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

[GavT]

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 🙂

[imjolly]

Virgin have a social broadband tariff as well 

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

[GavT]

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.

[imjolly]

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

[GavT]

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

[imjolly]

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-Editori...

[GavT]

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

[garybs29]

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

[GavT]

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 👍

[iniltous]

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.