Do BT do shorter, line-only contracts (with no call package)?

christopher

Previously had BT at our current property, solely for ADSL2+ - switched to VM in the second year as we had a naff phone line. Anyway, since then VM service has gone decidedly downhill and I'm moving to a new property in July - one much closer to another ADSL2+ exchange so I'm going to give Be* another go

They already have cable installed at the premises so I'll just instigate a 'house move' and get service transferred over there, then cancel if we don't need it - but I heard a few months ago that BT may do packages they don't necessarily advertise... We all have mobile phones with decent tariffs, and we only need a line for ADSL. Do BT do a package or an option where you just pay them for installation / reactivation, then a rolling monthly fee for the line usage WITHOUT any call package? Someone said they do this, and when I did speak to someone at BT (when I was cancelling service last year) they did seem to allude to the availability of this kind of call package - in a nutshell, no 12 month contract, just simple line rental to overlay ADSL on, with no BT Together option package on top or anything like that.


Can anybody confirm or deny the existence of this kind of option? Cheers

normanmark

No they don't

littleboo

You dont have to take a call package, but if BT installs or re-activate the line, you'll be in a 12 month contract for that service regardless. The line rental includes weekend calls or evening calls as well if you opt for a rolling 12 month contract.

christopher

...And that's why I love this forum


So, is the line rental with inclusive evening and weekend calls basically Option 1? (I think that's what we were on before but as I mentioned, we never really used the landline as we all have mobiles, the dirty students we all are!)


Is the standard package the one where you get zero-cost calls for 60 minutes and then to avoid per-minute charges you have to redial?

deklan99

The Phone Co-op will install a BT line with a 12 month contract £10.90 rental by DD(http://www.thephone.coop/residential/linerental/installreconnect.html ) and they do have a couple of PAYG call packages without monthly contracts http://www.thephone.coop/residential/call_packages.html

christopher

I've never heard of the phone co-op... You say they'll install a BT line but do they CPS? The reason I ask is because LLU ADSL2+ NEEDS to be supplied over a BT line as they utilise Shared Metallic Path Facility in the exchange, which is set up by BT Openreach, so it needs to be a BT line from what I understand (it's what I was told last time).

That restart for £5.88 looks enticing!

billsavings

christopher wrote: »

I've never heard of the phone co-op... You say they'll install a BT line but do they CPS? The reason I ask is because LLU ADSL2+ NEEDS to be supplied over a BT line as they utilise Shared Metallic Path Facility in the exchange, which is set up by BT Openreach, so it needs to be a BT line from what I understand (it's what I was told last time).

That restart for £5.88 looks enticing!

"SHORT CONTRACTS
The transfer or restart contract term is 3 months and thereafter 1 months notice."

"Our lines are effectively 'BT' lines because they are run on the Openreach network. If you want to keep your current broadband provider that's no problem."


See: http://www.thephone.coop/residential/linerental.html

christopher

Interesting, I'll have to give them a ring and ask about LLU over a line rented through them - thanks for the tipoff!

normanmark

christopher wrote: »

Interesting, I'll have to give them a ring and ask about LLU over a line rented through them - thanks for the tipoff!

LLU over a line rented? You're not making any sense.

You either have a line rented via the standard Openreach network or you have an unbundled line onto another part of the exchange (controlled & operated differently).

If you're getting a BT line connected it wont be LLU. You'll have to see out that part of the contract with whatever provider you chose & then approach the LLU provider you like who'll then take that part of the line into their own bit in your local exchange.

So if you're going to Be* then what you need is to get a normal copper line activated by a provider & then Be* will then take that line from the Openreach side of the network to their own side of the network.

Enquiring about LLU rented lines to providers will only be met with a 'I have no idea what you're on about' from the advisors.

All you need to do is get the standard line in & in your case the shortest contract possible. Then approach Be* who'll then do the rest & you'll have your ADSL2 connection on a designated Be* LLU line (ie. unbundled from the standard network).

christopher

Yes, that was exactly what I meant, I just didn't phrase it correctly. I have had service from Be* in the past (before we moved to cable) so I'm no stranger to SMPF LLU services over an Openreach line

What is puzzling me is how The Phone Co-Op can offer what they offer without there being some kind of CPS (like lines obtained and paid for directly through the provider, like TalkTalk or Tiscali) - I just want to make sure I don't enter into a contract only to find that due to some technicality in the way the line was provisioned results in me not being able to get an LLU service provisioned on my line... Be* of course only being able to provision service over BT lines, and I've never obtained a BT line through a third party before, so that's what I meant when I mentioned ringing up The Phone Co-Op to enquire.

(And the reason I said "rented line" was because you're not buying the BT line with your monthly rental, it's a... rental! )

normanmark

Well yes its a rented line, but i think you get yourself confused with your terminology half the time.

Check this site to see if Be* are activated in your local exchange.

Theres no technicality from a way a line is provisioned that it cannot be unbundled. The only way it would not go through is that your chosen provider has not been unbundled at the local exchange yet. Ultimately the Phone Co-Op gets the same lines that BT would so theres nothing different.