Need Phone & net for 3 months - best option?

Sammyantha

Moving into rented accom for 3 months before emigrating. Need a landline and internet connection. There is already a line in the property, just needs reconnecting.

What would be the best option -
1) plusnet phone & broadband with no contract but have to pay activation and for router plus wait 5 working days to set up
2) Dongle and just have internet, no landline
3) Use mobile phone as modem

BT trying to tell us they can't provide landline with less than 12 month contract!! We only need for 3 months. Ideally want phone line as well, but internet access is most important thing.

What do you suggest?

Thanks

macman

All line rental contracts are minimum 12m except the Post Office, they would never recover the costs otherwise. A reconnection or new line provision costs exactly the same for the telcom or ISP.
What is the issue with 5 days wait?-that's extremely fast. The usual wait for OR is around 3 weeks.
You can supply your own router on Plusnet if you want-it's just a bog standard Thomson TG585, available on eBay for next to nothing. Or use any old ADSL modem/router.

Sammyantha

Plusnet offer no contract, it says so on their website. Is this not the case?

macman

The Plusnet no contract option (actually a 30 day contract) is for standard broadband only. You still need a line rental contract as well, which in the case of Plusnet comes with a minimum call package and a 12m minimum.
As already stated, the PO is the only provider that offers no minimum term on it's line rental. Accordingly, they'll charge you more for the reconnection.

Browntoa

random suggestion

broadband dongle if you are not a heavy broadband user and a free virtual landline number from www.sipgate.co.uk , probably about £15 a month

Sammyantha

Scratch that, just spoke to them and they offer 4 month min contract but charge you if you cancel early, an activation fee, charge for the router, AND a mandatory engineer visit!! Haha, forget plusnet!

Sammyantha

Browntoa wrote: »

random suggestion

broadband dongle if you are not a heavy broadband user and a free virtual landline number from www.sipgate.co.uk , probably about £15 a month

Ahh brill, will look into those, thank you

macman

Sammyantha wrote: »

Scratch that, just spoke to them and they offer 4 month min contract but charge you if you cancel early, an activation fee, charge for the router, AND a mandatory engineer visit!! Haha, forget plusnet!

But any reconnection or new line install requires that, regardless of provider. You have to be in on the day to give the OR engineer access if necessary to make the connection (though often it isn't needed).
Every provider will charge you for a reconnection, Plusnet are one of the cheapest at £50. The BT standard charge is £130.
If you are only required to stay a month, what is wrong with them charging an activation fee?
And finally, if you break your minimum term contract, any provider will charge you. That's why it's called a minimum term.
Short term contracts generate very little cashflow or margin for the provider, so you must expect to pay more upfront.

steveE2

PO is NOT the only short term line provider,I have posted many times that IDNet,ADSL24,Vivacity,Zen amongst others also offer 'phone line rental on a monthly contract.

macman

But they will also require a broadband contract?
PO can be used with an ISP offering broadband only services-such as Plusnet.
Problem is that the OP seems to think that they will still get free reconnection, broadband activation and router even if they are able to leave after 30 days!

steveE2

macman wrote: »

But they will also require a broadband contract?
PO can be used with an ISP offering broadband only services-such as Plusnet.
Problem is that the OP seems to think that they will still get free reconnection, broadband activation and router even if they are able to leave after 30 days!

No Broadband contract is not needed
My phone is with IDNet has been for a while and BB currently with Sky,previously i was with Vivaciti for bb with idnet phone.

Agree OP seems to want everything for free which is just not going to happen on a short contract.