Fibre to ADSL with BT

Hi,

Having read a few threads, it seems downgrading from fibre to ADSL should be relatively easy. My plan is to move from BT fibre to Plusnet basic internet/phone.

However, having just called BT they said downgrading would represent a new service package and therefore put me on a new 12-month contract.

Is this right? I was expecting there might be an admin charge, but a new 12-month contract?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Are you still within your 18-month BT minimum term?

Why are you asking BT to downgrade you? Can you not do a direct jump from BT fibre to PlusNet ADSL?

I'm out of contract with BT now.

I'm looking to cut costs as much as possible, so the free ADSL deal on Plusnet suits me perfect (was happy before I moved up to fibre). Also, their fibre deal has an 18 month contract, opposed to the 12-month ADSL version.

But why are you trying to move to ADSL with BT at all? Surely you want to do a direct move to ADSL with PlusNet in which case BT contracts for changing would be irrelevant?

That was my hope originally, but after speaking to Plusnet they say BT need to downgrade it before they can take me on as an ADSL customer.

No PlusNet should be able to migrate you both from FTTC to ADSL and move the WLR to WLR with them. If they don't want to then they obviously don't want the custom.

I've raised a query on the Plusnet Community forums.

My post over there edited because of the previous case just linked to.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 28-Nov-14 15:06:17)

http://community.plus.net/forum/?topic=128682.msg111...

looks like repeat of above

So, combination of BT not allowing a downgrade without a recontract and PlusNet computer says no because they haven't coded the systems to allow for a downgrade on incoming, only a same or upgrade.

It seems that it is possible for either to be helpful but neither looking like they are going to. Seems a bit of a hostage situation.

Thanks. I did spot that thread, but obviously didn't read it thoroughly enough.

So it looks like I'll either need to pursuade BT to downgrade me without a new contract, or just go with Plusnet fibre.

Thanks for the info.

It's probably too much systems integration effort and complication for what must be a very rare migration. It's usually an IT systems limitation somewhere and probably involves several steps that need coordinating.

That is at least 2 for going from BT to PlusNet though - who knows how many others there are. Suspect a lot of people signed up to BT Infinity to see what it was like, some have found it doesn't give a massive benefit to them and so are looking to save some money - which can easily be achieved by switching to a cheaper provider on ADSL.

Essentially PlusNet are ruling themselves out of that customer base. It is likely that it won't be lots but there is likely to be a steady trickle of this sort of move especially where people potentially had a reasonable connection before and have seen next to no benefit from FTTC.

Did you read to the end of that thread? In effect it says they can do it manually and give all the online sign-up discounts. Though it doesn't say what the op did in the end.

Really. You think there's a lot of them? If this happened a lot, wouldn't we see more forum items? This is the first one I've seen.

Crikey, I'm really not very good at reading that thread! Does indeed look like they can do it manually. Will take a closer look. Thanks.

There's a "won't" in there .

Having gone across to the Plusnet community threat referenced earlier, I can see it has several complications to do a simultaneous transfer and downgrade. Also it confirms that Plusnet at least see this as a rather rare request. The more trouble than its worth syndrome.

More trouble than it's worth to make changes to the ordering system perhaps. There seemed perfect willingness from the two reps to achieve the migration manually.

Glass half full or half empty.

wow, it should be easy to change from one to the other and not be held to ransom. Maybe be quicker to get a new line put in, go onto FTTc with that one and get rid of the old one.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Maybe be quicker to get a new line put in, go onto FTTc with that one and get rid of the old one.

You mean go onto ADSL on 2nd line as OP wants.

Just as an update, after contacting Plusnet on Twitter they informed me it was possible. Called customer services back and singed up with no problems. Must have been crossed wires on my first call. Looking forward to a £25/month saving on BT!

Hot stuff!

Edit - make sure you get the current very good online deal, (as per that Community thread), as you couldn't do it online.

Edited by RobertoS (Sat 29-Nov-14 13:12:23)

Yes, they honoured the Black Friday deal. Very impressed so far.
Thanks for your help.