BT Landlines

[Swanny86uk]

I am currently a virgin media customer. I am shortly moving to a new flat and need my internet connection transfered to this new address. We phoned Virgin Media they told us that they cannot provide a service in that area unless we have a BT landline. There is a BT landline in the new address which needs re-activating.
I've heard of costs of up to �125 to get a BT line re-activated. My weekend break in the Lake District didnt cost �125 so I wont be paying this. Every alternative ISP I look at wants my BT landline. Is there anyway to get internet at this new address without a god forsaken BT landline.

It seems to me like they are hording the market and customers are without a choice over who supplies their line rental (then charge them astronomic amounts to re-connect, welcome back my a**e)

Any help would be appreciated.

[buildersmate]

You need a connection (pair or wires or cable) into your house.
Presumably your old house had cable and the new one doesn't. No choice other than a BT line I'm afraid.
Customers with no cable network ARE without a choice. The efforts of the regulator to control the profitability of BT relate to the call and data charges, not the cost of line installations. It would be very unlikely that any company would be interested in setting up a network to rival BT's local area network.

[4candles]

BT are currently offering installation for �29�99 until the end of June, if you take up an 18 month contract.

Apparently you can't apply online, and have to specifically ask for it.

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/curr ent/Notice08_boo/SNL21-08.pdf

[Cakeboy]

When I signed up with Sky and needed a BT line put in, Sly refunded the cost of the installation as a credit on my bill. I had to pay the �125 up front and then had effectively 3 months free broadband, phone and Sky.

Give them a ring and ask

[Cakeboy]

To add, I've just re-read your question and if there is a line already in the property then it won't cost you anything.

The �125 is for an engineer to come out and run a phone line into the property from the nearest phone pole

[Swanny86uk]

Thanks alot for all the advice !

[bazwillrun]

Cakeboy

wrong

If the line has been "ceased" as BT call it for 2 or more years, then there is the �125 charge.

If you moved into a property that has a BT line and you decide you want cable phone, and you cancelled the BT contract, and then 2 years later decide you no longer want cable and want to go back to BT, they will slap on the charge as the line has been ceased for over 2 years.

I am talking from experience,in March this year i had BT reconnect my line after 8 years of cable .

[Swanny86uk]

Well we finally got it sorted. There was no charge for the re-activation of the line. I can only assume that it had been in-active for less than 2 years. So now paying line rental + ISP charge instead of just the ISP charge (which we had b4) nevermind though, �125 safe in my pocket.