Cost of calls package on FTTP line

MouldyOldDough

We are about to get an offer from Talktalk to upgrade our present FTTC line to FTTP. The  network is currently being upgraded, locally.

Now - I am still within contract for another 8 months - so would expect the charge to remain the same, until the contract expires. However I am unsure what the call charges will be after the upgrade.

We need a landline for various reasons (aged parents in law don't have internet or mobile and rely on landlines - so we need to remain in contact with them at minimum call costs).

What options will we have when the time comes - ie How much will TalkTalk charge for a calls package / individual calls ?

Ayr_Rage

When you get the upgrade do make sure you ask for a VoIP service, some TT FTTP contracts are data only.

MouldyOldDough

I currently pay £27 per month for Internet + unlimited calls package which I believe should continue at £27 due to THEM changing MY connection? 

iniltous

They are not changing your connection, they may offer to upgrade you , but it’s a choice , if you don’t want to move onto FTTP you are not forced to .

If offered an ‘upgrade’ you would have to check the T&C’s , they may require a new minimum, they may not , they may require you to plug your phone into the router to make calls , they may not. 

FWIW there are no differences in price between the current TT phone service and a TT ‘internet’ phone service , calls cost the same on both , and as far as your ‘in laws’  are concerned, unless they live with you and use your phone line  , what possible difference would it make to them if you switch  ?  , where they live , they continue using their phone as they do already , if they call you ,  or if you call them ( after you are on FTTP ) unless Talk Talk change your number ( and they don’t need to ) it’s the same way as now .

As already stated , you should check that TT will continue to offer phone service for their ‘full fibre’ customers because it’s not clear if they do or don’t , obviously if TT remove your phone service you can’t call , or receive calls , as you won’t have a phone number 

MouldyOldDough

iniltous said:

They are not changing your connection, they may offer to upgrade you , but it’s a choice , if you don’t want to move onto FTTP you are not forced to .

If offered an ‘upgrade’ you would have to check the T&C’s , they may require a new minimum, they may not , they may require you to plug your phone into the router to make calls , they may not. 

FWIW there are no differences in price between the current TT phone service and a TT ‘internet’ phone service , calls cost the same on both , and as far as your ‘in laws’  are concerned, unless they live with you and use your phone line  , what possible difference would it make to them if you switch  ?  , where they live , they continue using their phone as they do already , if they call you ,  or if you call them ( after you are on FTTP ) unless Talk Talk change your number ( and they don’t need to ) it’s the same way as now .

As already stated , you should check that TT will continue to offer phone service for their ‘full fibre’ customers because it’s not clear if they do or don’t , obviously if TT remove your phone service you can’t call , or receive calls , as you won’t have a phone number 

So you are saying that FTTC will continue ad infernitum ?

JSmithy45AD

What do you mean "you're about to get an offer"?

Why not just call them and ask?

MouldyOldDough

JSmithy45AD said:

What do you mean "you're about to get an offer"?

Why not just call them and ask?

I have been a TT customer for over 20 years and am currently on a special cheap deal - negotiated with CEO's office  (£27 including unlimited calls package on a FTTC  76Mbps). i have been on this deal for 4 years, current contract expires in November - I am also disabled and understand that TT are supposed to fix prices for disabled customers.

I am registered with TT as a vulnerable customer.

I understand that TT are about to add my area to FTTP

I was wondering whether this "no price rise", included the situation where a customer was forced to upgrade by TT themselves - in that they are obviously going to charge more for a FTTP connection than a FTTC connection ?

So what will happen to my £27 deal - when I am "forcibly" upgraded ?

Will I continue to get inclusive calls etc ?

and what speed will I upgrade to ?

