No broadband for me :(

jim5000

jim5000

jim5000

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After moving house recently, and having to deal with BT far to much for my own liking, we have found out that we can't have a broadband connection in our house because of a DACS (line splitter) on our line :(

For the first time in 5 year and 4 houses we are without a net connection. The thought of going back to using a 56k modem is to horrible to think about. No more WoW, and I can cancel my order for BF2142 :( BT have said that there is no way they are going to remove the DACS (would cost to much), and there is basically nothing we can do. We are actually considering moving house as my gf works from home quite often so a decent net connection is essential.

Have looked into leased lines and satallite connections, but the price for both of them is far more than we can afford, and there is no cable in Canterbury. It's so frustrating, I was just looking forward to a lovely 8mb connection and now we can't have anything. It's not like we live in the sticks or anything, we are right in the middle of town!

Anyone else had this situation, and how did you cope with it? I would rather go without TV than broadband!!!
 
Thought about requesting a new line from BT?
I had to when I moved, and specifically said it ws for adsl so they did not DACS the line
 
I've asked about a new line, but apart from the fact it will cost £150, the likelyhood is that they will just run it off the existing DACS which will be no good :( I sooo hate BT right now....

edit: checking out bulldog...
 
Did you buy your new home or are you renting, out of interest? Gotta agree with Garp though - you should've checked out the postcode before moving - you won't make that mistake in future will you :p
 
tell them to either un Dacs your line or you will be moving your phone bill to another supplier?? Complain some more - no harm in that! Tell them that your GF specifically needs a fast internet connection for working from home ....
 
A bit of googling showed up:

Direct from Ofcom.....

Can Oftel stop BT using DACS?
It depends... First of all, DACS is a perfectly acceptable technology where only ordinary voice telephony is required. However, where the line is being used for Internet access, DACS may not be an acceptable solution.

Oftel's view - as set out in the guidelines - is that where a customer who requires Internet access complains about a line that is fitted with DACS, all reasonable steps should be taken to provide the customer with a line without DACS. This could be done in a number of ways, eg removing the DACS device, transferring the DACS line to another user who does not require Internet access etc.

BT is required to ensure that it provides (upon reasonable request) a connection capable of supporting functional Internet access. If it fails to do this, then Oftel may need to take enforcement action against it. So, if BT refuses to do something about a customer who has complained about a line fitted with DACS, unless BT can provide very convincing reasons, Oftel may decide it is not providing functional Internet access and take enforcement action, eg impose a fine.
Click to expand...

From btsuck.org



Complaining to Ofcom about a dacs box on your BB connected line WILL result in it being disconnected and you getting a single line, I was given the nudge nudge wink wink from the guy who did my line and within 7 days I was removed from this awfull box, all is working now so I am happy.

I also had the problem of having an old black box on my window ledge from the box on the wall outside which then had my interneal line connected to it, ugly horrible thing it was, the same guy for a cup of coffee gave me a master socket, enough cable to come from the box around to the back of my house and cable clips to match, and told me how to install it all, even asked if I wanted him to do it but I was not to say he had as it would get him into **** as it was not on his job list, I said I could do it myself as it was only 2 wires and had done it before.

I hate BT, but some of their guys are nice and do not deserve to be lumped in with the useless prats they also use.
Click to expand...

I suggest you give ofcom a call.....
 
When I called ofcom, they said that BT had no obligation to remove a DACS if the cost of doing so came to more than £1000. I might give them another try during lunch and see what they say.

Bulldog sound tempting tho, if they can sort me out I would much rather have them 'cause I am loath to pay BT money after the treatment we have had from them...
 
dirtydog said:
Did you buy your new home or are you renting, out of interest? Gotta agree with Garp though - you should've checked out the postcode before moving - you won't make that mistake in future will you :p
Click to expand...

We checked the number before we moved in and was told there was a marker on the line, which is easy enough to remove. If BT (or and ISP) had of told us on the numerous times we phoned before we moved that we simply couldn't have broadband we wouldn't of moved there... :p
 
Checked with SOBROADBAND and they are gonna get back in touch when they reopen order taking. Their demand is skyhigh at the moment, I guess i'm not the only one fedup with BT :D
 
Ofcom cannot force BT to spend thousands of pounds just so that they can get somebody a broadband connection for £15 - £20 per month.
BT have set a limit on how much they are willing to spend per a line to enable it for ADSL and unfortunately there are a few lines that fall outside of this figure.

An option would be to order a new line & broadband as a single order.
It does mean you'll be with BT Internet for the first 12 months, however as long as the order is accepted then your new line will not be DACS as they obviously will not be able to provice ADSL down it if it were.
Once your new line/broadband is in place you simply have the existing line disconnected.

So it's going to cost you to have this second connection put in.
Compare that to no broadband or moving house and I think you'll find the £150 would be money well spent.
Just make sure you order a line AND broadband - order them seperately and you'll probably end up where you are now.
New line will go in, it will be DACS and when you then order ADSL on it they will tell you no.
 
Get some large tree logs and put them on your drive. Rip out the entire phone line and ring BT and say you were cutting down the tree and it fell on it lol :p Not sure if that will work tbh ;) I would try ordering a new line with BT broadband with it. That migth actually work then.
 
When I first got broadband with Pipex a few years ago (a 512kbps connection) my line had one of those line splitting thingies on it. It was removed and my broadband connection was activated - I didnt have to do anything, just placed the order for a broadband connection with Pipex. I even got a week of broadband free because the line became active before the scheduled activation date.
 
Ive had this happen with a few clients too. Just order ( as has already been said ) a NEW line with ADSL.. Do not order separately. They will get you a new line that had BB on it. IF they cant then you dont pay for anything.

Once its up and working maybe wait a month then cancel the old line. Simple.
 
As said, BT aren't obliged to remove every DACS if it costs too much - and if a spare pair was available, it's more likely it would've been used (which makes ordering a new line unlikely to help). But it's still worth a shot - just make sure you go with an ISP with decent customer service staffed by people with a clue.

stoofa said:
It does mean you'll be with BT Internet for the first 12 months
Click to expand...

You can order a simultaneous provide with other ISPs too. Ofcom, equivalence, and all that.
 
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