BT line active or connected?

ACDeag

garybryan wrote: »

I've been doing some searching and reading but I can't find a conclusive answer. I've just moved into a new flat and I want to set up broadband (ADSL since cable's not an option), and I think we're going to go with BeThere. However I'm unsure of the state of the current landline. In every other flat I've been in, the landline was "connected" but not "active" (not sure if this is correct terminology; I mean the physical line and socket were there but the phone didn't work) and having BT actually "activate" it was free of charge since all the necessary infrastructure was already there.

I connected a phone to the phone socket, and it started making horrible buzzing noises, kinda like a dial-up modem or "something from a horror movie" as my flatmate described it . These noises were coming from not only the receiver but also from the speakerphone, which I was unable to turn off. So maybe the phone itself is broken and I should try using another phone?

I tried registering with Be for calls and landline, and they say they'll charge £86 for setting up the line. I went through BT's site and they say it will cost £30 to do the same (£130 for an engineer visit minus £100 for "connection charge credit", which is... not needing an engineer visit since I specified that we already have a BT socket??). I don't know whether this cost has been based on an accurate check of the line, or just my information that we don't have a phone number but we do have a BT line (guesswork on my part seeing as the socket is there but the phone doesn't work).

If it is the case that we need to pay to get the line activated, Be's £86 charge might actually work out cheaper because their monthly line rental is a few quid less and I could get £40 cashback from topcashback.

Any ideas? This broadband business is starting to look quite expensive, especially for my minimum-wage-earning flatmate, and I'm considering just going without and getting a 3G dongle for light use and doing any necessary heavy downloading at work; however there's a possibility of me working from home in the future so good broadband would be important for that, and since it's a 12 month contract we might as well set it up now so as not to lose money if I move in a year...

It is all to do with Openreach. Openreach have to treat all phone companies the same (incl. BT Retail). They charge the same for connecting a new line or making an inactive line active. It is then up to the phone company you choose what they charge you (i.e. they may absorb some of the cost). BT are absorbing some of the cost when they give you a £100 credit. I believe the telling bit is is if there is a dial tone, if not then Openreach charge the full charge to your phone company.

Why not get the BT line for £30 and Be broadband, so long as you leave your calls and line rental with BT you can have non-BT broadband and still make your 10 calls per month to keep BT from charging you around £5 per month extra.

cbrpaul

BT said there is no connection charge for me !! i have not been with Bt for over 5 years now !!

I cant beleive that they will asorb the full £130 fee from openreach !!!

" MONOPOLY" is a wonderful board game !!!


I just cant go with a company that when you go on their website it gives you one price , then when you start to look into it more , there are " hidden " charges , £2.50 here and there, placed on your bill if you dont use the phone enough!!

Thats just me i guess !!!

ACDeag

cbrpaul wrote: »

BT said there is no connection charge for me !! i have not been with Bt for over 5 years now !!

I cant beleive that they will asorb the full £130 fee from openreach !!!

" MONOPOLY" is a wonderful board game !!!


I just cant go with a company that when you go on their website it gives you one price , then when you start to look into it more , there are " hidden " charges , £2.50 here and there, placed on your bill if you dont use the phone enough!!

Thats just me i guess !!!

I am not sure that they (or any of the companies) are charged £130 by Openreach. I suspect the fee is more like £85 and they add a bit plus VAT.

cbrpaul

Bethere charge £86 connection fee , so you could well be right

The more i think about these "varying" connection fees, the more i feel OFCOM should be involved , if only to "set" prices for the amount of work " actually" needed to bring your phone into service.

ACDeag

cbrpaul wrote: »

Bethere charge £86 connection fee , so you could well be right

The more i think about these "varying" connection fees, the more i feel OFCOM should be involved , if only to "set" prices for the amount of work " actually" needed to bring your phone into service.

That is competition for you.

Ofcom will love the fact that they all compete with different rates, if they set the price it would be quite high as it could not be set at a rate that anyone would lose money, as Ofcom would otherwise be forcing a company to incur a loss.

cbrpaul

ACDeag wrote: »

That is competition for you.

Ofcom will love the fact that they all compete with different rates, if they set the price it would be quite high as it could not be set at a rate that anyone would lose money, as Ofcom would otherwise be forcing a company to incur a loss.

i beg to differ , why is it Bt can waiver the " connection" charge for many , yet openreach charge other providers for the exact same service ???

Thats unfair competition in my book, and Bt are gaining an unfair advantage by using their, dare i say "sister " company !!!

ACDeag

cbrpaul wrote: »

i beg to differ , why is it Bt can waiver the " connection" charge for many , yet openreach charge other providers for the exact same service ???

Thats unfair competition in my book, and Bt are gaining an unfair advantage by using their, dare i say "sister " company !!!

BT Retail are treated the same as O2, BeThere, Sky etc. by Openreach. It is their choice to absorb most of the cost, Sky also absorb some of the cost as their rates are lower than the Openreach charge.

BT Retail and Openreach have to have separate accounts and Ofcom check these to make sure that BT is not getting special treatment from Openreach.

cbrpaul

I respect what your saying ACdeag

But im sorry i just cant see bt retail asorbing connection fees of around £100 a time, everytime someone returns to them , thats just too much of a loss, !!!

Maybe !! , Somehow , Bt retail know what work is involved for openreach to re-connect afterall the main tel comms UK network was installed originally by them ,and openreach charge accordingly to Bt retail, hence Bt retail quting some customers only £30 , the other comms companies may not be privalidge to this information and charge the full conection fee to cover themselves ?

spike7451

ACDeag wrote: »

BT Retail are treated the same as O2, BeThere, Sky etc. by Openreach. It is their choice to absorb most of the cost, Sky also absorb some of the cost as their rates are lower than the Openreach charge.

BT Retail and Openreach have to have separate accounts and Ofcom check these to make sure that BT is not getting special treatment from Openreach.

Actually,it's not all down to Openreach & Retail,as I learnt yesterday on the job training course I'm on at the moment for a BBand company.

BT Openreach are responsible for everything from the NTE to the entry part of the MDF (Main Distribution Frame) in the exchange.From the exit part of the MDF,It's BT Wholesale who are responsible from then on.

So if the work is in the exchange,then it's Wholesale who are charging,if it's in the PSP (Green box) then it's Openreach,or maybe both if the are multiple tasks required.
All bloody confusing tbh!

duchy

Try Sky for a quote for both line rental (which you'll need to pay whoever you go with) and broadband together. So long as there is a working BT socket in the premises they won't charge you anything like what BT want (and Everyday lite BB is free with line rental -the unlimited BB is £7.50 pm)

(Disclosure -Yes I work for them)