New home, no dial tone, confused about my options

Hebblethwaite

Hello,

I've just moved into a rented property. The lettings agency have no record of a phone provider and when I plugged a phone into the available sockets (one labelled BT, one Telewest) I didn't get a dial tone.

I need a landline for phone calls and more importantly for the internet. I've looked at the deals listed in the Home Phones article and the PlusNet, Primus and TalkTalk ones all seem reasonable. I also keep getting leaflets from Virgin so I suppose that's an option, but a bit pricey (even with the cashback offer). However, I'm a bit confused about some of the terminology and what each deal actually includes. Given that I have no dial tone, do I need a new phone line installing or do I just need reconnecting? If the former, does that make Primus my only option (if I don't want to pay extra, given that I can't guarantee how long I'm going to be at this address)?

If Primus is my only/best option, has anyone had success signing up for it via the link in the Home Phones article? I get redirected to the website, but then when I try and sign up, I consistently get an "IE cannot display this webpage" message.

Sorry for all the questions. I've not had to set up phone stuff before and I'm a bit confused.

spike7451

If the Telewest (VM) cable is intact thru to the cabinet,then it'll be a simple job of provisioning the line with a new telco number & a VM engineer to cross connect in the exchange & connect the relevent cable in the exchange.
NOTE THO,You cannot have broardband on a cable phoneline so the only provider you can have there is VM.

Hebblethwaite

Thanks. There's a BT socket too, so does that mean there's also a regular phone line installed (making the other companies a possibility), or would it have been removed when the cable was installed?

macman

No, the 2 networks are entirely separate, so if the master socket and cabling are still there on the BT side then you will just need a reconnection (whch is chargeable the same as a new line) if you want to go with a BT-based line. You can use any provider you like to reconnect you and provide the service, it doesn't have to be Primus.
Remember that the majority of line rental contracts are a 12m minimum though.

spike7451

Macmans correct there as to the other line,It's common practice for VM to physically disconnect the phoneline in the street cabinet & your cable phone line would be routed into the hose from the plastic box outside the house,usually behind where the TV point is.Cable system is entirely seperate from BT & does'nt connect into BT's local telephone exchange.

Hebblethwaite

Thanks both.