Talk Talk new lines...

shmogs

Got a bit of a technical question if anyone can help, re: telephone line/s? There's a line here that was disconnected - it was with Tiscali (now Talk Talk). Talk Talk say they can't activate it for me as new customer; something to do with LLU? They have accepted my application as a new customer for service, and say a new line needs to be installed (for a price of £79.99). The existing line is 'dead' my end, but is still 'live' at the exchange (you can ring the number and it rings/goes into call-minder etc.)

Is this Talk Talk just trying to get a new line installed for the money, or is it possible to go elsewhere and have the existing line activated without need for a new line/engineer visits, and new line charges? *thanking you, please*

Heinz

About your only chance is BT (12 month minimum contract). They will normally re-activate a 'stopped' line (which is what yours appears to be) free of charge.

Other providers appear to just shy away from the probably hassle.

shmogs

Heinz wrote: »

About your only chance is BT (12 month minimum contract). They will normally re-activate a 'stopped' line (which is what yours appears to be) free of charge.

Other providers appear to just shy away from the probably hassle.

Thanks, Heinz. Talk Talk say that the line here (which they 'own' by default having bought out Tiscali) can't be reactivated. They want to put a new line in, which BT Open are scheduled to come and do next Tuesday. But what I want to know is - WHY the existing disconnected line they 'own' can't be reactivated? Surely if they stopped it, they can start it again, thus avoiding me having to pay for a brand new line? I have a sneaky feeling the engineer won't put a new line box in, but simple use the current box that exits and I'll be charged for a new line installation regardless.

Just as an example, a check on Virgin's website about the stopped line says they can switch it over without need of a new line, with no charge for connection.‎ BUT this would mean Talk Talk agreeing to release the line number.

All very confusing.

shmogs

(I think I should cancel my order with Talk Talk, until I can get to the bottom of this quite bizarre anomaly)

Gordon_Hose

Talk Talk don't "own" the line, BT Openreach do. Everytime you need work doing on your line, at the exchange or on the roadside cabinet it's always BT Openreach who do the work as they are responsible for the lines.

All Talk Talk "own" is the equipment in the exchange. If they aren't an LLU operator in your exchange then you'll have a Talk Talk "branded" BT Wholesale product.

If Talk Talk don't have an LLU presence in your area, then you'll be better off paying a little extra and going with BT. Talk Talk aren't the best anyway, even with an LLU presence lol

macman

Virgin use an entirely separate cable-base network, so they won't be reactivating the old BT line they'l be transferring the old number to their network and physically cabling up the property.
BT OR charge the same for reconnection or provisioning an entirely new line, there is no distinction between the 2.

shmogs

Ok, thanks for the information about the ownership of the line.

But this still doesn't really answer my question why Talk Talk can't simply make the existing stopped line active again, with a new number. They stopped it four weeks ago. Surely they can request BT for it it to be started again.

Gordon_Hose

Because a new line will need to be connected up by BT Openreach before they can give you a new number and take you on as a customer.

Mark_In_Hampshire

shmogs wrote: »

Ok, thanks for the information about the ownership of the line.

But this still doesn't really answer my question why Talk Talk can't simply make the existing stopped line active again, with a new number. They stopped it four weeks ago. Surely they can request BT for it it to be started again.

Yes and no. Sounds like it's a new provision. But, regardless, it costs £79.99. The concept of "someone only just moved out, so the line can just be flicked back on for free" died a while back though people seem to think it still exists hence why the charges are queried.

As said above, other providers will connect with differing charges from £0 to £150. The provider may offer you the connection for free, but with a long contract hoping to recoup the money.

shmogs

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

Yes and no. Sounds like it's a new provision. But, regardless, it costs £79.99. The concept of "someone only just moved out, so the line can just be flicked back on for free" died a while back though people seem to think it still exists hence why the charges are queried.

As said above, other providers will connect with differing charges from £0 to £150. The provider may offer you the connection for free, but with a long contract hoping to recoup the money.

I can appreciate that a charge will be made for providing me with a line, but what I cannot get my head around is there is a quite serviceable existing line into the property which is ADSL enabled. I fail to see why a whole new line has been provisioned, and that I have to take an afternoon off to be here for it to be fitted. It all seems very wasteful of resources and time all round.

Perhaps I'm missing the point.

macman

I'm afraid you are. In pricing, BT OR make no distinction between provisioning a new line and reconnecting a ceased line.
If there is a serviceable line, then yes, they will use that, but it won't be any cheaper.
The reason that you have to be at the property is in case the OR engineer requires access to the property to work on the NTE5 master socket or the cabling to it inside the property. They have no way of knowing the condition of that when they accept an order.
Access is not usually necessary, but it may be, they can't know until the line is connected and tested.