Home Phone Discussion

[Ann]

BT do charge if you leave before the contract is up.  IDNet offer various packages.  Take a look on the website

Phone only http://www.idnet.net/solutions/home/phone/

with broadband http://www.idnet.net/solutions/home/broadbandphone/

I do a line rental only option as I don't use the phone much but I do get caller display free.  The other options I don't know about.

[Simon]

I don't think you get 'Friends and Family' type deals with IDNet, but all calls are cheaper than BT anyway (and, of course, you get the 'free' allowance within the package), so you probably wouldn't lose out by not having number specific discounts.

I think you need to work out what your current calls level is, to which type of numbers (landline, mobile, 08xx, etc) and do some maths to see if IDNet would be cheaper.  You do, of course, get the advantage of not having to deal with BT any more for fault reporting, etc, which is an added incentive. 

[dujas]

The Friends & Family and Best Friend % call discounts for nominated telephone numbers, was scrapped by BT retail a few months back.

[sparky]

I know that this is a bad thing to even consider doing.................but,

If I were to move my home phone line billing to IDNET who I already have as my ISP, who would I report a noisy phone line to?

Would idnet take take of all the dealings with BT or would I still have to speak to BT directly?

Not that I would do the dirty here, but it might cause me to move my phone package if I ever do get my line sorted out with BT.

[sparky]

Sorry about the typo's !

My state of mind regarding my phone line is getting the better (or should it be worse) of me !!

Would idnet take take of all the dealings with BT or would I still have to speak to BT directly?

Would idnet take care of all..............etc.

[Baz]

The Friends & Family and Best Friend % call discounts for nominated telephone numbers, was scrapped by BT retail a few months back.

so what do they offer now then. Still honouring those who are on the deal already though ..............BT    

[dujas]

Still honouring those who are on the deal already though

Afraid not, it was withdrawn for everyone. They offered in slight recompense, free 0870/0845 calls when used in conjunction with your chosen call package, and mobile or international call discounts if you signed up to a one year rolling contract.

It was basically done (along with increasing their call charges) to raise profits, so they can start reducing the financial black hole left by the BT Global Services fiasco.

[Simon]

Sparky, IDNet would take on any line issues if you transfer to their phone services, as long as you understand they can't work miracles. It might also be polite to warn them of any known issues, which might also help to speed up the fault finding.

[sparky]

Thanks Simon,

No, I wouldn't be nasty and just drop it on them after moving my billing across. I am having big problems trying to get BT to commit to look at my line problem without charging me, at the moment I'm trying to narrow it down to times and weather conditions. I'm hoping I'll get there in the end, then I might well move over to idnet.

[Simon]

IDNet would still have to go through BT, and the BT threatened charge would still apply, if "no fault found", or if the fault is within your own equipment, so you need to be certain that it isn't, before requesting a BT engineer call out.  The only difference would be that you would be calling IDNet, instead of someone in Bangladesh, to report the fault, and they would work with BT on your behalf. 

[Lance]

When I last had a intermittent fault (crosstalk which didn't realy exist) an the engineer couldn't find anything wrong, he just swapped the pair from the exchange to the cabinet.

I just made it clear from the onset that the fault was intermittent.

[Sebby]

I think that's the key. They can't really argue if you say it's intermittent.

[g7pkf]

Just signed my father in law up to idnet phone service.

went for the anytime lite package. He was missold a package from a doorstep salesman given vouchers he couldnt use and would have been paying £20 a month for his telephone. they also swapped his gas and electric, there customer services took 20 minutes to get through to so i helped him transfer back to his original supplier for gas and electric.

He only uses his phone for 3-5 hours a month maximum from previous bill's so even lite was a bit high for him but he wanted some inclusive time and wouldnt listen to me when i said basic package would be better, but hey £6 a month cheaper it was worth the change.

also we both get the refer a friend incentive   happy day's

[Rik]

 

And now they give you free bandwidth over Xmas too.

[sparky]

My voice is currently with BT but I am going to change it.

I currently get a bill every three months, which includes any additional chargeable calls that I have made, plus the next three months line rental in advance.

If I change to idnet, do BT send me a refund for any rental not used?  How does it work, has anybody any experience of this situation?

Thanks.

[Rik]

BT should draw up a final bill and refund any credit balance, they did for me.

[sparky]

Rik, thanks.

Did you get a cheque, or do you have to leave your direct debit open so that they can refund it?

[Rik]

They refunded to my bank account directly.

[sparky]

OK. Thanks for that Rik.
I think that means I should not be too hasty in cancelling the direct debate mandate, I did that on something once before and it meant that they couldn't credit my account. I'm due a 3 monthly bill next week, so will wait 'till I get that to make sure they haven't charged me for fixing my line and so that I don't upset the system, then I will order from idnet.

Cheers.

[Rik]

Sounds like a plan, Sparky.

[Lance]

Although the next bill will be for the next 3 months line rental. I wonder if cancelling it now would change that?

[sparky]

The problem is that its due in 5 working days and Idnet couldn't switch it that quickly.

Also before I upset BT again by leaving them, I want to make sure they don't try to bill me for an SFI engineers visit that they themselves arranged. He proved that there was a fault and the "underground" engineer then found and fixed two faults on the line, so they shouldn't bill me, but..................it's BT after all....

[Simon_idnet]

I think that means I should not be too hasty in cancelling the direct debate mandate, I did that on something once before and it meant that they couldn't credit my account.

A Direct Debit mandate is not required to put money into your bank account (i.e. refund you) - anyone can do that at any time. A DD is only needed to take money out.
S

[agal]

I was looking at ordering a phone-line for a flat which had it's phone-line disconnected 10 or 12 years ago. However the page I am directed to http://www.idnet.net/contact/placehomephoneorderonline.jsp?transfer=0 doesn't seem to include a price anywhere. Surely BT charge IDNet for supplying a phone-line?

[Niall]

When I changed all that happened (from my point of view) was that I placed the order with IDnet for the phone line, they transferred it over from BT and I now pay £10 a month instead of £56 a quarter.