BT call out charge

[alex71]

I have just been charged £85 for a call out.

I had a phone plugged into the master socket another phone alongside and was also unable to go on line via my "smart hub". The engineer took off a small junction box and connected the wires direct with crimps. I had a look at the small junction box which had a printed circuit and no component. In other words it was completely unnecessary. The box was on a single brick wall and damp had  caused copper rot, when he left my phone was still plugged into the master socket with the front off which I put back on myself. Am I to believe that four inches inside my house a completely unnecessary component fitted by BT has justified  £85 bill for a 71 year old pensioner. If nothing else can you kill the myth that anything on your side of the master socket is a non chargeable call out.

[alex71]

The above is my current bill

[Keith_Beddoe]

Welcome to this user forum.

This may help http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12439/~/engineer-home-improvement-service-charges

[Addy]

This explains BT’s Engineer visit charges. Damp is mentioned in the sixth item on the list.

https://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12439/~/engineer-charges

[alex71 · Accepted solution]

damp damage to the completely unnecessary component fitted unknown to myself by BT makes the charge legit. Check your wiring right back to the outside of your property as well as the master socket test.

[alex71]

Hi! Addy
My view was the box was unnecessary and was fitted to a single brick outer wall, less than a foot away from a double brick wall with a garage on the other side.An unnecessary component fitted in the wrong place by BT.

[Keith_Beddoe]

Was it one of these?

Or

[alex71]

Hi! Keith

That looks like it. I must have popped the board out to inspect it and see the damage. I can understand a purpose for it but not in my situation which should be a strait run to the master socket five foot away.

                 Thak You

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@alex71 wrote:

Hi! Keith

That looks like it. I must have popped the board out to inspect it and see the damage. I can understand a purpose for it but not in my situation which should be a strait run to the master socket five foot away.

                 Thak You

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Its a difficult one, as its probably been there a long time, before Openreach existed.

Now that Openreach are a separate company, they have to raise a charge for any work they do. This charge is passed onto the Service Provider, who normally pass it on to their customer.

As this connection box is before the master socket, in theory its part of the external network.

Have you complained about the charge, as there is a special team that deal with that?

[gg30340]

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@Keith_Beddoe wrote:

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As this connection box is before the master socket, in theory its part of the external network.

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It is within the boundary of the OP's property so is according to this link, chargeable.

https://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12439/~/engineer-charges