Is there still a way around this?

There is no activation fee as long as you put your phone with them, even for Fibre Unlimited.

Are you saying you don't have an active landline at the premises? I think you are.

That is what is says here http://www.plus.net/home-broadband/ under the legal bit

New customers who place an order for Plusnet Essentials Broadband or Plusnet Unlimited Broadband and a home phone product by May 7th, 2013 get 50% off their monthly broadband rental charge for 12 months.
Unless you are having a new home phone line installed, the discount will be applied to the monthly rental charges for the first 12 months after which you will be charged the standard rental charge for your broadband service.
The offer is only available to new customers signing up from this page or by quoting "offer12" promotional code.
Only customers who order the service between 12th March, 2013 and 7th May, 2013 are eligible for this offer.
Your Home Phone activation date will be used as your monthly billing date. Where your broadband service is activated at a later date than your Home Phone service you will receive a pro-rata bill for your first month's broadband. After that your next 12 month's broadband will be half price.
If you need a new phone line installing at your property, there is a £49.99 installation charge.

It is not clear about the discount where a new phone line is required or whether a stopped line is a new line or not however this clearly states that a stopped line doesn't incur the charge http://www.plus.net/info2/legal/price_guide.html

Edited by deleted (Sun 07-Apr-13 21:54:18)

You'd be best contacting sales specifically about this as it's going to depend whether the line is classed as ceased or just stopped.

Edited by deleted (Wed 10-Apr-13 01:26:14)

What does this checker say about the number you believe is on the line?

If it doesn't recognise it that explains why you were told you need a new line.

However, see this post.