This has probably been gone over many many times before as i've googled it and there are many people in the same predicament, but this is the problem.

Me and my girlfriend are moving into a new house which has a phone line coming in (no cable in our area) but when I called BT they said that the line isn't thiers and that a BT engineer would have to reconnect it at the exchange at a cost of £122 which I think is absolutely reduculous. I've got a degree in computing and I highly doubt that it costs £122 of someones time to make the necessary changes to the line (which are probably done in software anyway, rather than moving a piece of copper wire).

Is there any way of finding out who the previous provider of the line was? when I plugged in a phone there was no dial tone so I cant call out to find the number either.

Please, if anyone can help, let me know, we've got enough expense to worry about without paying £122 for very little.

Thanks, Dave.

Just because you've got a degree in computing doesn't mean you have a degree in business or telephony.

The line could previously have been disconnected due to Virgin etc installing cable at the property, in which case BT would not have been supplying the property or the phone line. BT own the exchange, so they will have to reconnect it.

Additionally, telephone engineers don't come cheap. And no, actually they don't do it via software, it IS done by moving some copper wire.

I agree that the service is expensive but it's a bit presumptious to say that it doesn't cost anywhere near £122 and all they're doing is making a switch via the computer.

Please read my previous statement;

"no cable in our area"

Which means it hasn't been disconnected due to cable installation, furthermore when I called BT they told me it was connected to another provider and not them. This is why I want to know WHO the other provider is, to asses thier line rental charge and decide whether I need to bite the bullet and tell BT to transfer it.

I agree, I dont have a degree in Telephony or Business, but how can any company justify ***2 DAYS*** worth of my wages to go and reconnect this mystical piece of copper? I've toured new exchanges and it isn't unreasonable to expect all the switching to be done in 'software' when you see some of the new hardware that has been rolled out.

I'm not trying to be 'up myself' mentioning my degree, i'm simply trying to point out that i'm not a complete numpty when it comes to anything technical, in fact I suppose the 4 years I spent studying electrical/electronic engineering probably hold more weight in this arena anyway.

I hope you can understand my frustration as I'm trying desperately not to come across as a complete plebian while being angry about the subject matter.

If a telecoms company wants my business they should make the transition as cheap and trouble free as possible, not charge me on top of what I will be paying anyway for the privilege. Thier hardware, previous owner's choice of provider should have no bearing on who I choose.

Grr...

Dave.

Hi Dave,

Just to clarify that connecting a new BT line costs �122.50 (incl. VAT). This charge only applies in some cases, but before we can confirm this we need to check your property. Most of our new customers find they don't need to pay this charge.

If your home has had a telephone service from BT in the recent past, and the wiring and socket is undamaged and the line still has dialling tone, it's likely you won't need to pay this charge. But where there's no suitable BT line available in your property, no dialling tone on the line, or if you have been disconnected for non-payment in the past, the standard connection charge will apply.
Please note that some properties, for example new property developments, may have a white BT socket installed that hasn't been connected (ie no dialling tone). In this case the standard connection charge will still apply.

The connection charge covers engineering work in your exchange or your property in order to connect the line and is subject to survey. If you order a new line online at http://www.bt.com/newline we'll let you know if the connection charge applies once we've checked your property and before we complete your order.If the charge does apply it will be added to your first BT bill.

Thanks,
Jon.
BT Support.

davegsm82:

Dave you should phone the vendors solicitor. They should have the information as this will have been provided by their client in the forms that they complete when selling a property.

huckster

BTCare:Hi Dave, Just to clarify that connecting a new BT line costs �122.50 (incl. VAT). This charge only applies in some cases, but before we can confirm this we need to check your property. Most of our new customers find they don't need to pay this charge. If your home has had a telephone service from BT in the recent past, and the wiring and socket is undamaged and the line still has dialling tone, it's likely you won't need to pay this charge. But where there's no suitable BT line available in your property, no dialling tone on the line, or if you have been disconnected for non-payment in the past, the standard connection charge will apply. Please note that some properties, for example new property developments, may have a white BT socket installed that hasn't been connected (ie no dialling tone). In this case the standard connection charge will still apply. The connection charge covers engineering work in your exchange or your property in order to connect the line and is subject to survey. If you order a new line online at http://www.bt.com/newline we'll let you know if the connection charge applies once we've checked your property and before we complete your order.If the charge does apply it will be added to your first BT bill. Thanks, Jon. BT Support.

Hi Jon, the house was built in 1957 and has a BT line in to a master socket, as well as other secondary wiring around the house which indicates previous usage of the line. I have connected a phone to the line and not received any dialling tone. when I called your helpline the person on the other end of the phone said the line is connected to another supplier, when I asked who they said that they cant tell me, I dont know if its a case of they can but aren't allowed to tell me though.

I have never been disconnected as I have never had a BT line before, this is the first property other than my parents that I will have lived at, however the property was a reposession so I imagine the previous tennants may have not paid the bill and subsequently been cut off. Since I am a new tennant is there any way that the connection charge wont apply to me?

huckster:

Dave you should phone the vendors solicitor. They should have the information as this will have been provided by their client in the forms that they complete when selling a property.

huckster

Hi huckster

Unfortunately the house was a reposession, i've asked my estate agent but they were pretty unhelpful and said that they have no idea who the previous supplier was.

Dave.

Data Protection rules don't allow telecom operators from divulging the info your are looking for and in any case it's immaterial. Unused lines are routinely stopped/disconnected, you can't just carry on using the previous tenants provider anymore.

BT are offering free connection just now, , 18 month contract plus various other Ts & Cs.

Call 0800 800 150 and ask http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Notice09_boo/2-FrameworkImpl337855.htm for New Line Fee Connection Offer. If the first operator knows nothing about it hang up and try again.

Hi Dave,

fnarr is right. It would be difficult for us to find out who had the line previously and even so we wouldn't be able to give that information out. If you do decide to go with BT for the line you can avoid the connection charge by following what fnarr has said and asking for the free connection offer.

Cheers

David

Tut Tut ..BTCare.... witholding the details of that special offer for Six days that "fnarr" has posted was a bit naughty. I do hope it was always your intention to eventually make the OP aware of your special offer.?

Wouldn't be too hard on the BT rep, for whatever reasons the customer support folk whether online or on the phone aren't allowed to promote this offer, you have to ask for it. The info is however freely available via the BT Price lists if you know where to look - http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/

Thanks for all the help guys, we'll be taking advantage of that offer as soon as we can.

Dave.

Dave - Note the expiry date pasted from the link.

Now extended to 30th September 2009.

Cheers guys, phone line is now ordered, connection charge free, the guy on the line knew the score so there was no humming and harring about the free offer :)

Dave.