Line not been used for 12 years

[sim64]

I want Broadband only in a property that hasn't had an account for over 12 years, do they just reactivate the old line?

I moved out of a property 12 years ago, when living there I had 2 BT phone lines and 2 BT broadband accounts - 1 domestic, one business.

When I moved out I cancelled both accounts and although the lines are still physically there, they haven't been used in 12 years.

Can I just order a new BT broadband account now?

What happens if they come out to connect and find that the existing line is dead?

Line goes through neighbours trees that are a lot more overgrown than they were 12 years ago.

If they physically can't install a new line, will the new contract I take out be cancelled and any engineer fees I pay be returned.

I have put address in to the order process on the BT site and can order.

Is there any possibility I can end up signing up to a contract but still not get broadband?

[licquorice]

Just order whatever service you want, everything else is irrelevant.

[iniltous · Accepted solution]

If FTTP is now available, then the existing copper cabling is effectively redundant, so a new installation will be necessary, if there is no FTTP and there are still records for the previous copper pair service then one or the other of the services will remotely be brought back into service, but you won’t know which line , this is called a start order rather than an installation , you would need to try both ‘sockets’  , no engineer visit is needed nor arranged at this stage on a start order  …..you connect the router yourself, if it works , that’s it ,

if there are no usable records then a new appointment is needed , so you are offered an installation visit (date) and need to be home for this , they will probably use some of the existing cabling on the new provide….after 12 years it could be a start order (no visit ) or effectively a new installation with an appointment date .

If you can’t get service to work (trying both ‘lines’) assuming it’s a start order rather than an installation, you can report it not working , and its looked at as an early life failure, it’s possible remote testing (after the start order is complete on Openreach systems) indicates a problem, a visit may be automatically arranged.

You don’t face any extra charges , if a new installation is necessary, either because FTTP is available or in the years that have elapsed since the line has last worked , it is no longer ‘in tact’ .

As stated , order service, the rest isn’t really your problem, apart from you will be expected to connect the router yourself and as you state 2 lines were present previously, you may need to try both appearances as either may be made live remotely.