I have just had a 2nd line installed by BT. My first line has broadband with someone already on it, and I want to keep that for now and have Tiscali Broadband put on the 2nd line - with the deal of line rental inclusive.

To save me getting caught up in the weird customer support system at BT, does anyone know if when you have a new line put in, you are locked into paying line rental to BT for the first 12 months or is there nothing stopping me taking it straight to Tiscali?

you can take it straight to tiscali, but BT will charge you a penalty(usually the remainder of the contract) for early leaving. though ask tiscali if they are prepared to pay this for taking you on as a new customer.(looks up to the sky as the pigs fly over)

It's funny because it's only today that it has dawned on me I never saw nor signed a contract for this job. I ordered it over the telephone and that was it. BTW it's meant to be on the same account as my first line - so is it possible the fact we have had that line for about 8 years, and will continue to pay rental directly to BT for that line, has fulfilled the initial contractual obligation with regard to both lines?

DON'T GO WITH TISCALI, THEIR CRAP! Join with an ISP like Be or o2 for both lines and you can bond the lines so you get speeds of up to 48meg and up to 2.6meg upload or up to 5meg upload.

Things have moved on since the days of the quill pen and ordering over the phone is now deemed to be a contract. You are now contracted to BT for 12 months for the new line.

I don't intend to try and break my contract, but it seems odd that I was not made aware of any terms by any means at all. Not so much as a "You are aware of the conditions of this contract aren't you?". It was just a "Please can I have an extra line?" and "Yes, what's your account number? Just confirm you name? ... Your appointment is for 12th August between 8am and 1pm"

Ok I took your advice and looked at O2, but they appear to be using "local loop unbundling" in my area. Isn't this going to be the same problem relating to my contractual period?

LLU just means that they have their own equipment in your exchange for broadband which is usually better than BT IPStream services as they don't use an IP profiling system and the ISP has more control.

Oh that's good thanks