Thinking of switching to OneTel

Nicholas

I have been back with BT for almost 3 months now (I think this is the minimum amount of time I have to stay with them), and am considering switching to OneTel.

The reason for switching is the lower line rental (and caller Display) with OneTel will work out 11.50 a month, 76p cheaper than BT. The free weekend calls will be a bonus.

I know it has been mentioned already, but could someone definately confirm that OneTel will not stop me from using 18866 or 1899 for peaktime calls, or indeed get a bit funny about it.

Also, is the transition from BT to OneTel straightforward?

Any comments, both positive and negative welcome.

Edinburghlass_2

Are you talking about line rental or just calls?

edit, I need to read the question properly

Only BT are obliged to allow you to use 18866/1899 for your calls and for the minimum saving by switching your line rental I am not convinced that it is worth the risk of switching to maybe find that Onetel will expect all calls to go through them.

However there is nothing to stop you signing up with Onetel for their calls and if you do it online you will get a credit of £20 and can still get the free w/end calls.

Nicholas

Edinburghlass wrote:

Are you talking about line rental or just calls?

Funny you should say that, but I have just come back form OneTel's site and noticed you could sign up for just calls.

Is there any difference to OneTel's attitude to using other overrides. (I suppose they could not complain if you just use their service for calls). What if you actually sign up for their line rental - do they block overides? (I am asking as I do not make a lot of calls so the 76p a month saving on line rental and caller display will pay for 2 months worth of calls on 18866

Edit:

Just read your edit. I think I might just sign up for free weekend calls and 20 quid credit. Do I need to wait until I am past my 3 month period with BT to do this?

Edinburghlass_2

I haven't read the T&C on their line rental so I am not sure but they are not obliged to allow you this facility the way BT are.

I was with Onetel before changing to TalkTalk but this was for calls and I used 18866 with Onetel as I do with TalkTalk but you would need to read their T&C's for the line rental.

Should you sign up for Onetel for line rental or calls, please use the MSE link in Martin's post here as this will give MSE a small contribution which enables Martin to keep MSE ad-free, run the forums and donate to charity.

(although the offer in this post is now over, the affiliate link is still operational)

bbb_uk

If you transfer your line rental from BT over to OneTel (obviously calls as well) then OneTel can at their sole discrection block or charge a higher fee for calls to indirect access numbers like Call18866/1899, etc. It is written in their t&c, specifically paragraph 3.4 (as quoted below):-

3.4 If you are a Line Rental Services customer and elect to use another provider for some or all of your calls we may at our sole discretion decide to (i) bar your use of indirect access codes, (ii) charge you a higher fee for your use of the Line Rental Service or (iii) disconnect the Line Rental Service.

If you just transferred the calls over then this is known as Carrier Pre-Selection (OneTel refer to it as 'Select') then you could take advantage of their free weekend calls etc and still use other providers like Call18866/1899 and any other providers for that matter and OneTel can't stop you.

In my opinion, I don't think it's worth for the slight savings per month because of the risk of OneTel blocking use of Call18866/1899.

I personally use OneTel for the free weekend calls and use Call18866 for daytime and evening calls as they cost just 2p per call for geographical (those beginning 01 & 02) calls.

I know because I'm using BT that I can use any other provider I want and BT are powerless to stop me whereas OneTel could if they decided to at any time.

Update: If you look here* and MSE Martin's thread here* for more info.

* OneTel & TalkTalk are no longer doing the free evening & weekend calls offer now that may be mentioned in either of the links above.

pricefighter

The other thing you have to keep in mind is that if you have a fault on your line you can go direct to BT at the mo.If you were with One Tel you would go to them,they would pass it to BT.

Nicholas

I think it is only 3 months that I have to agree to stay with BT. For clarification, is it only line rental that I am agreeing to?

If I tried to sign up to OneTel's CPS right now, would I be in breach of my terms and conditions?

Also, what is in it for OneTel giving 20 quid in credit? Are you agreeing to a minimum lock in period (I presume that you could at any time override back to BT with 1280 as well as routing to 18866 etc)

Edinburghlass_2

I think you would need to check the BT T&C's. I got caught out with them years ago but at that time I had to stay with them for a year but I think bb.uk quoted a different length of time recently.

However, I would think it will be different for line rental and using a CPS.

Edinburghlass_2

As a new customer to BT it appears the contract is for 12 months as shown.


To install a new line there is a connection charge of £74.99**, subject to survey.

This is because your property will need to be wired to the BT network by an engineer.

**Minimum term of 12 months applies

still checking for returning customer

pricefighter

You can elect to CPS to another carrier the day you join/rejoin BT if you want to.There is nothing to say you have to wait a certain period to CPS.The minimum term applies to line rental only.

I took out a line with BT this year and i CPS it straight away,no penalties were incurred.

Yes you always have got the BT Overide option.

It says on the Onetel site that the £20 credit if you sign up online, is for calls only, and is applied to the first bill.If you dont use it up on the first bill. it doesnt indicate if it is carried forward or not.

Edinburghlass_2

The £20 credit is carried forward until it is used up.