social tariff - line and fibre type

[hkall]

Hi, I'm asking for a friend as I'm better at discussing these things and I also managed his account. With that out off the way -

I moved from Plusnet to bt home essentials social tariff. He's also with Plusnet and tried to move to BT home essentials but BT couldn't accept him. I think they 'may' have said his line might struggle or isn't up to it. I know he gets about 50 to 57Mbps whereas I always get 70.

Why is this? His Plusnet package is simply called Fibre. It does happen to say on his account package info: "This package uses part fibre technology." Does this mean his current line is an older technology which Plusnet is catering for and if so, cannot BT do same?

Cheers

[VeteranISPUser]

Hi @hkall   It sounds like both of you are on Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). The speed difference will be the quality of the line, or most probably the distant from the cabinet. As both BT and Plusnet use the same Openreach infrastructure, the speed will be the same no matter which supplier. Note, you do know that Plusnet is owned by the BT Group.

[hkall]

@VeteranISPUserThanks for your reply. I do indeed know they are owned by the BT group which is why I couldn't understand it. We are both FTTC. We live opposite ends of the city. My cabinet this end in 1 minute away. I'm not sure where his is.

[iniltous]

It’s not clear exactly what the question is , if your friend applied for the social tariff, does he qualify ? , you have to be in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits assuming he does , there are two social tariff speeds 40Mb and 80Mb , so even if his line were not capable of higher speeds ( say higher than 45 Mb ) the lower speed social tariff is available ( and it’s £3 cheaper , Essential is £20 as opposed to £23 for Essentials F2 ) so that can’t be the reason for refusal .

It’s possible that the FTTC ‘cabinet’ is at capacity ( no spare ports ) so no additional customers can be added while the cab is ‘waiting list’  ( that’s social tariff or regular tariff ) , if refused , I recon it’s because they don’t qualify , or the cabinet is effectively ‘full’ , but irrespective, it’s got nothing to do with the potential speed his line is capable of 

[hkall]

@iniltousYes he qualified. I just asked him and he thinks it was to do with the postcode. You see where he lives, the building's were renovated from old offices and the flats got a new postcode. 

Plusnet still use his old postcode as the new one doesn't come up on the system. It comes up on websites but I understand for broadband it's in the hands of openreach. It's possible BT would not accept his old postcode.