Changing isp's.

Robisere

I am experiencing a problem with changing my ISP. I am moving from yourcalls.net to Plusnet. The problem is caused by two factors: -

1. The yourcalls line is a LLU (unbundled - not a BT line) It is, in fact, a line leased by yourcalls from Talktalk, which I did not know when I took the service originally.

2. In changing to Plusnet, I am taking a FTTC service, which YC could not give me. Now YC are putting a Cease on the line from 30/10/12 and Plusnet want £49.99 to change the line back to a BT service. (BT are Plusnet's parent company.)

I am currently fighting this charge, as (a) YC did not at any point tell me that the line was LLU, and (b) Plusnet have already taken my bank details, agreed a contract, and taken a payment for the first 12 months of Line Rental. (I saved £42 on the years rental by doing that -TIP!)

Plusnet have made a provisional appointment for 30/10/12 to for Open Reach to set everything up, fitting the FTTC line and hardware. I just have to hope that it all works out. But I would like to pass on a warning to others thinking of migrating to another ISP:

Is your line a BT line, or is it LLU?
If it's LLU, ask your potential new provider if there are charges to remove the LLU line and reinstall a BT service, if that becomes necessary.

caveat_emptor

LLU does not necessarily mean it is not a BT line. Who do you pay your line rental to?
My isp has LLU but I have a BT line.

Robisere

My current ISP is, as I say above, yourcalls.net. I pay line rental to them, a line which they lease from TalkTalk. i am about to move to Plusnet, hopefully on 30/10/12.

When you say your LLU line is a BT line, have you looked at it in "sam knows broadband"?: -
(Link-) http://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker

Type in your phone number. You may get a surprise.

caveat_emptor

It's not a question of BT line or LLU. The isp LLU is installed in a BT exchange and you can indeed see the isps with LLU in a certain exchange at Samknows. If you want Plusnet, BT will take back the line from YC and will charge you for it. YC may even charge you a disconnection fee.

Robisere

Extract from an email sent by my current/about to be ex-ISP, today: -

"Currently you have a LLU line and broadband connection with yourcalls.net. A LLU connection is a linked line and broadband connection that allows providers to supply cheaper connections. As the line and broadband are linked together, when your line leaves us on the 30th October (as requested by plusnet) the broadband automatically stops as it is not physically possible to provide a LLU broadband connection without the line.

However, this should not cause any problems for a new supplier taking over the service, and they should simply place their orders bearing in mind the current LLU status of the line. They will already be aware of the LLU status of your line, as this would have shown up on their systems when they placed their transfer request."


However, the threat by me to remain with the current service, has produced the result. On 30/10/12 Plusnet are sending out an engineer to remove the LLU line and install a FTTC line. This will cost me nothing.


QUOTE: If you want Plusnet, BT will take back the line from YC and will charge you for it. YC may even charge you a disconnection fee.
- Not happening.


The LLU line would not be technically compatible with a FTTC service, which requires a special BT modem to transfer the signal to VDSL router. FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet) is not FTTH ( FTTHome) and needs this arrangement to work.


I am also going to get much higher download speeds, which if you have lived/are living with rural broadband and miserably low speeds, is a decided bonus. Thanks to the government and their Rural Broadband Initiative, I may be able to start downloading stuff and see it today!