Moving from Virgin to Sky

TUS

Hope this is the right forum - just after opinions about processes here :-)

I currently have Virgin BB and Phone only. We are well past the initial 12 month contract so I only need to give 30 days notice which isnt an issue.

I have gone on to the Sky website and entered our address and it's quoted the price. However, could there be any hidden charges? The thing which concerns me is that I know there is a BT line running into the house (so far as I can see the sockets) but I have no idea when they were last active. We are renting and have always had Virgin here.

Is there any way to check if there will be charges to get it "activated" or does Skys £10 activation fee their site is quoting cover everything like that?

Next ... when I transfer, is it possible to take our landline number with us? Do I request a MAC code from Virgin and supply this to Sky? And if so, do I provide this when registering online for Sky or later on?

To complicate it, I want to order online and not via phone as I want to go via TopCashBack :-)

Anything I've missed? Don't want to !!!!!! this up!

spike7451

If you're on VM cable broadband & phone & NOT VM National,then you'll need to get a BT DSL line installed first.You CANNOT have broadband from Sky/BT ect on a cable phoneline due to the way it works,being completely different to a DSL based service.
As to your phone number,it may not be possible to port it to Sky.

TUS

spike7451 wrote: »

If you're on VM cable broadband & phone & NOT VM National,then you'll need to get a BT DSL line installed first.You CANNOT have broadband from Sky/BT ect on a cable phoneline due to the way it works,being completely different to a DSL based service.
As to your phone number,it may not be possible to port it to Sky.

Sorry, I've not explained it properly. There IS a physical BT DSL line in the property (ie. seperate from the Virgin sockets) which are currently dead (no ring tone on them).

I presume Sky would use these. But would there be any charge beyond their £10 activation fee to get that line working?

Just noticed this on the order page:
"You don't currently have an active landline so any broadband and talk products are dependent on you also taking Sky Line Rental."

It doesn't mention paying any fee to BT. Are the days of paying BT £120 to activate the line before setting up Sky gone??

TUS

Spoke to Sky and the only fee is to them, £10. Even if brand new sockets, etc, need putting in. Sound right?

He couldn't answer re: porting number from Virgin via an online order.

spike7451

TUS wrote: »

Sorry, I've not explained it properly. There IS a physical BT DSL line in the property (ie. seperate from the Virgin sockets) which are currently dead (no ring tone on them).

I presume Sky would use these. But would there be any charge beyond their £10 activation fee to get that line working?

Just noticed this on the order page:
"You don't currently have an active landline so any broadband and talk products are dependent on you also taking Sky Line Rental."

It doesn't mention paying any fee to BT. Are the days of paying BT £120 to activate the line before setting up Sky gone??

Sorry,read that after I'd posted..old age.

TUS wrote: »

Spoke to Sky and the only fee is to them, £10. Even if brand new sockets, etc, need putting in. Sound right?

He couldn't answer re: porting number from Virgin via an online order.

No,BT Openreach do all the work from the exchange to the home & they'd only be responsible up to the NTE Master socket,after that it's chargable or the home owners responsibility.
BT would replace the master socket for free if it's faulty but will charge for any others than need installing/replacing as well as moving the NTE.Best bet is to go for a reconnect of the line & then worry about the NTE if it's faulty later.

TUS

spike7451 wrote: »

Sorry,read that after I'd posted..old age.



No,BT Openreach do all the work from the exchange to the home & they'd only be responsible up to the NTE Master socket,after that it's chargable or the home owners responsibility.
BT would replace the master socket for free if it's faulty but will charge for any others than need installing/replacing as well as moving the NTE.Best bet is to go for a reconnect of the line & then worry about the NTE if it's faulty later.

Now I'm confused ... when you say go for reconnect do I do that through Sky or do I HAVE to go to BT first? :-s Don't fancy a £120 charge from BT and a 12m contract with them.

Heinz

Sky can do it -but they're likely to say they can't.

macman

You ask your preferred line rental provider to do the work-so Sky. But it's BT OR who actually do the job.
I'd be most surprised if Sky will reconnect you for a tenner.

TUS

macman wrote: »

You ask your preferred line rental provider to do the work-so Sky. But it's BT OR who actually do the job.
I'd be most surprised if Sky will reconnect you for a tenner.

I must say I am surprised. Seems cheap. Over the phone the guy said it would be £19.99 but online it shows as a tenner. It even recognises, after entering my full address, that I don't have an active line when I do it online. So maybe it is just a good deal.

Think I'll order it online before giving Virgin my notice and absorb having an overlap if it does go through. If there's an issue I just don't cancel Virgin.

iniltous

If the old BT sockets are dead then the order Sky raise should be a new line order (not a takeover) , Sky pay BT/OR less than £50 for a new line install, so by charging £10 they can easily absorb the rest (if the contract is for line/calls/broadband and TV it will be small beer)..its up to BT/OR if they try to reactivate the dead sockets or send someone out and start from scratch...BT dont charge £120 for the equivilent install, depending on what services you take and what length of contract, but obviously use BT to install the line and you will be subject to a minimum term, same as Sky.
As far as number porting from VM to Sky, if Sky are re-selling BT telephony, then there is no reason why you couldnt have your current number, if Sky have there own MPF telephony in the exchange then its less clear, seems to happen sometimes and sometimes it doesnt,...and no you dont need a MAC if you are moving from VM cable to anyone else

TUS

iniltous wrote: »

If the old BT sockets are dead then the order sky raise should be a new line order (not a takeover) , Sky pay BT/OR less than £50 for a new line install, so by charging £10 they can easily absorb the rest (if the contract is for line/calls/broadband and TV it will be small beer)..its uptp BT/OR if they try to reactivate the dead sockets or send someone out and start from scratch...BT dont charge £120 for the equivilent install depending on what services you take and what length of contract, but obviously use BT to install the line and you will be subject to a minimum term, same as Sky

Thanks, that clarifies things.

With regards to Virgin > Sky number porting ... from the research I've done it seems hit n miss. No one seems to be able to say for sure if it works. Ofcom say it should be allowed. Sky say it can be done, but until I place the online order I don't know if it allows you to enter those details online. I don't want to do a telephone order as I lose the discounts of ordering online + TopCashBack.

May have to just accept losing my number :-S