New Line Connection? Old Property

mercmanricky

Hello all,
We've just bought a repossession and have been living happily without a phone line, but we are increasingly becoming aware that the internet is almost a necessity these days to save us money in the long run.

Have just enquired with Orange about this free x box deal, they've told me as it's a repossession i should call the post office home phone department and they'll reconnect it for me.

Post office have in turn told me that there is no BT line in the house and that i must have a technician come out which they will charge me £110 for.

Just last week we had a letter through the door from BT themselves for the old occupier which was a bill for £400+ for phone line and broadband.

In the NW corner of the living room there is what looks like an old sky installation for the satellite dish and the co ax point for the "normal" TV aerial.

NE corner there is a virgin installation for cable tv and a phone socket box next to that.

SW corner of the living room there is another telephone socket, which is definitely not connected to the socket in the NE corner. I presume this is the original BT line into the house as it's at the front of the building.

I explained this to the telephone adviser who basically said, if it's not listed on our system i have to send a technician out at a cost of £110.

Do i just need to bite the bullet and get on with it or is there a better (CHEAPER) way round this?

Heinz

Have you plugged a phone in to see if there's a dial tone?

If there is, dial 17070 to get the number.

Then you have a choice. Use that number and try again with Post Office (or any other line provider in the market) or call BT (who state the presence of a dial tone means they will normally reconnect free of charge but a 12 month contract will apply). If there's no dial tone, BT have a £29.99 line connection offer (18 month contract).

The advantage of Post office is they only insist on a 30 day contract (Orange are obviously angling to get you to jump ship soon after the line is reconnected) but, if you're moving in, what's the problem with a 12 month or longer contract?

mercmanricky

Thanks, your advice was great apart from a little tweak. I had tested for a dial tone previously, that's how i knew the two phone socket boxes were not connected.

The 17070 number gave me some diagnostic options but didn't tell me the number, but i googled it and found 1470 followed by 17070 did read me the number!

I was going to go for orange broadband at some point as my wife and i both have mobile contracts. This offer just tip the scales for us :
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-xbox-360-deal