We had a BT line installed back in Sept and although its not my house, we put it under my name so that we wouldn't have to pay an install fee as a new customer (you know, the whole come back to BT thingy). Long terms we'd both prefer if it was under my friends name (as its his house). Do BT allow people to change names on accounts or perhaps allow names to be added to an account to make it a joint one?

It is possible to change a name on an account, however this involves the line stopping and starting. As this happens the current contract will cease and a new contract will start, in the new name. Not so good if you have only just taken the service out in your name as you will be in a 12 month contract and held to term if you do that.

Only one name can be on the account at one time, in the past 2 names could be added but thats all changed.

Oh and by the way, it makes no difference if you are a new customer or long standing customer, if the line is "stopped" its free to reconnect. If the line is "ceased" and an engeneers visit is required, then it'll cost £124.99 to connect! An engeneers visit is required on all cease line takeovers.

How can BT claim that there needs to be an engineer visit. If I were to cancel the line as if I was moving they don't come out and disconnect the line, other wise every new customer would need an enginneer to reconnect. It sounds to me that BT are insisiting on a engineer visit just as an excuse to charge £124.99. If this is the case, then surely then the thing would be for me to just ring up and cancel (will probably wait until the 12 months so I don't have to pay anything) and then once the line is disconnected, have my housemate call and get connected. Might lose the number (not that bothered) and be with out a number for a day or two, but then we wouldnt have to pay anything?

Those from BT on here will keep you appraised of the exact position but my experience was that swapping back from TT to BT involved work at the exchange and for that I was charged £124.99. However, the line still was not operational and so a visit was required and the engineer said BT had by mistake reconnected the old "second" line rather than the main telephone service.

Anyway I believe that if the service is ceased and then recommenced as you want the new service charge will be raised.