Phone line through window

[27thomas]

I have a wooden window which is being replaced by a PVC window , my phone line is through the wooden window, i phoned BT and was told i would have to pay £145 to get it through the wall, i think that unfair as i didnt ask for it to be put through the window in the first place , the window fitter wont put a  hole in the new window,, what am i to do , Thank you 

[Keith_Beddoe]

@27thomas 

I suspect that this was put through the wooden window a long time ago, when it was either the GPO, Post Office Telephones, or British Telecom . It was common practice then.

Does your phone line come in from a pole, and then comes through the window, or does it come in underground?

Either way, the external network would belong to Openreach, and would have to be re-routed through the wall instead. That is why it would be chargeable.

[27thomas]

Yes it was put in years ago by BT, Its from a pole outside which feeds a couple of houses but theirs all are going through the wall as their houses have been renovated , thanks for your reply  

[Keith_Beddoe]

Then it most likely comes down the external wall, from the eaves.

Openreach would need to run a totally new cable, and they would drill through the wall from inside, to outside, and fit a new master socket where you specify, so its worth thinking about the location.

There is a fair bit of work involved, hence the charge.

[27thomas]

Thanks for your reply,, It is from the eaves down the wall and into the front window,, I just thought £145 was a lot of money for BT to charge as it should not have been done that way at the start,,  I have been with BT a life time 

[Keith_Beddoe]

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@27thomas wrote:

Thanks for your reply,, It is from the eaves down the wall and into the front window,, I just thought £145 was a lot of money for BT to charge as it should not have been done that way at the start,,  I have been with BT a life time 

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That was just the way it was done. I started with the GPO in 1968 (now retired), and we were issued with special tools to bore through wooden windows and even door frames. I still have the one I was given, its a bit blunt now. We even used to screw terminal blocks to the window frames.

I suppose once people started having UPVC windows, the practice must have stopped, but I was doing other jobs within BT by then.

[27thomas]

I think BT should not have done it that way in the first place also i think i give BT enough money, i just feel angry to be expected to pay £145 for their shoddy work, no offence to you 

[27thomas]

The good news is BT phoned me to say someone would come on Wednesday to have the phone line removed and put through the wall but no one can come until wednesday, my windows are getting put in on Monday so  i phones the window fitters and they are willing to leave that window until the phone line is sorted,,  At least BT is not charging me as i have been with them a life time,, I would like to have got all sorted on Monday as its so near Christmas but just have to put up with it,,  Thanks everyone