Forced to use BT

didgemaster · 17 Jun 2008 at 16:18

I have just moved into a new house. I rang up BT to be told that they had no record of the phone line to my house and that I would have to pay £125 for a new line :eek:

I did offer to send them a picture of the BT line from the telegraph pole outside to my house so they would have a record but didn't seem interested - probably the prospect of making lots of money for doing very little

I did however find an article on the money saving expert sight that managed to save me £95 of the connection fee (I told them they should have gone for the photo :cool:

) but it has meant I am stuck with BT for 18 months

So the question is simple which isp to pick running across BT lines. my exchange is WWTAUN should you wish to take a look. I was thinking O2, they tell me that I should be able to get 6.5 Mbs. Correct me if you think there is a better option

FrenchTart · 17 Jun 2008 at 16:19

o2 is a good option. Be would be an alternative, but more pricey.

You can argue BT out of that charge completely. I've done it in three seperate houses.

dan653 · 17 Jun 2008 at 16:25

i've heard that sky will pay it for you if you take out a new sub with them at the same time, don't quote me on that though

FrenchTart · 17 Jun 2008 at 16:29

Indeed, that was discussed in a thread on this page or at most 1 page back.

I'd personally still go o2/Be over Sky though.

didgemaster · 17 Jun 2008 at 16:33

I have had a bad experience with Sky so I won't touch them with a barge poll

Thanks for the response

Craigius · 17 Jun 2008 at 16:54

Go with BE* i have and haven't looked back

tolien · 17 Jun 2008 at 17:13

If you've signed up for BT for internet, it means you're probably stuck with BT as ISP too.

Jon1818 · 17 Jun 2008 at 17:15

Welcome to the joys of BT, boy im sure glad im moving to 02 soon.

marmalade · 17 Jun 2008 at 17:22

Go o2 and click thru www.quidco.com and get a bung back. Bt as an isp is only for the very hignorant!
Who knows 02 may soon be offering a telephone service - it would appear crazy not too.

dave-lew99 · 17 Jun 2008 at 18:01

Just agree to the install and fee, then refuse to pay.

I was in the same situation - do you get a dial tone? and can you ring 17070 line test facility - i even played the line test down my mobile to customer services and apparently i still had no line.

In the end i just didn't pay, i wrote a letter to the head of customer services (much better than ringing).

Immsy · 17 Jun 2008 at 19:09

Dial tone = no charge. No dial tone = charge, even if the line still runs to your house.

LoadsaMoney · 17 Jun 2008 at 19:30

Does the phone line work, if so just rack up a huge bill, nowt they can do if they have no record of you having a phone line.

dave-lew99 · 17 Jun 2008 at 19:48

LoadsaMoney said:
Does the phone line work, if so just rack up a huge bill, nowt they can do if they have no record of you having a phone line.

I should have done that with my water bill - when i moved in United Utilities refused to accept that the property existed and there's no meter! (am currently paying £400 odd a year in rates)

didgemaster · 18 Jun 2008 at 11:02

No dial tone unfortunately and only forced to use them as my phone supplier. No isp in the contract

Immsy · 18 Jun 2008 at 14:56

The line is ceased at the exchange then if there is no dial tone, thats why the charge applies.

FrenchTart · 18 Jun 2008 at 15:13

The line was 'ceased' whenever they tried to charge me. Just speak to them and you'll get around the problem.