BT Reconnection Fee - Should it be free?

JDMYOFAN

Hi all, recently moved into rented accomodation to find there is no Live BT Line.

It appears in the past a previous tennant had the line active but then cancelled, so all we need to do is reconnect the line, NOT CONNECT.

Now, I was nuder the impression this can be done free, or at least a very small fee. I phoned BT and had a chat, they explained to me the line was bought by another Provider.

I work in telecoms and know this is utter crap, the provider would have leased the line, BT and Kingston are the only carriers in UK to supply their own lines, they do NOT sell them. The guy on the phone then said, 'we would need to charge you £125 to get the line back'.

The apartment is a new build (4years old) so the equipment is in full working order etc. The kind operator then put me through to someone else who said I could get connected for £65 instead, all I needed to do was 'think about it' and call back quoting 'half price connection'.

Now do I:

1) Can I call up and quote 'free reconnection' and see what happens
2) Argue the case that this shouldn't be as extorionate as they state
3) I've looked at other resources who have stated this should be free
4) Use my knowledge of telecoms and escalate this query until someone answers with some real information.

Thanks

normanmark

Do you know if the line is disconnected at the exchange? Do you get a ringtone when you pick up the phone on the line?

Theres a lot of questions you have unanswered which could mean that a cost will be required to simply reconnect a line (ie. work going on at the exchange).

However if you're not happy with BT's prices there are other providers which will connect/reconnect lines for you. Shop around.

espresso

For someone who "works in telecoms" you don't seem to understand that if you line is connected to another telecom providers equipment, you will have to pay to get it re-connected back to BT. If you do go for the half price connection, you will be contracted for eighteen months and have to make a certain amount of calls though BT, see here.

Heinz

espresso wrote: »

If you do go for the half price connection, you will be contracted for eighteen months and have to make a certain amount of calls though BT, see here.

But there'll be no need to make most of your calls via BT - see the 'HERE' link in my signature below.

espresso

Heinz wrote: »

But there'll be no need to make most of your calls via BT - see the 'HERE' link in my signature below.

Agreed, just informing the OP about the terms of the ½ price offer.

Drunkstar

I work in telecoms and know this is utter crap, the provider would have leased the line, BT and Kingston are the only carriers in UK to supply their own lines, they do NOT sell them. The guy on the phone then said, 'we would need to charge you £125 to get the line back'.

Sounds like it could be LLU, in which case the advisor would be half right...in a way.

JDMYOFAN

For someone who "works in telecoms" you don't seem to understand that if you line is connected to another telecom providers equipment, you will have to pay to get it re-connected back to BT. If you do go for the half price connection, you will be contracted for eighteen months and have to make a certain amount of calls though BT, see here

It's hardly an occupation I would be shouting about if I weren't in it.

There's a minimum 12 month contract, stated within their terms and conditions, 18 is also available, not essential.

I work very closely, daily, with Openreach WLR Fixed Charges and the Rawdata uncosted CDRs I see every day have reconnection fee's of either free or next to nothing. This is a charge implemented ONLY if a CPS has been ported, in which this case it hasn't. BT are relucant to tell me who the line has been leased to, as apparently 'they don't know'.

JDMYOFAN

Drunkstar, what happens when I ring the 0800 number they provided (direct number to the team who 'can do something') and quote 'free reconnection'.

Heinz, it's a reconnection, not a connection

Heinz

nj106 wrote: »

Heinz, it's a reconnection, not a connection

I'm not sure I queried that aspect but, as you mention it, it's a question of semantics really.

The subscriber's line has (in the past) been disconnected from the BT rack at the exchange and connected to a rack owned by one of the LLU providers. To 'go back to BT', the wires need to be disconnected from the LLU rack onto which they are currently connected and connected to the BT rack again. Whether you describe that as a connection or a reconnection is irrelevant, an Openreach engineer needs to do the work.

hammy_the_hammer

nj106 wrote: »

It's hardly an occupation I would be shouting about if I weren't in it.

There's a minimum 12 month contract, stated within their terms and conditions, 18 is also available, not essential.

I work very closely, daily, with Openreach WLR Fixed Charges and the Rawdata uncosted CDRs I see every day have reconnection fee's of either free or next to nothing. This is a charge implemented ONLY if a CPS has been ported, in which this case it hasn't. BT are relucant to tell me who the line has been leased to, as apparently 'they don't know'.

as explained above.. by what you have posted an openreach engineer will need to complete work in the exchange to connect/re-connect your line to bt wholesale equipment.
bt retail wouldn't be able to tell you which Service Provider provided service to your property as if it wasn't BT Retail they are restricted due to equivalence issues

espresso

nj106 wrote: »

It's hardly an occupation I would be shouting about if I weren't in it.

There's a minimum 12 month contract, stated within their terms and conditions, 18 is also available, not essential.

Essential if you opt for ½ price re-connection or connection.

I work very closely, daily, with Openreach WLR Fixed Charges and the Rawdata uncosted CDRs I see every day have reconnection fee's of either free or next to nothing. This is a charge implemented ONLY if a CPS has been ported, in which this case it hasn't. BT are relucant to tell me who the line has been leased to, as apparently 'they don't know'.

Presumably BT can see from their records that this line is not at present connected to their equipment. Once the line has been taken over by another provider, their records will show this but why should they have to tell you who the other provider is!

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