Bt Line Connection for new build (merged)

flang

Thats intresting because we have 3 phone boxes already installed in the flat, the one nearest the front door has 2 cables, one going in and one going to the next box, I wonder if one of those cable could be the main line.
It seems silly to build a home without installing a telephone line!
Im not paying £75 just for them to flick a switch.

Heinz

I think you're likely to go without a BT landline then.

£75 is the standard charge for 'new installations' and your 'but it's already installed - why should I pay for installation which amounts to no more than flicking a switch' argument overlooks the fact that getting the wires from the exchange to the new flat has already cost BT money. The £75 charge is an attempt to recover part of that cost.

Try your local cable company. They're so desperate for customers they install for free.

flang

Unfortantly cable isnt available in my area which is a right bummer as it is available in the other houses just 20Metres away!

ericpode

£75 is the standard charge for 'new installations' and your 'but it's already installed - why should I pay for installation which amounts to no more than flicking a switch' argument overlooks the fact that getting the wires from the exchange to the new flat has already cost BT money. The £75 charge is an attempt to recover part of that cost.

I can understand that if it is for the actual installation of the line itself. But it seems a bit steep for all future occupiers of the flat to pay £75 on moving in.

Bagpuss1973

You will have to pay the £75 if you want a bt landline.


We had this argument when we moved into our new build house. It is only the first people who have to pay for the connection. Sad but true. The engineer in our case did not even come to the house but did it over the telephone which is rather bizarre!

I believe that BT will let you spread the cost of the £75 over your 'phone bills if you want, we didn't opt for that but I think you can.

Edinburghlass_2

ericpode wrote:

I can understand that if it is for the actual installation of the line itself. But it seems a bit steep for all future occupiers of the flat to pay £75 on moving in.

But it's not payable everytime someone moves in, it is an installation charge for a brand new flat

ericpode

But it's not payable everytime someone moves in, it is an installation charge for a brand new flat

Oh I see.

AAMOI what heppens when you move out? Presumably when you tell BT you are moving out they will disconnect the line, so is there a (smaller) reconnection fee when the next occupant moves in or do they get their new connection free of charge?

bbb_uk

ericpode wrote:

..so is there a (smaller) reconnection fee when the next occupant moves in or do they get their new connection free of charge?

I believe BT are still doing free re-connection. We were with Telewest for years and moved to BT to take advantage of the cheaper call providers and didn't have to pay BT a penny for installation because the people who lived here before us had a BT line (and probably people before them).

We still never had to pay when the BT engineer came out and discovered that Telewest had cut the BT line going into the house. According to BT engineer they did this a very long time ago but have since stopped it because it's not their property. The BT engineer told me that although he spent longer than planned here, Telewest would get the bill for the work involved in reconnecting the cut line.

It's is just unfortunate that you moved into a new house and therefore subject to the new connection fee of £75. Same applies to anyone moving into a house that hasn't had BT before.

saver_natalie

I want broadband, and perhaps a phone line for my new build flat. Phoned BT and they said that, despite there already being a phone socket in the flat, they would charge £74.99 to connect me with a BT line. And I've also got to agree to a 12-month contract with them (£11 a month line rental) in order to be connected.

I was hoping to broadband and maybe the cheapo post office line rental offer at the moment. BT seem to be ripping me off, but twice I've phoned and they reckon I have to pay the £74.99 connection fee - what exactly are they going to do for the £74.99 when the socket is already there?

Any advice?

Heinz

Just a slim chance. If the socket has the BT logo on it, plug a phone in and, if there's a dial tone (I said it's a slim chance), dial 17070 and listen. You'll hear the number. Then phone BT back and tell them there's a line in the flat that you'd like to take over. Tell them the number.

Otherwise, can you find out the phone number which used to be there?

The £75 charge is for new installations and, if there's been a BT line there at some time in the past, yours won't be a new installation (i.e. it'll be free).

EDIT 21:40 30/1/06. Sorry, the 'new build' bit didn't register. If you're first in and the socket is just what the builder has put in ready for a phone installation, you will have to pay the standard BT charge of £74.99. Sorry, there's no way round it.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=57336