Should You Still Have To Pay?

rifleman19

22-06-2009

Last week we moved my elderly Mother In Law into sheltered accommodation,

We rang BT to have her phone service moved to her new address and they told us that according to their records there is no phone line there so she would have to pay £123 to have it connected and the earliest they could do it is this afternoon,Now this is quite a large sum for a elderly lady of 87 to have to pay, So i tried asking them is there anyway to have the fee reduced bearing in mind her age?

They said no as the fee is the same for everyone regardless!!

So we decided to go ahead, About 15 minutes ago i got a text from BT to say they can now supply a service without a visit, So i am thinking that they must be wrong about there being no phone line there and if this is the case surly she would not have to pay that fee,

Now before i ring them up and have a go, Can anyone tell me if i am right in assuming this?

Thanks

timboy

22-06-2009

Originally Posted by rifleman19:
“So i am thinking that they must be wrong about there being no phone line there and if this is the case surely she would not have to pay that fee,

Now before i ring them up and have a go, Can anyone tell me if i am right in assuming this?

Thanks”

No, you are not right in assuming that unfortunately.

BT charge whenever Openreach tell them that engineering work is required to reactivate the line ie the line is classified as 'ceased'.

It could be that network work has already been done, Openreach have tested the line and the line test has detected the socket. In such a case the fee would still apply.

It is worthwhile to give them a phone though to double check it though.

timboy

22-06-2009

double post.

madnes

22-06-2009

When I enquired about having a BT line connected I was told that I would only have to pay the install fee if an engineer had to visit the house.
They done it at the exchange. The advisor you spoke to is probably reading of a computer which is not up to date with the information

rifleman19

22-06-2009

Originally Posted by timboy:
“
It is worthwhile to give them a phone though to double check it.”

Will do, Thanks for your quick reply!!

timboy

22-06-2009

Originally Posted by madnes:
“When I enquired about having a BT line connected I was told that I would only have to pay the install fee if an engineer had to visit the house. ”

That hasn't been the case for quite a while now.

rifleman19

22-06-2009

Originally Posted by madnes:
“When I enquired about having a BT line connected I was told that I would only have to pay the install fee if an engineer had to visit the house.
They done it at the exchange. The advisor you spoke to is probably reading of a computer which is not up to date with the information”

Thanks for your reply, I will ring them and see what happens!

rifleman19

22-06-2009

Originally Posted by rifleman19:
“Thanks for your reply, I will ring them and see what happens!”

Just rang them and they said as there was no work necessary they have waived the fee!!

Thanks again for your replies!!

Heinz

22-06-2009

Originally Posted by rifleman19:
“Just rang them and they said as there was no work necessary they have waived the fee!!”

As they have a (with conditions) free installation offer on until the end of June, I should hope so!

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/p...Impl337855.htm

poppasmurf

06-07-2009

Also look and see if the old lady would be better off with the BT Basic service.

See

http://www.btplc.com/inclusion/Needh...Basic/cost.htm