Getting connected

Clive · Oct 02, 2013, 19:28:07

If a property is equipped with phone sockets that are presumably connected to the exchange, what is the likely cost of getting a phone number and installing broadband?

Simon · Oct 02, 2013, 20:18:58

Doesn't it depend on whether the phone line is actually connected and just needs reactivating, or whether a new connection is required? This may give you a rough guide, but other suppliers may vary:

http://www.idnet.net/voice_products/pstn.php

Clive · Oct 02, 2013, 21:47:03

Thanks Simon. The wiring is all there but there has been no phone number for several years because the property was rented out. The new owner wants broadband installed and needs to get the phone reconnected.

Simon · Oct 02, 2013, 21:55:44

It looks like BT are offering free connection if you also take out one of their broadband packages:

Clive · Oct 02, 2013, 22:24:31

That could be very useful but won't an engineer have to come out to install a broadband socket?

Steve · Oct 02, 2013, 22:35:04

I think it depends on the age of the current master socket, if it's one with the removable faceplate the swap over to a filtered faceplate if this is required rather than the soap on a rope filter is very simple.

Clive · Oct 03, 2013, 08:10:28

It will be 7 years old Steve.

Steve · Oct 03, 2013, 08:27:59

So if it's adsl no engineer home visit should be required, the phone line and broadband are activated at the local exchange, FTTC still requires a home visit for the vdsl faceplate and modem install.

Clive · Oct 03, 2013, 10:06:02

That would be good news and I can make further investigations this afternoon.

Steve · Oct 03, 2013, 11:00:39

I think this is relevant to any ISP to BT line provision - http://usergroup.plus.net/simprovideorders.php

Clive · Oct 03, 2013, 20:45:32

Thanks for that Steve. After examining it this afternoon I can see that the soap on the rope filter will work just fine. It's a new installation so at this point in time a migration is not necessary. Sadly, the BT contract is for a whopping 18 months.

Simon · Oct 03, 2013, 21:33:22

I'm intrigued, what with this and the bath overflow. Are you moving house, Clive, or is this for the butler's accommodation?

Clive · Oct 03, 2013, 22:33:11

We've bought another flat in the building where we already own one so we now have two but with different views. It is our intention to sell our house and move there when we get it decorated and furnished although it's a long term project. This second flat has had a tenant for the past few years and it's not been looked after at all. But we bought it for a good price and we believe it will go up in value over the next few years as the town is redeveloped.

Simon · Oct 03, 2013, 23:07:02

So, do you eventually intend to live in the two flats, depending on which view you fancy?

zappaDPJ · Oct 03, 2013, 23:51:23

Glenn · Oct 04, 2013, 06:16:13

Some married couples have separate bedrooms as the grow older, Clive & Mrs Clive has separate flats.

Clive · Oct 04, 2013, 09:22:09

It can have its advantages for certain! Our son and his family will use one of the flats when they come home from London. We've had that one from new and *our* bath overflow faceplate is in pristine condition!

Clive · Jan 17, 2014, 19:21:14

At long last I've sorted this out and I'm having the phone connected next week. It will cost £25 + VAT and I can stick with IDNet for both. Simon of IDNet was extremely helpful. Sadly, I can't take my old number even though it's on the same exchange because it's not on the same part that's been upgraded. But my Netgear router will still work.

Clive · Feb 02, 2014, 21:31:21

All went well with the new phone and broadband connection. My one phone line is invoiced as Anytime Lite and the other is Anytime Standard. On the IDNet website I can only find reference to Unlimited Evening and Weekend and Unlimited Anytime so are those the packages I actually have? I want to add a couple of features to the one line and wonder if anyone knows what "Smart Divert" means? Is that simply caller divert or is it more clever than that? It also says on the website that you have to pay for the transferred leg of the call but presumably if it's part of an Anytime package it would be free? I just want to divert calls from one land line to another within the same building.

Simon · Feb 02, 2014, 22:24:03

It seems Smart Divert must just be a new name for Call Divert, as I can't see much different about it:

http://btbusiness.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7699

With regards to paying for the transferred leg of the call, I think it would be free if the call is diverted to a number included within the calls package - ie, 01, 02, etc, but if you diverted to a mobile number, that would be chargeable, as mobile numbers aren't included 'free'.

With regards Anytime Lite and Anytime Standard, I believe it probably does relate to Unlimited Evening and Weekend and Unlimited Anytime, but I'm not certain of that.

Clive · Feb 02, 2014, 22:45:58

Thanks Simon, perhaps they should make it a little less confusing on the website.

Simon · Feb 02, 2014, 23:27:01

I'm not sure why there's the different terminology.

Ray · Feb 03, 2014, 10:12:01

I'm on the old package Anytime Lite it gives me 5 hours of free call per month at anytime of day, you certainly get charged for the transferred part of the call if diverted to a mobile, not sure about to another landline as I've never done that yet.

Clive · Feb 03, 2014, 13:10:20

Thanks Ray, that's very helpful.

Clive · Feb 04, 2014, 22:03:03

I've ordered caller display and caller divert which will cost an extra £3.00 a month. There are two types of caller divert, one to make a phone permanently divert to another number and the other where you can opt in or out by using a code. I've asked for the latter.