BT line, has it been disconected

JeffersR

Bit of an odd one,

Bought a house last Oct and been renovating it since and still not moved in yet so haven't signed up for a phone line as yet. Up until a few weeks ago the phone line seemed to be connected but obviously unallocated (had dial tone but couldn't dial out etc.). Now it seems the line may have been totally deactivated as I'm not getting a dial tone anymore. I ruled out the internal wiring as I connected the master socket directly up to the cables outside at the junction before they come into the house and there is still no dial tone (I've also tested my internal wiring for continuity and that is fine so no problems there).

So is it likely that after several months of having an inactive phone line but with a dial tone BT would totally pull the plug and that's why I now don't get a dial tone? or is it more likely to be sone other fault? (bearing in mind I've ruled out internal wiring by testing the master socket directly on to the wiring on my outside wall where it junctions in and I don't get anything there plus continuity in my internal circuit is fine).

duchy

I wouldn't worry just order your phone line and let BT or Sky or whoever sort it out. Odds are it isn't a fault just the length of time the line was unallocated -but even if it is-sorting it will be a part of the activation process anyway. I deal with this on a fairly regular basis-it isn't uncommon.

JeffersR

I suspect that is the case but if so will it now mean that when I finally come to getting my line activated BT will charge me their rather hefty fee of £130? I assumed that whilst my line had a dial tone the new connection could be allocated without charge but now I fear that, even though the physical connection is still there and fine that the line going dead will mean I'll have to pay.

I wouldn't grumble too much about paying if it required an engineer visit to physically make a connection but this would seem not to be the case.

I won't be needing to activate my line for a further month or two but just trying to prepare/know what I'm up against when I do.

money_saving_matt

If your line used to have dial tone then it would have been classified as a stopped line (not a ceased line), whereby it is still connected to the exchange equipment and can be reactivated by a service provider for a few pounds.

If the line no longer has dial tone then it is likely that Openreach have ceased it, which happens when they want to reclaim the line plant at the exchange for another job or if some part of the route from the exchange to your house has been reused on another job. If this has happened your line won't be able to be reactivated, your service provider will have to pay Openreach the costs of a new install.

plumface

Your 'line' is (or was!) what is called a TOS line,meaning taken out of service.
Sometimes BT will not fully pull the plug on a ceased line (ie someone cancelling BT service) but will leave dial tone and the ability to dial only 999 or 100 on it.
The chances are that 'your' line has been taken by a new installion that could be anywhere in the local area.
But as others have said,don't worry about it as it is not your problem.....let whoever you decide to go with sort it out.:)

iniltous

When the line had dialtone but you couldnt make calls (you probably would have been able to call 100, 999 and 150 ) it was a 'stopped' line so was capable of being 'started',this is normally 'free'... now there is no dialtone its probably been 'ceased' or some or all of its external lineplant has been used to give someone else service or used to fix a fault on another line....so a full install would be required.
Most service providers BT included will provide a new line for a lot less that £130, infact BT at the moment charge nothing, provided you take broadband as well or £40 if just the telephone line is required.

Buzby

TOS means 'Temporarily Out of Service' - a euphemism for 'the customer hasn't paid the bill and there's a restriction on service'. Never heard of it being called 'Taken' out of service - which is a bit nondescript...

plumface

Buzby wrote: »

TOS means 'Temporarily Out of Service' - a euphemism for 'the customer hasn't paid the bill and there's a restriction on service'. Never heard of it being called 'Taken' out of service - which is a bit nondescript...

Never heard of that either,could be an area thing,not saying you are wrong though!
TOS (or TOSSED as BT engineers call it) lines left 'partially' live when a customer cancels a service.Why this happens on only a few and not all cancelled lines is beyond me but,they are a godsend to engineers trying to find a new line for another property.As soon as you test it you know it is fault free and goes all the way back to the exchange.:T