Tempted by O2/BeThere!

[Skyboat]

Hiya

I live in a mature student house share of 6 (although I'm the only full-time professional) and we're planning on dumping our crappy VM service as soon as the minimum term contract is up in September.

Here's the plan:
Make use of the free 3-month + £50 quidco cashback deal with either O2 or BeThere before it expires at the end of this month. I won't mind paying just my share of the bill in the 'overlap' period until we get rid of VM, but obviously I need a BT phone line installed as well, so...

What's the best path to get an O2/Be compatible line installed for the lowest price? e.g. free installation, low line rental etc..

Any input appreciated

[Blitzen]

O2 = BE
I have O2 and its the Dogs. (Cheap too)

[mehmeh]

What's the best path to get an O2/Be compatible line installed for the lowest price? e.g. free installation, low line rental etc..

O2/Be, like any ADSL stuff just needs a BT line, doesnt mean you have to be paying BT line rental.

Do you already have a BT socket in the house with a dialtone?

If yes, then it should just a case of getting it reactivated. BT will do that for free provided you take a phone service from them (think if you take the basic unlimited weekend package its a 3 month commitment. Other companies too like The Post Office will sort out the reactivation of the line (through BT openreach) also subject to you commiting to something. Think with the Post Office its just a 1 month contract, so cheap way to get a phoneline if your that way inclinded. TBH unless you have something against BT I would just go with them, not the cheapest, but we're only talking a few pence difference and they're ultimatly the ones who will be providing the line anyway.

If you havent got a BT Line installed (and I think if the line you have doesnt have a dialtone, allthough double check that) your going to need to pay for a new line/install.. Last I knew it was £129 and AFIAK there is no way to aviod the cost.

Have you checked if O2/Be is available to your address http://www.samknows.com/broadband/ch....php?address=1

Got my BT line switched back on after giving up on VM a few months back now.. Whole process was pretty much painless and was up and running on O2 within a couple of weeks.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.co...?topicId=25497
IME online route ^^ was crap. Got bored waiting for them to get back to me, so phoned the order through and took ten minutes to get it all sorted.

Good luck!

EDIT* This isnt the first time theres been a 3months free + Quidco offer. I missed the 3 month deal, but scored £50 quidco on mine. Some scored 3 months free + £70 Quidco before xmas.. Sure closer to September they'll be another tempting offer running too.. Something to bare in mind anyway.

[abaxas]

Incoming stupid point/question.

Do they still charge if you move away from them? I think it was £60 or something.

Best check first before moving, just incase you ever want to change later.

[Mossy]

If you havent got a BT Line installed (and I think if the line you have doesnt have a dialtone, allthough double check that) your going to need to pay for a new line/install.. Last I knew it was £129 and AFIAK there is no way to aviod the cost.
:

You can avoid the installation charge if you ring them and ask for an 18 month contract and they will waiver the charge but you have to ask for it as they won't offer the promo.

http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/p...Impl337855.htm

[piggeh]

I think you can also get a line installed with the post office, and then cancel after a month and change to BT - I think its either free or £30 or something for the line installation.

[Skyboat]

Yeah MSE still states that line installation can be free until 1st June, BUT only if you phone them up and specifically ask for it - like you said PO are only a few pence cheaper so probably not worth the hassle when you know you can just ask BT.

I'm pretty happy at the fact that the house is pretty near town so is on the main exchange in the area and is only 1.7m away from it - so will be expecting a pretty good connection speed if I do decide to get it. My parent's place is stuck on a tiny rural exchange in a suburban village so for them VM is the only viable option as there's no LLU enabled.

Will also try and find someone with an O2 number to bump the price down a bit

Cheers for the input.

[mehmeh]

Wasnt aware of the BT offer, so stand corrected.

To score the money off, you can use a PAYG sim. Just need to top up atleast £10 once every three months (O2 even text you to warn you if you havent). Simcards are free at http://freesim.o2.co.uk/ so your saving a fiver over 3months and got a tenner in credit to use on whatever. I just gave my little sister the card in an old phone. Still get the "ring me" texts tho, so not saving any money, infact I think its costing me more LOL!

[Skyboat]

Hmmm, looked at the BT offer again and hoping I can get a similar deal with the PO, etc.

The 18-month contract and minimum 10 calls per month are putting me off, as it's a long term, and I seriously doubt we'll even have a phone plugged in let alone make any calls on it.

Can I get a new line installed with the Post Office for free as well, or anyone else for that matter, without the tie-ins you get with BT's?

Cheers.

[Grymdawg]

I am tempted to switch to o2, spoke to someone yesterday and they said it was awesome.

With Tiscali buying everything it looks the only viable option

Pity i pay for 16meg and i can only get a max speed of 5meg where i live! /sigh

[Skyboat]

Well I've got the 3rd June booked for me to install the line, I nearly didn't get the discount because the advisor I spoke with online suggested I take the unlimited evening + weekend calls package which doesn't qualify with this offer (just weekends only).

Do you reckon I can sign up with O2 BB before the 31st May even though I won't actually have a BT line until 4 days later?

[kalniel]

Do you reckon I can sign up with O2 BB before the 31st May even though I won't actually have a BT line until 4 days later?

Doubt they'll let you - one of the first things they'll do is check the line because they have to make sure they don't give you the chance to sign up to a service you can't possible get.

[LuckyNV]

Just phone up Be/O2 customer services, they are generally quite helpful, at worst they will say no you need an active BT line so we can make checks.

[watercooled]

Sorry for asking on this thread but it seems relevant. Lets say I'm on cable now and have a cable phone line. I also have an old BT box with nothing connected to it. Would I be able to get Be (or any LLU) broadband without paying BT a penny? Just I thought LLU was only partial unbundling and you still needed to pay BT line rental? If not would I have to pay line rental to Be or would I just pay the advertised price, no more?
Thanks

[kalniel]

Yes you still need an active BT line - including paying rental to BT for it.

[LuckyNV]

Sorry for asking on this thread but it seems relevant. Lets say I'm on cable now and have a cable phone line. I also have an old BT box with nothing connected to it. Would I be able to get Be (or any LLU) broadband without paying BT a penny? Just I thought LLU was only partial unbundling and you still needed to pay BT line rental? If not would I have to pay line rental to Be or would I just pay the advertised price, no more?
Thanks

Partial unbundling is a term that applies to certain ISPs whereby you must pay for a BT line separately.