I could ask CEO but feel that if I did, I might be considered too cheeky and may lose the deal ?

iniltous

How are you forcibly being upgraded ? , if FTTP becomes available, there isn’t an automatic move from copper to FTTP , for one thing , some people in rental properties , would have to get permission from their landlord, letting agent , freeholder , building manager etc, to get the physical FTTP infrastructure installed ( new connection blocks on the wall , holes drilled through walls etc ) which may be refused ( there has been a few posts about that very issue ) 

You can  continue with what you  already have , but for many this means paying more than necessary as they may be outside the minimum term , and  the cheapest deals are for customers that agree to be within a minimum, so in your case , you can simply refuse any invitation for a new ‘deal’ as that may require you to take FTTP, and stay on your copper service on an  out of contract basis .

If as you state , you are classed as a vulnerable customer so get a deal unavailable to anyone other than vulnerable customers , why do you think it will change just because you take FTTP ,  the obvious thing to do is ask them , if they say this vulnerable person deal will not be available on FTTP , then stay on copper.

There  is no forced change to FTTP , you have to agree , getting you onto FTTP often is part of renewing your contract…..just don’t renew ( continue out of contract ) problem solved 

MouldyOldDough

iniltous said:

How are you forcibly being upgraded ? , if FTTP becomes available, there isn’t an automatic move from copper to FTTP , for one thing , some people in rental properties , would have to get permission from their landlord, letting agent , freeholder , building manager etc, to get the physical FTTP infrastructure installed ( new connection blocks on the wall , holes drilled through walls etc ) which may be refused ( there has been a few posts about that very issue ) 

You can  continue with what you  already have , but for many this means paying more than necessary as they may be outside the minimum term , and  the cheapest deals are for customers that agree to be within a minimum, so in your case , you can simply refuse any invitation for a new ‘deal’ as that may require you to take FTTP, and stay on your copper service on an  out of contract basis .

If as you state , you are classed as a vulnerable customer so get a deal unavailable to anyone other than vulnerable customers , why do you think it will change just because you take FTTP ,  the obvious thing to do is ask them , if they say this vulnerable person deal will not be available on FTTP , then stay on copper.

There  is no forced change to FTTP , you have to agree , getting you onto FTTP often is part of renewing your contract…..just don’t renew ( continue out of contract ) problem solved 

I assumed that everyone was going to be forced on to FTTP once fibres had been laid to properties

iniltous

Is anyone forced onto FTTP  ? no , not at the moment, eventually it may get to the point where the ISP ( at the insistence of Openreach ) will state you have to move onto full fibre or your service over copper will simply be removed , but we are nowhere near that point yet  , obviously if someone has access to Openreach FTTP but doesn’t want to be put on it , there is already a ‘soft’ push or incentive towards using it , if you change providers or recontract with your existing provider, it should include taking FTTP as a condition of that new deal , but that can be avoided by not changing providers or recontracting with the existing one , simply stay on the current service on an out of contract basis , then it’s a choice , pay more money than necessary but get to stay on the copper pair , or save some money and move onto FTTP .

Eventually Openreach will tire of maintaining two networks , keeping copper going for what will be by then a few refuseniks , and will simply say ‘goodbye’ to those users by withdrawing those products from the ISP’s  , but that’s probably 5 years or more away , and for some it may be many more years than that .

MouldyOldDough

iniltous said:

Is anyone forced onto FTTP  ? no , not at the moment, eventually it may get to the point where the ISP ( at the insistence of Openreach ) will state you have to move onto full fibre or your service over copper will simply be removed , but we are nowhere near that point yet  , obviously if someone has access to Openreach FTTP but doesn’t want to be put on it , there is already a ‘soft’ push or incentive towards using it , if you change providers or recontract with your existing provider, it should include taking FTTP as a condition of that new deal , but that can be avoided by not changing providers or recontracting with the existing one , simply stay on the current service on an out of contract basis , then it’s a choice , pay more money than necessary but get to stay on the copper pair , or save some money and move onto FTTP .

Eventually Openreach will tire of maintaining two networks , keeping copper going for what will be by then a few refuseniks , and will simply say ‘goodbye’ to those users by withdrawing those products from the ISP’s  , but that’s probably 5 years or more away , and for some it may be many more years than that .

According to TalkTalk - once FTTP is up and running - the copper wires will be removed and thus we will HAVE to use FTTP - FTTC will NOT be an option !