BT Charging Rental For Internal Extension?

macman

I was helping a neighbour set up her wi-fi yesterday and there was some confusion about wheher she got her broadband via BT or from AOL. So I asked to see he last BT phone bill and was amazed to see a charge on there of £4.50 per quarter for an 'internal extension'! She has lived there for many years, prior to BT privatisation, so I presume that decades ago BT wired an extension socket and have been charging quarterly rental for it ever since. She did ask them to cancel the charge but they said that it would require an OR engineer to come and remove the extension socket (which connects her broadband), and that would be chargeable!
Has anyone else come across this? Since BT are no longer responsible for wiring beyond the NTE5, is the charge even legal? The only BT equipment charge I've come across before is for handset rental, and they've always dropped this charge when asked to.

Myser

That will most likely be a charge for a separate extension with telephone number.

Are you sure your neighbour didn't have a home business or a second line previously for when dial-up MODEMs were used etc?

brewerdave

There WAS an extra rental charge for extensions (and for an external bell) back in the 70s - but I don't think anyone has had to pay it on new installations since the mid 80s !!Sounds like this has just drifted on being billed for; the script monkeys in Mumbai probably don't even know what she is on about!
I suspect that a written complaint to BT will get the charge dropped - but they won't pay a rebate for all the overcharged years!!!

macman

No, AFAIK there's only ever been one line and one number. It could well go back as far as the 1970's, so she's paid several hundred out over the years for it.
I've suggested a switch away from BT anyway, which should put an end to this.

Myser

If indeed it is a mistake, your neighbour should be able to claim all the costs back.

Buzby

The charge is legal - it is up to her to cancel the facility. The difference is her socket is covered if it goes faulty - whereas everyone else would find BTs responsibility ends at he Master Socket, hers would not - they would over her entire installation.

She could call them to cease the facility (socket rental) and if it went faulty, it would be up to her to arrange repair if it went faulty. As a service visit costs north of £100, she would get hers free. They would not call round and take it way.