BT?!!

Andy.

normanmark

new__member wrote:

Without using cable operators, how can I get broadband and phone line without involving BT?!!

to cut a long story short, you cant.

Heinz

Welcome to the MSE forums new__member.

If you want to take what, increasingly (see other 'Talk Talk' threads in this forum), appears to be a great risk, there's always the Talk Talk package (hand over your line rental to them and hope that their 'free' broadband offering eventually gets connected and works).

You can, of course, just opt to rent your line from any of the many other firms now offering line rental. It's not recommended though because you then risk not being able to use cheap call providers for your calls.

It's generally accepted that the best way is to leave your line rental with BT but make sure you're on the cheapest standard package (BT Together Option 1 - £11/month paid by DD) and then to make the majority of your calls using cheaper providers (see how by using the 'HERE' link in my signature below).

However, the VOIP method you have in mind may, for you, work out even cheaper.

new__member_3

Hello.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

It is as I suspected.

Although BT have been driving me mad, I'm not totally insane, so I'll leave "Talk Talk" well alone

Thanks for the link to your summary of cheaper call methods, I'll undoubtedly utilise them, BT will NOT get a penny more than the 11 quid/month that I am obliged to pay them.

BT are making me wait til 8th Nov to come and 'check the line' before activating it (there has been no subscriber at my new address for 3 years) - this despite me telling them that there is a kind of 'dialling tone' when I plug my phone in to check it. I'm sure its just bloody-mindedness to teach ME a lesson for previous occupants being cable subscribers!

All my long-standing, compounded hatred of BT has come flooding back!

Thanks for the replys,

Andy.

gt94sss2

Whoever you pay your line rental to, (BT Retail, TalkTalk etc) - part of the money will end up with BT Openreach whhatever you do - as they are the ones responsible for looking after your telephone line between your house and the exchange.

new__member wrote:

BT are making me wait til 8th Nov to come and 'check the line' before activating it (there has been no subscriber at my new address for 3 years) - this despite me telling them that there is a kind of 'dialling tone' when I plug my phone in to check it. I'm sure its just bloody-mindedness to teach ME a lesson for previous occupants being cable subscribers!

I suspect its nothing personal but more to do with BT Openreach running out of engineers, with various things happening such as:

- More people 'coming back' to BT
- ADSL installations
- deploying BT's 21 Century network

I noticed the other day that Openreach were looking for another 400 apprentices just for engineers (out of a total 600 all of BT expect this year for everything)

Regards
Sunil

Heinz

new__member wrote:

BT are making me wait til 8th Nov to come and 'check the line' before activating it (there has been no subscriber at my new address for 3 years) - this despite me telling them that there is a kind of 'dialling tone' when I plug my phone in to check it.

Try dialling 17070 on the line.

skybluesaver

You have to stick with BT for the maximum flexibility of who you decide to use for your calls & ADSL. I was with NTL & they were expensive with terrible customer service. At least with BT you have the option of using numerous different override services & i've found there customer services were far superior to NTL (But that wouldn't be difficult)