New phone line
Author
Discussion

nsa

Original Poster:

1,704 posts

259 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
quotequote all
I need to install a phone line into new premises. The landlord has a line but I need my own number and account, and new wiring has to run to the part of the property I am occupying. Hope this is clear.

It appears that I have to get BT Openreach to install a line for £125, but then I need to take a BT line on a year's contract. Is this right? I thought Openreach was set up to provide fair access to the local loop. Do they have an automatic right to put you on a one year contract? Tiscali aren't interested in installing a line, only in switching me from an existing contract.

If any other providers want to PM, please do. Bear in mind though that I want to pay £15 a month for phone and broadband like I do at home, not the £30 that BT wants to charge me.

anonymous-user

85 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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hmm, doesn't sound right-£120 odd for line sounds right buy then being tied to BT? Doubtful. Who told you this? BT call center per chance?

Stupeo

1,343 posts

224 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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BT will charge £125 to install the line, but you can then take the line rental with whoever you please.

Matt.

Edited by Stupeo on Thursday 19th February 07:59

GuinnessMK

1,608 posts

253 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Be aware of the horrendous lead time that BT have to install a new business line. Something to do with them having a monopoly on it?

Last time I dealt with companies relocating, we could get the office fitted out, inc partitions, ceilings, lighting, a/c, carpets, paint etc, furniture in and ready to occupy quicker than BT could get a 6 core cable 10m!

Mike

nsa

Original Poster:

1,704 posts

259 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Here's the chat I had with BT:

A representative will be with you shortly.
info: You are now connected with Alex.

Alex: How can I help you with your order today?
na: hi. I need a phone line installed into new premises. The landlord already has a line for his own use. What are my options? Do I need full installation?
Alex: Yes
Alex: You will need a full installation
Alex: Do you require a business phone line?
na: yes.
Alex: I see
na: but can i have it installed by BT and then shop around for the phone and internet package? Your cheapest phone and internet package starts at £30 but I only pay £15 for the same at home, so that's what I want to pay for the business line.
Alex: Unfortunately, as you can see, this is not available online
na: what do you mean?
Alex: We do not offer that price you mentioned for the product
na: ok, but if i have it installed do i have to take a BT line as well, or can i just pay the installation price?
Alex: Please click here for more on our broadband and phone line options
Alex: You will pay installation and line rental
na: ok thanks.
Alex: Thank you for chatting with me today. BT values your feedback. Please click close in the top right corner to answer a few questions about your experience with us today.

I will figure this out myself because I am only trying to save £15 per month but I was curious how it worked.

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

271 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Have a guess where 'Alex' is.

nsa

Original Poster:

1,704 posts

259 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Obv! The chat was hosted through this company:

http://www.liveperson.com/

Nice outsourcing idea.



scubadude

2,619 posts

228 months

Friday 20th February 2009
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I just had two lines pout into my unit. As I was taking over a business I took over the lines two weeks in advance from the previous owner (so I could retain the number) then even with two weeks notice of the move Openreach took until two weeks AFTER the move to turn up and install the second line (there was one physical line already) and the Broadband followed a week later (5 weeks after it was booked!)

I did however dicover that if you order a feature line on a long contract the installation is free, think you needed a 2+ year contract though, but installation was £250+ for two lines so it balanced out.

So I would book the lines ASAP whatever you do as Only Openreach can install them and they will take their sweet time about it.

anonymous-user

85 months

Friday 20th February 2009
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ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
Have a guess where 'Alex' is.
Abdul more like.

nsa

Original Poster:

1,704 posts

259 months

Saturday 21st February 2009
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scubadude said:
I just had two lines pout into my unit. As I was taking over a business I took over the lines two weeks in advance from the previous owner (so I could retain the number) then even with two weeks notice of the move Openreach took until two weeks AFTER the move to turn up and install the second line (there was one physical line already) and the Broadband followed a week later (5 weeks after it was booked!)

I did however dicover that if you order a feature line on a long contract the installation is free, think you needed a 2+ year contract though, but installation was £250+ for two lines so it balanced out.

So I would book the lines ASAP whatever you do as Only Openreach can install them and they will take their sweet time about it.
Thanks scubadude. I'll get it sorted on Monday.

AAT1981

380 posts

222 months

Sunday 22nd February 2009
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If you want new lines installing I can do them for £65 each and £11.00 a month on the rental per line.
Call costs are also cheaper than BT's but Broadband is extra (advise getting else where as we are not the cheapest)This is on a one year deal.

Dont go for featurelines,not worth it and a two year contract and it will be a rolling contract, so if you dont tell them you dont wish to be contracted anymore after the two years, you automatically sign up for another two years.

PM me if you want to know more.

dcw@pr

3,516 posts

274 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
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just to balance this out - ive had two new BT business lines installed in our office in London, at separate times, and Openreach did it within a couple of days both times.

JustinP1

13,364 posts

261 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
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ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
Have a guess where 'Alex' is.
Thats strange, I spoke to Alex with the Indian accept last week - he was working at another company though.

Seriously, he said his name was 'Johnson'...

I know these companies don't want to admit they are in Mumbai but when he said his name it just felt like when you spoke to an English call centre quote and they are cagey about giving their name out so they make one up...

I would have rather called him Vijay or whatever is name is and be treated like someone with a bit of intelligence.

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,810 posts

271 months

Monday 23rd February 2009
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JustinP1 said:
I would have rather called him Vijay or whatever is name is and be treated like someone with a bit of intelligence.
That's my issue with the setup as well. Some far east call centres are very good. They have good people, speak better English than half the people that ring up and in some cases actually have the authority and common-sense to sort things out. Trying to hide where they are makes you focus on that fact and no other.

Still the bad ones are terrible. I always ask them what's the weather like. 'Does not compute....'

Sorry about the thread drift OP.