No live landline connection - how to switch?

dreaming

When I moved into this property I just transferred my Virgin package (phone and b/band) and didn't get the BT landline connected. Now I want to switch to a cheaper deal and have started "migrating" my emails to a gmail account but not sure how to go about getting the landline connection up and running. Do I get the connection made live first, then apply to a new provider, or would the new provider activate the line? Another slight problem is that the BT phone socket is in a rather inaccessible place and I wouldn't mind having that moved to enter the property into another room I use as an office. Could this all be done at once?  I started this process a couple of years ago but then became ill so have forgotten what advice I was given then. Now I'm better I would like to get this in motion again. Could someone advise please? 

MikeJXE

Apply to a provider, 

That's what I did, I applied to Talktalk, I didn't know there wasn't a landline here but the provider did, This property was on Virgin.  Openreach came and set it all up, took 15 minutes 

Ayr_Rage

Just be aware that some exchanges now have a "stop sell" on copper landlines so even if there is a physical line to the property it can no longer be reconnected.

If you can order a service over that line, the ISP will arrange for the connection to be made.

Relocating a master socket is normally a chargeable service, arranged through your ISP and costs around £125, it is unlikely that can be arranged for a "go live" day with a new ISP.

I have been using a 10m RJ11 extension from the master socket to my router on a Fibre 35 (VDSL FTTC) for many years without any reduction is speed compared to the ISP supplied 1.5m cable.

dreaming

I knew I would  have to pay to get the line re-routed but even at approx. £125, the savings I could make  by switching would pay for itself fairly quickly, then opens up the possibility of switching again in the future. The socket is down the side of a wardrobe in what is now my bedroom  but used to be the living room.  I would prefer not to have the router in the bedroom (the Virgin socket is actually in what is now my living room and I would like to get it out of there as well), or to have to use extension cables but I guess I could manage short-term until I could organise getting it moved. Right, I need to start drilling down into the comparisons now I guess.

MikeJXE

Ayr_Rage said:

Just be aware that some exchanges now have a "stop sell" on copper landlines so even if there is a physical line to the property it can no longer be reconnected.

If you can order a service over that line, the ISP will arrange for the connection to be made.

Relocating a master socket is normally a chargeable service, arranged through your ISP and costs around £125, it is unlikely that can be arranged for a "go live" day with a new ISP.

I have been using a 10m RJ11 extension from the master socket to my router on a Fibre 35 (VDSL FTTC) for many years without any reduction is speed compared to the ISP supplied 1.5m cable.

When openreach came to connect mine,, the master socket was in the hall, too narrow for any furniture or shelf. I asked if he could connect it to the lounge extension and he said yes I can do that but the hall socket would be useless, that wasn't a problem for me, he moved the master socket facing and relocated it to the lounge. No mention of a change and it works fine 

Just ask an ISP for a quote. Simple 

dreaming

Well, that was a lot easier than I thought (so far). Have new line being connected next Friday so I guess I will have to see what the engineer says about moving it, and then I should be up and running, and saving £40-odd per month against Virgin prices. I know it is because it is a new customer offer but it means I can switch more easily in the future. Thanks for the responses - it gave me the push to get on top of it. Just need now to contact all those who use my Virgin media e-mail and notify them of the change to the Gmail account. Plus, I haven't actually cancelled my Virgin media yet as I am concerned I will be without any internet if the new one doesn't go through OK.

dreaming

So I rang Virgin to cancel (after trying to do over the internet) and after going through all the hoops to speak to someone they of course tried to persuade me to stay by offering me discounts. However, they could not get even close to the price from Vodaphone plus, as I mentioned, by getting the landline connected I will be able to switch more easily in the future. I just repeated (and kept repeating) that I wished to cancel and finally got transferred to the relevant team who then proceeded to try to go through all the same procedure of questions as the previous adviser. I think I know their script off by heart now! I just kept saying that I wanted to cancel and finally got the wheels set in motion so that service ends at the end of March. Just hope everything goes smoothly with the new set-up (no reason why it shouldn't) and I can start to put the savings away for a rainy day.