Moved house, phone line dead, best way to get landline and broadband?

littlemissmoney

Hi

I've just rented a flat and the phone line is dead. I want a landline and broadband. What's the best (and cheapest) way to go about this?

I phoned BT and they say the line hasn't been with them since 2002 so it will cost me £125 to connect. Now I've been reading all the other threads about this, but I'm still confused. Do they say this to cover their backs incase they need to charge you, or is this definite because my line is dead?

Also, if I pay this £125 then I'm also in a 12 month contract with bt for line rental right? :rolleyes:

What do I do??? Please help.

kunekune

Do you really really need a landline? You can get broadband without one. I know, cos I did it today.

littlemissmoney

kunekune wrote: »

Do you really really need a landline? You can get broadband without one. I know, cos I did it today.

Hmm, I'd like one really but you can make a lot of mobile calls for £125! :rolleyes: Who did you get just broadband with and how much is it?

kunekune

That's exactly what I thought, especially on a one year lease so that we'd probably have to pay it again a year from now.

The package I got from T-mobile for the broadband comes with a free modem (a fairly long contract, but since moving isn't an issue, I'm ok with that) and fair usage for £20 a month. That's not much different from ordinary broadband.

littlemissmoney

I'm now thinking I could go with Virgin Media because that's cable so I didn't need a working BT line right? (or am I being thick??? How does the "cable" get into the house???)

It's £11 a month for the phone and £4.50 for broadband. That seems like a really good deal... am I missing something?? Help!

Farway

littlemissmoney wrote: »

I'm now thinking I could go with Virgin Media because that's cable so I didn't need a working BT line right? (or am I being thick??? How does the "cable" get into the house???)

It's £11 a month for the phone and £4.50 for broadband. That seems like a really good deal... am I missing something?? Help!

They also are 12 month contract, plus there is no alternative supplier on cable, it is Virgin only

PS the cable gets there by them digging up your path / garden & laying it from the roadway to your house, assuming you are in a cabled area

PPS see thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=576862, BT half price offer November

kunekune

The reason I felt ok with the contract with T-mobile is that their coverage is such that I can move and not have to start again. My problem with a longer contract with Telecom was that each time you move, you run the risk of the £125 fee, depending on what some previous tenant has done (ie, it's out of your control). If you are still on the 12 month contract when you move again, then you go back to the beginning again. Standard ASTs are 6 months, so many tenants can't even be sure of 12 months. I saw it as a £10 a month surcharge, which might be ok if you know that you can stay in a property for 24 months or more, but when are on an AST that just isn't the case.