I'm going to be moving into a new apartment soon, a new build development that has BT sockets and a SKY dish pre-installed, but not connected.

I've heard that getting the BT line connected so you can even get SKY costs the ends of the earth and you get tied into a stupid contract etc with BT who are rubbish at broadband and cheapness and don't have a tempting TV package of any kind.

I can't go with Virgin as only the SKY dish is installed so there is no cable optic facility.

How can I grab myself a decent TV/Phone/Broadband deal without paying the ends of the earth? The broadband has to be FAST btw!

Right, i'll try to deal with your issues in order.

1. Even if you have a BT socket installed, this doesn't mean that the line has actually been connected. BT will need to send out an engineer to assess. If they don't need to connect at the exchange there will be no cost. If they do, it's £122.

2. You cannot go with anyone else for the connection charge, BT own the line, it's that simple.

3. However, there is nothing tying you into a BBand contract with BT. I know from previous experience that, while their BBand may not be rubbish as you claim, it is indeed expensive. If you get the line connected, all you will pay for is line rental to BT (£10 a month). THere are very competitive BBand deals out there. Im with O2, so obviously i'm biased when i say this, however i've found them to be the best deal, however you should use the broadband comparison tool on this site to check.

4. Sky also do Broadband.

I know Sky do broadband, that wasn't the issue.

Mainly it was figuring out if there was any way to mitigate the horrible connection charge and whether you got tied into a contract for line rental with BT, because if I did everything through Sky then they have Sky Talk, which is their own line rental, which in turn makes the broadband with them cheaper by £5 a month.

BT's broadband is miles too expensive, which in my opinion makes it rubbish! :P We're already 26th in the top countries with broadband as it is, too pay loads for it is not on! :P BT talk is fine but the BT vision looks well dodgy.

Looks like I'm stuck with the £122 charge though, unless I can sweet talk the Sky salesman I know to give me a discount on the package to make up for it.

Another issue I've got is, I have Quidco for online deal cashbacks, but did I read somewhere that Sky won't let you do it online for properties which have more than 6 flats in it? Technically mine is an apartment, but it's still in a building consisting of 12 large apartments so I'm probably screwed on the online deal........................nothing's ever smooth for me! :P

Some dodgy info there I'm afraid. Only BT Openreach can physically install new lines and will charge £88 + VAT. However any provider, not only BT retail, can approach BT Openreach on your behalf and will charge you whatever they deem fit. If Sky want your custom they will arrange a new line for you.

Currently BT retail offer free installation - http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/current/Notice09_boo/2-FrameworkImpl337855.htm (offer extended til end of year) , 18 month contract and make a certian number of chargeable OR inclusive(free) calls. You can then choose whoever you want for broadband.

Hi LHector,

If you want to email your full address to forum.moderation.team @ bt.com (removed the spaces around the '@'), I will be able check whether or not the connection charge will apply to connect your line.

Good Luck in your new home.

Shane. BT Support.

Hi Shane

Cheers for that, I do have an address, however the property is not finished been built until mid Dec 2009, but I know it will have a BT line installed just not connected to my knowledge. Is it still worth emailing you the address?

Thanks.

Hey LHector, If it is a new build there will be a connection charge of �122.50 as there would have been no active line there previously and you will have to enter a new 12 month contract.. I hope this information helps. Natasha

Helps, but doesnt exactly please me. Thats a very dodgy policy to have about been forced into a 12 month contract that people don't want. The charge is high enough as it is without been forced to be with BT which is too expensive for it's calls/broadband. And don't get me started on BT Vision.

Saying that though your standard weekend calls package doesn't state it has a contract tied to it correct?

As previosly stated you can use whoever you want to arrange installation of a new line, you aren't forced to use BT retail.

Reason for the contract is in the past BT retail would install a line only for customers to immediately jump ship to providers who couldn't be bothered to arrange installation.

If you're that desperate for Sky and don't want the free BT offer then get them to install a new line - " If you are a new Sky TV customer taking Sky Talk Calls and Sky Talk Line Rental, we can arrange for a new phone line to be installed or an existing phone line to be activated (“New Phone Line”). We will confirm the charge (if any) for your New Phone Line at the time of booking. Sky will not install a New Phone Line where extensive new line construction over and above standard needs is required. "

it's not that I'm desperate, though they are more reliable than BT and that's saying something. I've enjoyed been with Virgin but my current flat has cable access. I'd rather the same provider did all my services instead of split them out, though I'll consider letting someone else do my broadband if need be, I hear O2 is good for net speed. Though that combined with Sky TV etc will get expensive!

Nice note about the charge been with Sky, handy to know.

Wait a sec, if your current flat has cable access, does that not mean that Virgin can indeed provide you with service? Virgin's phoneline runs off the cable anyway.

Nah you misunderstood. My current flat I'm living in has cable access, but the one I'm moving to doesn't therefore I can't get Virgin there.

Should be ok though as long as I get Sky Talk and Line Rental through Sky, I don't get tied down to BT, but I'll just have to fork out on the connection charge, unless they want to make a sales offer!

I have exactly the same problem. Had a look around and I believe a good deal (at least price wise) is talk talk. They offer new line installation for £59.99. Unfortunately BT doesn't have the free installation offer any more...