New Build House No phone line, no one can find postcode to install Broadband

egone140

Hi All,
I've recently bought a new build property and have been trying to get the internet in for 3 weeks now, the main problem seems to be no-one can find my postcode and therefore cannot determine any information about the phone line to the property. Virgin Media do not have any cable in or around my street so no joy there for a DSL connection.

The Postcode is new (2 months ish) but I have already checked with Royal Mail and they have confirmed its a valid postcode and that its on their database. Sky aparently take up this database ever 48 hours.

I've already tried Sky, Virgin and BT. Sky have basically said its a problem with one of their systems at some end and have reported the fault with their tech dept and will call me back when its fixed (if ever) im not gonna hold my breath waiting for them even though they seem to have to most attractive packages these days.
Virgin have informed me that they use BT's system and since they can't find me on that theres nothing they can do. now to BT.

BT Have confirmed that my postcode exists but that its not on their database as such they cannot determine what kind of broadband they can provide however they can overide their system (they seem to be the only ones who can do this) and get an engineer out to install a phone line, charging me £130 connection fee and locking me into a 12 month line rental contract with them. If i then choose to take up broadband they will refund the connection fee. However their broadband isn't very competitively priced as i would require the unlimited download package.

Hopefully someone can help with these questions:
1: What is wrong with my postcode? Royal Mail have it and everywhere claims to be up to date so why can no-one find it? How can i fix it?

2: Why can no-one else install a phone line if they can't find it on BT's systems that their using?

3: Since BT seem to have me by the short and curly's regarding them charging their connection fee and thusly hopefully existing on their system so other more competively priced companies can provide me with broadband, what broadband companies offer the cheapest price for unlimted download with a BT line rental (since they've forced me into it with their connection)?

4: Does anyone have any more general advise that can help?

Locaiton: Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Many Thanks.

bod1467

1. It happens - not unusual for new-builds.

2. If it's not in the BT database then there's not really a lot any ADSL-based ISP can do. BT shouldn't be able to override the system (or rather, if they can then so should other companies) as they are separate to Openreach (who install the lines), but I would say they are "separate" if you catch my drift.

3. Go to http://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker and put in your postcode. This should tell you which ISPs are available in your exchange.

pepper11

I work for a design consultancy and we set up new housing estates with new services.

I suggest you get in touch with the house builder and request information about who is the phone provider in the area as there should be cables installed throughtout your estate. Most of the time these are installed by BT but this differs from site to site.

Once you find this out you should have mores of a case to argue with BT/Virgin etc about getting the phoneline from the footpath/service verge into your property.

Good Luck xx

diamonds

BT Infinity is awesome, I pay Talk Talk £10 ontop of my package and am resold Infinity as Talk Talk Fibre - I get 36-38 MBPS a mile away from the exchange, whats your postcode and we can help out whats available.

As for BT log a complaint at head office against BT Openreach as you are being forced into a BT contract as only BT can provide a line or BB due to a database not updated by BT Openreach & this is a Ofcom requirement due to monopoly competition, send the same email in the address to Ofcom - you'll get action alright !!

InsideInsurance

I had a similar problem in that they couldn't find the property and even BTs own "what broadband can you get" tool only said I could only get very slow ADSL despite being 100m from the cabinet and 400m from the exchange with every neighbouring postcode coming back saying fibre at 38mb/s

I was happy to have a BT telephone line and the second that was turned on (literally second) everything changed and broadband and fibre available

MikeGracia

Just to join in with your woes...

I once had BT say that they don't have a record of there being a first floor in my building, just a ground floor, and a second floor... and so they wanted to send someone out... get this... to check that there was a first floor!!! - Perhaps they got worried that the second floor just HOVERED above the ground floor... with nothing in between?

Luckily common sense prevailed in the end, and they just believed me when I said that it didn't, and that there was a first floor

diamonds

MikeGracia wrote: »

Just to join in with your woes...

I once had BT say that they don't have a record of there being a first floor in my building, just a ground floor, and a second floor... and so they wanted to send someone out... get this... to check that there was a first floor!!! - Perhaps they got worried that the second floor just HOVERED above the ground floor... with nothing in between?

Luckily common sense prevailed in the end, and they just believed me when I said that it didn't, and that there was a first floor

Send someone LOL

jonomassey

Hi, I've got the same problem with my new build, they can see my postcode and they knew it exists but for some reason on their system it says no service to this postcode. I spoke to the builder on my development and it appears openreach had never been out to connect my property to the green box which is approx 200 metres away and they came out last wednesday to do this. I'm now waiting for Openreach to update the system for the work they have carried out. I've spoken to the openreach contact for the development and he is going to call me back tomorrow as he is going to try and update the system himself so I can get sky to place an order for there broadband. After weeks of going round in circles hopefully I'll get a solution to my problem so my advice would be to try and get the name and phone number of the openreach area manager for your development from the builder and call them yourself.