Rented Flat, previous tenant had BT line - how do I get it turned on

PasturesNew

Hi

THis is driving me nuts as I have no phone to call BT and their website is rubbish. Sat on their 0800 on an expensive mobile phone (PAYG) for 10 minutes in a queue ... so hoping somebody here knows the answer.

The previous tenant here had a BT phoneline.
He moved out on 31/08/07. Probably/possibly just left, without paying his last bill (who knows, no idea/proof).
I want to get it in my name/turned on.

How long will this take?
How do I do it?
I don't know the number.

Previous tenant also had broadband, I am assuming he had BT Broadband too. No proof or evidence, just assuming.

My plan is to get the BT landline, then get Talk Talk broadband.

Is there a flaw in that plan that you can spot?

Thanking you in anticipation. Life shouldn't be this hard when all you want is to get a phone line and broadband .... and have NO idea how.

BritBrat

My plan is to get the BT landline, then get Talk Talk broadband.

Not a good plan, as you will have a contract with BT for a year, I am assuming that you also mean TalkTalk phone package.

From 1st May 2007, for customers ending their service early, we replaced the existing charges with a policy that requires customers who have ordered a line on or after 1st May to pay the outstanding line rental for the 12-month minimum term of their contract, up to a maximum of £70 (incl. VAT). Customers moving home and transferring BT service to their new address will be subject to a new minimum term from the date of start of service at the new address.

When you cancel the contract you only pay the outstanding line rental for the 12-month minimum term of their contract, up to a maximum of £70 (incl. VAT). So if say 3 months were left you would only pay 3 x £10.50p= £34.50p.

SOURCE BT.com

To get the line activated you will just have to keep trying on the phone, unless anyone else knows another way. At least yours should be free of any charge.

But a better plan for phone calls is to follow Heinz advice:
Heinz '7-steps' cost reduction

PasturesNew

I am more bothered about getting a phone line so I can get broadband quickest, rather than nitpicking about the contract/cost today to be honest. I have been here a month and not managed to get it sorted. So far:
1] Wasted time trying to find out what to do, then found out Virgin/NTL were the same. So signed up with them, after a week of hearing nothing phoned them and found out I couldn't have their landline/broadband/tv package as there's no cable to my building.
2] Sat for 10 days wondering what the heck to do ... how to get a line. Set out today 2 hours ago to achieve a landline. So far failed.

It is annoying that everybody wants a 12 month contract for stuff since most renters are on 6 month contracts. But I am prepared to pay for 12 months if I end up getting moved on after 6 still (5 now).

I just want a landline .... soonest!

lemontree

My Daughter rang at lunchtime giving Bank Details and was connected from Exchange 2 days later with no charge.

BritBrat

OK so long as you do not mind paying a default fee of £70 to BT then you can get the line installed and switch to TalkTalk.

You can get monthly ADSL internet access contracts, I know I have one.

EDITED: Checked what I typed and it seemed to be a years contract.

bristol_pilot

Call 0800 800 150 from a landline, a public phone if you have to, and the call is free. You do have to wait in the queue, but they are OK once you get through eventually. You will need to give them the address of the property, whether the previous tenant has paid his bill or not or taken the number with him when he moved will not cause a problem (landlines are not like gas or electric where the utility will sometimes attempt to chase a new occupier for the previous occupiers bills).

They may say that you will have to pay £125 or £130 connection fee. This is the fee for connecting a line to a new property where there has been no line in before. Connection is free if there is an existing line in, the problem is that BT have lost their records of which properties have existing lines so they tell everyone that a fee is payable.

It is likely that an engineer will have to come out to the property if the line is not currently switched on. Even if an engineer comes out, you still don't have to pay a fee if there is an existing line, but BT will not say that until after the event.

PasturesNew

BritBrat wrote: »

At least yours should be free of any charge.

That'd be good. I was fearful of some numpty £125 charge, in which case I would have started at square 1 again.

It shouldn't BE rocket science should it!

BritBrat wrote: »

Heinz '7-steps' cost reduction

Thanks... 1 and 2 seem relevant... rest lost me a bit. I don't generally make phone calls to be honest. I have Skype, except I need broadband to use it.

I have to go out to buy a tin opener, so on the basis I've bothered to get dressed and go out, I might look for a public phone on the way and try making the 0800 call to BT from that (as it's free). I just don't like running up a mobile phone cost sitting in a damned queue, with no idea how long I'll be in it. . . having said that - standing at/in public phone boxes ALWAYS makes me want to wee!!! Even if I've just been.

Infidel

PasturesNew wrote: »

having said that - standing at/in public phone boxes ALWAYS makes me want to wee!!! Even if I've just been.

So it's YOU!

PasturesNew

Final Update.

Finally got through this morning quite quickly (about 9.5am on a Monday).
Used phone number 0800 800 150
I had found out the previous tenant's phone number, so on the automated system I said I was an existing customer, then having keyed in the number it eventually lead to me hearing the service I was after.

No charge.
It will be on within 2 days.
It is a 12 month service, which is annoying when you are in rented accommodation, but your hands are tied really. Companies in general should look into this. If you are unsure if you'll be "allowed" to stay on, it can make you nervous about what will happen in the future....

So, once that's up and running, I can sort out broadband.

rizel23

Simlar story to mine, you just better hope that your current line does'nt still have ADSL active on it as the last tennent in place i moved into had given BT the correct details to disconnect so i could'nt order BB, its being sorted now, has taken well over 3 hours to get it done, if there still is BB on the line it takes 3-5 working days for BT Openreach to clear the line manually, i'm on 2nd day so will let u know how i get on!!!

munkyfaz

Im moving into a flat on Friday ,previous owners had a Pipex number which they have cancelled . I have a Tiscali Broadband contract at my current flat but have leave the landline number here. Had a look at tiscalis line rental contracts etc which looked cheap and thought i'd upgrade so I contacted them. They say I need to get a BT line before i can move my broadband to new address, to get BT landline BT tell ,it will be £124 fee , then if i want to cancel it to get the tiscali line rental it will be a further £70 so thats nearly £200 before i even start which will obliterate any saving but it seems my hands are tied. If I cancel the tiscali and start afresh i need to pay their cancellation instead and i wll still need the £124 landline. Does anyone know a way out of this or is my bank balance doomed.