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Phone line but no phone number...


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Old 23-03-2013, 14:26
LadySponge
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My boyfriend has just rented a flat which has a phone line but is not connected to a service provider (i.e. there's no phone number).

Does installation mean they'll put in a new phone line, or does it just mean they will activate the line and give it a phone number (i.e. the £50 average charge they put on 'installation')?

Why does this require an engineer to come out and physically do it in person if the phone line is already connected, just inactive?

Sorry if I'm being confusing, this is the first time either of us have rented a flat professionally (i.e. not student accommodation) - I'm just trying to clarify what this charge is actually for, and whether we truly need it (I guess so if that's what Plusnet/Virgin/etc. are saying...).
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Old 23-03-2013, 14:45
SteveMcK
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Does the line have dial tone? If not then it is probably disconnected somewhere between the exchange and the flat, so "installing" would require it to be physically connected, perhaps in several places. Although the idea of a "line" sounds like one continuous pair of wires all the way from the exchange it is likely to be a series of multi-pair cables, with joins and connections along the way.

Even if it has dial tone, suggesting that there is a connection all they way back to the exchange, if the line has been idle for a while it is also likely that the technician who does the installation will want to do a quality check from end-to-end, so that he can mark the line as OK. Otherwise they'll not know whether any later reported faults are new, or leftover from old service.

Sending a technician out is expensive, they won't want to do it unless they have to.
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Old 23-03-2013, 15:03
LadySponge
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Does the line have dial tone? If not then it is probably disconnected somewhere between the exchange and the flat, so "installing" would require it to be physically connected, perhaps in several places. Although the idea of a "line" sounds like one continuous pair of wires all the way from the exchange it is likely to be a series of multi-pair cables, with joins and connections along the way.

Even if it has dial tone, suggesting that there is a connection all they way back to the exchange, if the line has been idle for a while it is also likely that the technician who does the installation will want to do a quality check from end-to-end, so that he can mark the line as OK. Otherwise they'll not know whether any later reported faults are new, or leftover from old service.

Sending a technician out is expensive, they won't want to do it unless they have to.
Ah, thank you! he's just a tight northern lad who needs it explaining to him before he really accepts it's necessary
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Old 23-03-2013, 20:13
acoolwelshbloke
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If there is a dial tone try dialing 17070 it will tell you the phone number of the line.
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Old 26-04-2013, 02:01
neo_wales
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Pay the installation fee, they will check the line and make sure its working correctly, £50 is cheaper than a potential bill of three times that for a call out thats a fault with your equipment.
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Old 26-04-2013, 06:45
Icaraa
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Here's how it works if there is already dialtone, an engineer only needs to do some work at the exchange. Takes a few minutes. After that's done he triggers an automated test from the exchange. If it comes back with a fault, an engineer will be needed to go and fix that fault. Most of the time it's fine and the new number will just start working where it is supposed to.

Pay the installation fee, they will check the line and make sure its working correctly, £50 is cheaper than a potential bill of three times that for a call out thats a fault with your equipment.
There is no choice, her boyfriend has to pay the installation fee that the service provider is charging.
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Old 21-07-2013, 10:54
Steven L Hunter
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Some companies offer free connection but mostly if you take broadband with them hope you got it sorted out.
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