BT Connection for New Houses = £75!

webmasterpolo

Hi just moved house (wahey!!) and had to cancel old BT account and now need a new one.

New house is brand new and because it has never had a BT line active before it costs £75 to get one connected (wiring etc is all done and ready by buider). If I moved into a used house if would of been FREE to reconnect to BT.

I've been delaying ordering the line (lived there a week now and the wait times is 2 weeks) because I've been trying to get them to waive the fee. Usually I manage some sort of deal under these circumstances but BT are just a brick wall and refuse to reduce the charge.

I'm even looking at taking on BT Broadband even though its costs more then competitors if they waive the fee and the overall cost is cheaper. Maybe even taking on the sky deal they are offering as well (want sky anyway) if they waive the fee.

My other option is to forget BT, however I refuse to deal with cable companies after massive problems in the past and the restrictions on choice of BB provider.

Anyone have any ideas on how to handle BT or an alternative option to BT?

Please help, not have internet access, let alone BB at home is driving me insane.

(BTW I don't use the line for calls, only BB)

Edinburghlass_2

Another thread about this here which I think also links to a previous thread about the BT charge.

There doesn't seem to be a way round this.

jake_bullet_2

It's free when you move to a 'used' house only if the line already exists, this is because someone (maybe way back) has already paid the installation charge, the line was covered from this point on by the line rental payments.

Your new house has never 'paid' this charge so the first person to request a line gets charged. BT spend a lot of money laying new ducts, cables etc to serve new houses ( MUCH more than £75 per house )

Jacster_2

I tried really hard to get out of this. Clever negotiating tactics (I thought), moving swiftly to tears and tantrums. Ended up banging my head against a brick wall (same one you've found, I think).

Gave up and paid.

Shocking.

Now exacting revenge by using call 18866 for every call. They only ever get £10.50 from me!

pricefighter

BT will normally allow you to pay the £75 in four instalments if you ask,(although they dont promote this),which may help some people with cash flow problems.