Cost to reconnect phoneline?

tajk321

My son is moving into a rented property next week. The previous tenants disconnected the phone. He is currently looking at phone and broadband packages. Will he have to pay a fee to reconnect. Thanks

Heinz

It depends ........

If the line still has a 'soft' dial tone (you can hear the dial tone and dialling 17070 gives you an announcement of the number), BT will probably reconnect free of charge (but you have to agree to a 12 month line rental contract with them).

Other providers can also reconnect such a line but it is unlikely that any will offer it free of charge.

macman

Anything from around £50 with a reseller such as Plusnet, to BT"s full 'standard' fee of £130. Though there are usually offers to reduce this, depending on what other services you take.

tajk321

Thanks. The previous tenants have only just moved out and he's been told he just needs to reactivate it. He's not in yet so not sure if it has a soft dial tone. He has only taken on a 6 month tenancy so will not want to be tied into a 12 month contract.

macman

AFAIK only the PO will offer you anything less than a 12m line rental contract. You can hardly expect a free reconnection (which the telcom has to pay OR for at the full rate) and then leave after 6m.
Reactivation/reconnection-same thing.

Quentin

macman wrote: »

AFAIK only the PO will offer you anything less than a 12m line rental contract. You can hardly expect a free reconnection (which the telcom has to pay OR for at the full rate) and then leave after 6m.
Reactivation/reconnection-same thing.

You can get free reconnection/line installation etc (up to 31/3/12) with the post office and can leave after 6 months without penalty.

tajk321

Quentin wrote: »

You can get free reconnection/line installation etc (up to 31/3/12) with the post office and can leave after 6 months without penalty.

Thanks very much, That sounds ideal.

alanrowell

What are the options if you also want short term broadband? AFAIK only Tesco & Zen offer month by month contracts and Tesco require you to transfer your line to them.

macman

There are plenty of 30 day rolling broadband contracts (Plusnet for example)-the problem is usually line rental.

alanrowell

macman wrote: »

There are plenty of 30 day rolling broadband contracts (Plusnet for example)-the problem is usually line rental.

Plusnet require either a BT or Plusnet line

macman

alanrowell wrote: »

Plusnet require either a BT or Plusnet line

And your point is? All ADSL broadband requires a BT-based line.
The PO is the only company currently offering line rental contracts less than 12m.