Hi,
I'm tearing my hair out about what I *think* should a simple problem to solve, so wondering if anyone might have any advice.
I've just moved into a rented flat, where it seems the previous occupier did not cancel his phone/adsl accounts. This person has disappeared to foreign shores and has so far been uncontactable.
Testing the line with a phone shows a working line that I can use to call out. Although the line was originally a BT line (evidenced by the BT socket and the flat paperwork), BT deny all knowledge of this phone number (despite the fact that only last month they sent a 'please come back to BT' letter to the previous occupier with the same number and an account number!)
Anyway, bottom line is that they have quoted £125 for a new connection despite that fact that 1. there is a working line here (although owned by an unknown ISP and rented by an untraceable person) 2. there was definitely a BT line here previously.
I have an unfinished contract with Tiscali from my previous place which I'd ideally like to move over for now. Tiscali won't install a new line and understandably (?) can't take over a line that hasn't been cancelled (they didn't even have this address in their database apparently).
I have ordered the new line, although the £125 feels painful and slightly unfair, and the time to an appointment (2 weeks) plus a further 10 days for BB is annoying. [As an aside, it took 3 days in China from order to installation of a residential phone line and BB].
Questions are:
1. Is it possible or even likely that the charge won't be made once the engineer turns up and works out the details? Why can't this be done ahead of time? [Surely if the previous guy had said 'yes, I'd like to come back to BT' - they'd do it for free?]
2. Are there any other options for taking over the existing line? [I can't find a way to work out who the current service provider is as no bills have shown up]
Thanks in advance for any comments.
I'm tearing my hair out about what I *think* should a simple problem to solve, so wondering if anyone might have any advice.
I've just moved into a rented flat, where it seems the previous occupier did not cancel his phone/adsl accounts. This person has disappeared to foreign shores and has so far been uncontactable.
Testing the line with a phone shows a working line that I can use to call out. Although the line was originally a BT line (evidenced by the BT socket and the flat paperwork), BT deny all knowledge of this phone number (despite the fact that only last month they sent a 'please come back to BT' letter to the previous occupier with the same number and an account number!)
Anyway, bottom line is that they have quoted £125 for a new connection despite that fact that 1. there is a working line here (although owned by an unknown ISP and rented by an untraceable person) 2. there was definitely a BT line here previously.
I have an unfinished contract with Tiscali from my previous place which I'd ideally like to move over for now. Tiscali won't install a new line and understandably (?) can't take over a line that hasn't been cancelled (they didn't even have this address in their database apparently).
I have ordered the new line, although the £125 feels painful and slightly unfair, and the time to an appointment (2 weeks) plus a further 10 days for BB is annoying. [As an aside, it took 3 days in China from order to installation of a residential phone line and BB].
Questions are:
1. Is it possible or even likely that the charge won't be made once the engineer turns up and works out the details? Why can't this be done ahead of time? [Surely if the previous guy had said 'yes, I'd like to come back to BT' - they'd do it for free?]
2. Are there any other options for taking over the existing line? [I can't find a way to work out who the current service provider is as no bills have shown up]
Thanks in advance for any comments.
