Can landlord dictate internet/phone provider?

jjlandlord

It is always unwise to tell people to just ignore clauses of the contract they have freely agreed with.

The consequences are often difficult to foresee and depend on the specific circumstances.

mrginge

HappyMJ wrote: »

On what? I have that clause and I have switched. What's going to happen now? I suspect nothing.

Just because something hasn't been enforced doesnt mean its unenforceable.

rr755507

Popppet wrote: »

I wish I hadn't made that courtesy call now!

Yes, easier not to bother.

You have nothing to worry about though. An engineer will not visit the house as Sky Broadband or Fibre/FTTC product is a self install 'wires only' service.

The changes they make are in the green street cabinets, and at the local BT exchange. When you leave the tenancy and cancel the Sky subscription, the engineer will disconnect the wires, reverting them to how they were before you moved in. The landlord will be none the wiser, and would have no reason to complain.

Popppet

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I'm reassured that it's not just me thinking that this is a bit dodgy.

There is an dedicated Virgin engineer for the estate so that explains the enforced Virgin deals. Of course I've gone through a cashback site instead and avoided the local guy. There is a handsome selection of antennae on roof (enough to refer to this building as 'the one with all the antennae'), though.

Fortunately, Virgin agreed to take me back on at my old "loyal customer rate", and increased my BB speed too (that was going to happen soonish anyway so not a perk as such but it did make me feel better). I didn't have a problem with them anyway, but Sky's £5 for the year was just too tempting.

The flat is good value for money so I don't want to make too much trouble with the landlord before my contract comes up for renewal. Instead, I'll go for the "you've got strange hidden rules so I have to overpay by £X per month for my internet", by way of negotiating a better deal. It's less of a risk than getting into a full-blown argument for the sake of 12 months free internet when I'll possibly live here for considerably longer.

Disaster averted, then, and I'll remain connected and can carry on browsing MSE forums! I'll just stop recommending the company to my friends and cross my fingers hoping that Virgin continues giving me a decent rate.