BT re-connection charge unfair?

[Steven W]

My poor student sister in law hasn't had a phone in her house since she moved into privately rented accommodation in Leicester.

She's decided now that she should get one, but BT told her that because the phone line at that address hasn't been used for a few years, they want to charge her £125.00.

Anyone have any experience of this or know any way around the charge? Or do you think this is just standard procedure.

I can't believe a company would charge that for gaining a new customer. When I had Sky Digital installed they wanted to charge me an installation charge. In that particular scenario I said I'll only take it if you can offer me free installation and they agreed. I wonder if that would work with BT?

[99Flake]

This is standard. What you have there is what is called a 'ceased' line as opposed to a normal reconnection.

Basically the line is broken and will need an engineer to come and mend it.

We have the same problem in our house, luckily we are allowed to leave all the router and the wap next door in our old house to get the net.

On the other hand it is down to the landlord/lady to sort this out (that is what we are waiting for). Especially if the tenancy agreement states there is a phone line. My advice would be to contact the person it is rented off and see if she can come to an agreement, most student landords are pretty good.

[Steven W]

This is standard. What you have there is what is called a 'ceased' line as opposed to a normal reconnection.

Basically the line is broken and will need an engineer to come and mend it.

We have the same problem in our house, luckily we are allowed to leave all the router and the wap next door in our old house to get the net.

On the other hand it is down to the landlord/lady to sort this out (that is what we are waiting for). Especially if the tenancy agreement states there is a phone line. My advice would be to contact the person it is rented off and see if she can come to an agreement, most student landords are pretty good.

Thanks for the advice, sounds like a plan.

[jimbouk]

If you're in a cable area then that'd be another option. Otherwise BT have a monopoly on your phone line so I doubt they'll negotiate on price, best trying to get the property owner to sort it out as Flake suggested.

[dave87]

I've just moved into a new house - BT charge the same. When I mentioned it to the landlord he said send us a copy of the bill and I'll reimburse you, so it is something the more reasonable landlords would do. Just have to bring it to their attention.

Hope this helps,

[5cupa]

If you are going to order Sky as well then ring them up and they will pay the £125 BT installation costs

[Blitzen]

When i moved into my new house (a renovation) in September i had to pay those 'highwaymen' BT £125.00 to install a phone line.

They take the bill each month by direct debit and split the £125.00 in 5x£25.00 payments.

Did you also know you have to pay for the line rental for at least 12 months aswell?

If you are going to order Sky as well then ring them up and they will pay the £125 BT installation costs

I tried that and SKY told me to eff off
If you dont ask you dont get though.

[5cupa]

I got my sky about 2 months ago and the guy said sure we will pay it but its not advertised on the site, they just send you a form to fill in when its up an running. the secret is to keep them talking for a good 10mins about all the packages etc. then once they are hooked for their bonus. yoink you just push for alittle more

[Skinleech]

Yup. Also had to pay this ludicrous yet standard charge. However, BT made such a colossal balls up of my line installation, I managed to get a hefty amount of compensation from them for the 13 week delay, and ended up with them giving me more than the installation charge.

[virokka]

Thats a lot of money

[Zyte]

Make sure they have the right house number down, because from my experience with BT phone operators, they are all retards. When i moved into my new place a few months back, they tried to charge me with the reconnection fee, 5 phone calls later they finally accepted that i didnt live in ###A and actually lived in ###.

Hope you are having better luck getting through than i did, being on hold for 2+ hours to talk to the right person is more than unreasonable.