Question about moving to a new property - dial up via BT?

MissBossyBoots_2

Hi everyone,

Have lurked for a while on several boards and decided to take the plunge and ask a question which I can't seem to find the answer to?

I have just bought a flat and as a FTB I am a little clueless about how things work. I have a BT line there and I intend to call BT about connecting it on Tuesday.

1. Can I then plug my laptop into the BT line and access the internet (via the free month's AOL dial up trial I have spotten on Quidco!) without having to do anything else? (I do have a modem inside my laptop)

2. Do I HAVE to have a BT line - I am ultimately intending to use another provider for phone calls and then get broadband as soon as I can get it installed. I think I understand correctly that you have to have a BT connection for the line - and the call costs element can be with someone else?

3. Are there any other free trials I can use to access dialup for the interim period until I get broadband installed?

Thank you all so much in advance for the help I have found so far - feel a bit dense asking these questions!

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR :beer:

Stuart_W

1. Yes. They'll be some initial configuration to set up. AOL will offer to download some stuff that does it all for you (easy enough to uninstall when the trial is over).The AOL free dial up for a month will work for a month, you can then cancel but haggling on the phone can sometimes get you a second free month (but don't count on it).

2. The BT line can be reconnected for free if all the wiring is there. If you do it direct with BT, you'll need to stick with them before 3 months before moving line rental if you want to go to another provider for line rental. Some line rental providers will connect you directly, like the phone co-op, but there is little financial incentive to do so. Sticking with BT for line rental keeps options open.

However, CPS (Carrier Pre Selection) is available immediately as you stil pay your line rental to BT and your calls to someone else.
Virgin.net, for example, offer a bundled broadband and CPS deal (£9.99 per month for 1Mbps broadband and free off peak calls).

3. Very few dial up trials available these days. BTYahoo offer the first month for £1 and mipcards.com offer a 30 minute free trial. Not aware of much else, but you could try to see if you can get a connection from https://www.geoisp.co.uk if you get free landline calls sorted (although you will find hidden in terms and conditions that all inclusive landline packages are not intended for use with internet service providers, even where connection is via 01/02 number).

MissBossyBoots_2

Stuart - thank you so much. Very helpful. I am finding that since buying my flat, all these things that previously I have never had to understand are queueing up to demand my total comprehension! Thanks again.

peter999

MissBossyBoots wrote:

Stuart - thank you so much. Very helpful. I am finding that since buying my flat, all these things that previously I have never had to understand are queueing up to demand my total comprehension! Thanks again.

Those were the days when I had spare cash & didn't have a care in the world.