This topic

BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

GavT — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:19:10 GMT

Asking on behalf of a friend...

He is currently on a VM without-landline contract & would like to switch to BT Essentials asap to save money as his contract comes to an end in 1-2 months (he's on an eligible BT Benefit). His flat does not have a landline connection & probably never has done.

The online application form asks the question if a fresh landline is needed, but says nothing about an extra cost when this option is selected initially. Have trawled the FAQs & T&Cs to no avail.

Where can this info be found please &, if he'll be charged, what is the standard fee? Don't really foresee more than the standard as it's a well-built up area in a city.

Thank you 🙂

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

imjolly — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:11:10 GMT

Virgin have a social broadband tariff as well

https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/low-income-families

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

GavT — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:15:47 GMT

Thanks we are aware, but VM seem to insist on receipt of Universal Credit, which he doesn't receive.
BT is a lot more flexible with over 5 eligible Benefits listed, & he is in receipt of one of these.

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

imjolly — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:34:40 GMT

You need to check what is available at the address by entering addressed and post results

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

It may be only FTTP is available and phone is provided over fibre broadband connection VOIP

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

GavT — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:17:09 GMT

Thanks again. BT definitely serves the area/address, but does this info indicate that a line/connection is present?

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

imjolly — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:22:50 GMT

No that just shows what sort of connection and expected speed range of the potential connection

So the address can get FTTC - Fibre to street cabinet and copper cable to the home - which would provide broadband and phone

You need to phone see here

https://www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials?s_cid=con_bt_dg-home_awin_aff_vidAJM_110483-Editorial+Content&vendorid=AJM&utm_source=Affwin&utm_medium=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bt.com%2Fexp%2Fbroadband%2Fhome-essentials&utm_campaign=110483&awc=3041_1645094835_8db5e34aa3189a1e2d1144312948112e

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

GavT — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:37:46 GMT

Thanks will phone to see what they have to say, I already went through that page & filling up the webform before posting this query.

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

garybs29 — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:40:23 GMT

It would tell you online if there was a charge so if you ran through the order & there was no mention of a charge there won't be one

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

GavT — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:51:28 GMT

It wants his NI number, etc before it gets to the end of the application, so I cannot view the final amount now.

Shall resume tomorrow or call as suggested, good night guys & thank you 👍

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

iniltous — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 10:26:46 GMT

Unless the ‘flat’ your friend lives in is relatively new and the developer had some sort of sweetheart deal with Virgin ( or the cable company that had the franchise when the flat was built ) then it probably will have ‘BT’ type service , even if it hasn’t been used for many years…sometimes the flat could have a ‘BT’ socket but the current occupant is unaware of its location ( which could present a problem when installing the service ) or a previous occupant removed the BT service point , ( took the socket cover off and decorated over it for example )
If the flat is one of many ‘identical’ units , may be worth asking if any neighbours have ‘BT’ type service , chances are the ‘BT’ socket will be in the same location
The potential issue is often the ‘line’ is brought into service remotely, if it tests OK it’s assumed the consumer will fit the router etc and be good to go…obviously in your friends case this probably won’t be possible, and often it’s an ‘early life failure’ that prompts Openreach to visit not the install itself…with this in mind it’s probably a good idea to keep VM working until the BT service is confirmed.

Re: BT Essentials - no phone line, will he be charged extra for it to be installed?

GavT — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 20:10:07 GMT

Ok so I did an online chat with one of their reps & they said 99% no charge likely even if there is no line/connection entering the flat. & if they will need to install a fresh line or similar - great if that turns out to be true!
I was very impressed with the knowledge of the chat rep (Toby), I have joined myself on the 67mbps package (£20 social tariff).
They will also 'pay' the 2 months I have remaining on my previous ISP, by including this as credit on my account.
Previous ISP of over 9 years couldn't match BT's offer - quoted £24 to continue with them on my standard 67mbps non-social package (they had a UC-only criteria for a slower £20 social tariff, which I wasn't eligible for), so I left. Hope it's a good decision, as I had very few issues with them & their support is UK-based.

Now unto getting my friend sorted in the next few days!

Thanks again for all your help guys 😀, much appreciated 👍👌🤛

P.S. I shall have to mark this post as the accepted solution, all of you contributed to me getting there somewhat with the final answer, which to be fair wasn't straightforward & needed inside/direct knowledge. Hope that's fair