Moving house - what are my options...

HUFCsteve

Currently with Post Office for phone and broadband but moving house to a new build. In a rural part of the country so not loads of options for us.

If we were to 'take the Post Office with us' they have quoted me over £100 for a new connection.

Tempted to go with BT and get some cashback.

Majorly confused after speaking to Sky earlier (as we also have Sky+ and so wondered if there were any deals going). I realise we can only get Connect but the advisor was suggesting that we can't even get that. But their website suggests we can.

Any suggestions?!?

macman

Sky Connect is just a resold BT Wholesale service, so if you can get any broadband service at all, you can get Connect. But it's considered fairly dire.
Why do you say 'not loads of options?' If there are no LLU services on your exchange (check by doing an exchange search on www.samknows.com), then there are still hundreds of non-LLU ISP's reselling the BT service, and at a better price and quaity of service.
Depends on your specific broadband needs, but you could look at Plusnet, IDnet, Zen etc for starters...

Mark_In_Hampshire

As macman says - and the line setup fee from both IDNET and Zen is £85, Plusnet aren't quite in the same league as the other two, but are cheaper, and if the line can't manage much in the way of speed anyway it may make little difference - they charge £49. BT is circa £130 I think. Some bundled deals are available with some ISPs so best to check.

I can't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to have Sky Connect since it's a BT Wholesale product and should be available everywhere, unless they have decided to stop supplying it at what are called "20CN" exchanges (typically, but not exclusively, rural areas) however and regardless, it is an especially poorly rated service.

HUFCsteve

Thanks for replies guys.

I have had a couple of weird conversations tonight.

The house we are moving to is a new build. We have been told that the it has all the BT kit along with a number of phone points within the property. So all I was expecting to happen was for a connection to need to be made from the exchange to our property.

However, our current provider (Post Office) seems to be telling me that the BT openreach engineer would need to start drilling and installing another line at our property. Clearly the last thing we want is for someone to start butchering our nice new property.

They don't mean this do they?

macman

You don't have a line connected yet. The builder may just have put in some internal sockets, not arranged the connection to the BT network.
If so, it will require one small hole to install the master socket-hardly butchering.

Mark_In_Hampshire

The Post Office have checked and know that there has never been a (previously used) line to the property. They do not know whether sockets need installing or not, so you've probably been quoted the "new line" fee.

The misconception which still remains - because I think that's how it used to work - is that if there's already a line and socket the activation fee is waived. That isn't necessarily true any more. Many providers charge regardless.

HUFCsteve

Sounds easier just to go with BT!

Shame really as I have enjoyed good service from the Post Office.

Bloor Homes told me that everything is wired up and ready to go, just need phone provider to make final connection.

macman

HUFCsteve wrote: »

Sounds easier just to go with BT!

Shame really as I have enjoyed good service from the Post Office.

Bloor Homes told me that everything is wired up and ready to go, just need phone provider to make final connection.

Exactly, the internal set up has been done. So how do you expect Openreach to connect you without bringing the line into the house from the street cab or pole?
There are many providers who can arrange that, all much cheaper than BT.