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Old 26-11-2005, 14:55
ccc73
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Hi,

I've just moved into a new flat which has a phone line already installed. However because the flat is brand new no-one has ever actually had the phone line enabled. Someone from BT told me that this will cost me £75. Is this correct? I thought that was the charge for physically installing the phone line not for just switching it on.

Because of this I'm thinking about going to another supplier. Can anyone else enable my phoneline or does it have to be BT? BT also told me that if I get them to enable it then I'm tied in to a 12 month contract with them. Thanks.
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Old 26-11-2005, 15:31
timboy
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Yeah, it will be a £74.99 connection.

How do you think the line got there in the first place?

It is prefitted to stop the engineer having to drill holes and generally make a mess of a new property. The first person to have it switched on pays the installation costs.

It is a 12 month connection but you can cancel in less time than that although you will be charged a cancellation fee. If you cancel in months 1-9 it is £18, in month 10 £13 and in month 11 it is £8. If you cancel in month 12 it is just 7 days notice that is required.
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Old 26-11-2005, 18:56
m419
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Why not go with Telewest?

The installation is usually no more than £25 and NTL may offer something.
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Old 26-11-2005, 22:20
dreamypuma
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Originally Posted by m419
Why not go with Telewest?

The installation is usually no more than £25 and NTL may offer something.
I had this problem when i was in the process of buying a new property. I called NTL and they told me it was policy not to route cable to "new developments". Wasn't very happy, because the pub up the road was probably 100 yards away and they had cable.
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Old 26-11-2005, 23:30
dawson
 
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What timboy says is true, but the reason given is the official BT sales view.

The cynic in me (and probably closer to the truth) is that BT would rather send an engineer out once and fit lines to 20 properties than send the engineer out 20 times to fit 1 line each visit.

BT know that the chances are you will want a phone line (and even if you don't the person who moves in after you probably will). The first person to ask for the connection pays the installation cost, so BT know they'll recover their costs and its usually sooner rather than later.
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Old 27-11-2005, 00:47
ntlhellworld
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Originally Posted by ccc73
Because of this I'm thinking about going to another supplier. Can anyone else enable my phoneline or does it have to be BT? BT also told me that if I get them to enable it then I'm tied in to a 12 month contract with them. Thanks.
NTL will install a new phoneline with free installation in cabled areas, when taken with any other service, ie broadband or digital TV.

Amazing how BT get away with such a high charge!
-Chris
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Old 28-11-2005, 09:05
timboy
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Originally Posted by ntlhellworld
Amazing how BT get away with such a high charge!
I am sure BT would love to do free installs.

I can't see the cable firms and OFCOM being too happy with that though. Abuse of dominant market position and all that.

Originally Posted by dawson
The cynic in me (and probably closer to the truth) is that BT would rather send an engineer out once and fit lines to 20 properties than send the engineer out 20 times to fit 1 line each visit.
I think more than 1 engineer is involved in the install of lines during the building stage of a development.

There is the cabinet to be fitted and then the install of the cable to the cabinet etc etc. It makes sense to do it all at the same time as it saves money.

Last edited by timboy : 28-11-2005 at 10:01.
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Old 30-11-2005, 16:29
m691
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I'm getting on to someone at Ofcom about BT's unfair connection charges as no other company charges such amount except for Cable and Wireless Guernsey. In Guernsey a new connection will cost £99.99 and it's supposed to be TAX free in Guernsey.
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