New flat, new broadband o2 want to charge installation on an active line?

LeperousDust · 31 Jan 2011 at 13:47

Just moved into a new flat, running round in circles being overcharged for the usual stuff.

Basically o2 broadband and their line rental would do fine right now, but even though the phone line has a dial tone and a number (rang 17070) o2 need to send an engineer out and charge me £80+? Doesn't really seem fair since i can't imagine their doing much work? I've paid the "installation costs" before and understand its necessary when they've physically disconnected your line. But where do i stand here? Need some advice

manic_man · 31 Jan 2011 at 13:50

No leg to stand on I'm afraid, if you are using o2 then they physically have to alter your line in the exchange. Having said that, if you can get o2, I assume that also means you can get BE? You might want to check out their costs.

LeperousDust · 31 Jan 2011 at 13:58

Haven't BE and o2 been the same for a while now? Also o2 do rolling contracts, i can't say how long i'll be in this flat so signing up to a year contract with BE wasn't so appealing. That *and* the girlfriend is with o2 on her mobile

Seems so wrong that they're going to charge to switch. How do i find out what provider i'm currently with then? May just end up staying with whoever this is connected to, to save hassle. Bearing in mind "the engineer wait is 4/5 weeks" ??

Westyfield2 · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:04

LeperousDust said:
Haven't BE and o2 been the same for a while now? Also o2 do rolling contracts, i can't say how long i'll be in this flat so signing up to a year contract with BE wasn't so appealing.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

O2 and Be used to be the same. True unlimited bandwidth ADSL2 with no traffic shaping.

But O2 are changing their contracts now, bandwidth limits, traffic shaping, etc. Be however are not - Be still are true unlimited bandwidth ADSL2 with no traffic shaping.

EDIT:
http://forum.o2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=56856
http://forum.o2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=59058
http://forum.o2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=59058
http://forum.o2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=59542
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18231763

batsy · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:05

I'm in pretty much the same position. Just bought a house and called my phone/bb provider (talktalk) to transfer over. They told me it costs £49.99 to transfer over if the house has an active phone line (with any provider), and £79.99 if the house requires a new line installed.

So they do a line check and tell me i need a new line installed. I know there is an active line there as i've been speaking to the guy on it this week!

Don't get me started about foreign call centers, wasted so much time getting nowhere last week

LeperousDust · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:06

Ahhh i see, hmmm that does change things. Although not the price. I'm not used to all the ADSL phone line ****. Life was simple with virign media everywhere i've lived! Cheap and fast, no connection fees. I just want virgin media back really

So have o2 changed or changing their contracts? I'm confused there...

rogue66700 · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:08

Another vote for BE, never had a download limit and no trafic shaping for me

Westyfield2 · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:08

LeperousDust said:
So have o2 changed or changing their contracts? I'm confused there...

Changed for new customers. Trying for force existing customers to change to new contracts.

LeperousDust · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:08

BE said:
The bad news: We're sorry, but it appears that you live too far from the exchange for us to provide you service.

The good news: we may be able to provide you a landline service along with broadband, if you want a new line installed in your home (fee apply).

Yeah quick check, it would be £27 a month for an annual contract plus the £90 installation fee of (another

) new line...

Westyfield2 said:
Changed for new customers. Trying for force existing customers to change to new contracts.

Oh bums. Yeah i read the 100Gb FUP and thought that's fine as long as its as fast as i need it when i need it. Maybe its not for me then, although the price is dragging me in, i'm not made of money

How about sky then? They were fairly decent no? Didn't they take over some LLU provider as well?

krooton · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:27

rogue66700 said:
Another vote for BE, never had a download limit and no trafic shaping for me

Been with them since 2006, cannot complain at all, great stuff!

Bennie-Mac · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:33

Sky (who im pretty sure are BE) never charged me to change over from BT who i assume the line you are talking about is with. Side note my mate also just moved house and they transferred his broadband over instantly and again with no charge which will be handy if you move again in the future.

meghatronic · 31 Jan 2011 at 14:41

I've not noticed any throttling or such on O2, but we've been with them for a while.

Paul. W · 31 Jan 2011 at 15:48

Charging you a full installation fee is stupid. They need to place a reuse existing line order, this will just arrange an engineer visit to the exchange to rejumper your line and job done.

Look your exchange on SamKnows, and see what other LLU services are installed. See if there are any other companies which take your fancy, give them a call and see if you can get a free / cheaper installation fee.

aidman · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:25

Bennie-Mac said:
Sky (who im pretty sure are BE)

I always thought Sky used what was left of the Easynet network?

Regardless, +1 for BE here

A.N.Other · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:34

Sky were pretty rapid to set up BB for me at this place on an existing BT line.

We paid BT to have a line put into the last place and then got O2 BB on it. When we left, BT then claimed there was no line into the house and charged the next tenants another connection fee. I got some pretty confused calls from my ex-landlord.

LeperousDust · 31 Jan 2011 at 17:56

Sky actually looks like a good call now, so i'll give them a ring tomorrow and talk to the council about maybe even trying to hide a dish somewhere and get their tv service as well (damn listed building tenements of central edinburgh)...