Changing from Sky LLU to O2

Hi,

I'm in the process of changing from Sky LLU to O2 for my phone+BB.

They have advised that an engineer needs to visit in order for the changeover of the line to happen, and they can't do this until Dec 17th. Is this really neccessary? I understand work needs done at the exchange but surely this can be done before then? Surely no engineer needs to physically visit my home as the telephone port currently works fine and is active (albeit on Sky's network currently).

Also, they advise that as it's a 'Third party takeover' my BB won't have any downtime and it'll be a case of the new broadband being active the day the line is switched from Sky to O2, can anyone reassure me that this is the case?

Many thanks!

Is your line FMPF or SMPF (full LLU or ADSL )only ?

1, You will get some downtime for both telephony & adsl if Full LLU , As Both will need to be disconnected from Sky's equipment and re connected to BT wholesales and O2's SMPF LLU for the ADSL at your exchange
2, There should be no need for an openreach engineer to visit your home normally

Unless they (o2)have placed an order for a new line install , which shouldn't be needed

Hi,

I think it's full LLU as I'm completely on Sky's network for the phone and adsl.

Do you have any idea how long the downtime would be? Also, does it seem unreasonable that this apparently can't be done until 17th Dec if all that's needed is some work at the exchange to disconnect from Sky's equipment and reconnect to BT wholesale?

Thanks very much for your help.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

all that's needed is some work at the exchange to disconnect from Sky's equipment and reconnect to BT wholesale?

No, the BB needs to be moved from Sky kit to O2 kit (assuming O2 is LLU'd at your exchange else it would be madness to migrate) and the phone needs to moved from Sky to BTw.

Forgive me for my ignorance, I've not really had to deal with this kind of thing much in the past! Exchange is O2 LLU so that's no problem.

Unless o2 have placed a sim provide (if that's possible from FMPF LLU) then both ADSL & Phone would go live at the same time or within hours, But if they haven't done this or it's not possible then the date may be phone only, in which you would have to wait a few days until your number was visible on the btw checker before you could get adsl or order it, the 17/12 is a fair way away for exchange type work, which may mean that they have placed an order for a new line instal, i would be double checking what order they have placed , otherwise the sky service wont stop on that day and you would have to cancel it this would or could result in a cease charge as sky may pass on the openreach charge and a new line would probably mean a new number, and presumably additional costs for instalation

Cheers Tommy,

WIll give O2 a call today to double check what they've booked in.

Have contacted O2 today who have confirmed that this is the earliest appointment they can do and that the same engineer will visit the house that attends the exchange.

Does this sound accurate or are O2 fobbing me off. I still think it's a little ridiculous, even with the exchange work involved, that the first date for activation is over a month and a half away.

Are they installing a new line, and if so, why? Thay's the only reason an engineer visit to the house would be needed.

Nope, line is already in the property. Just needs to be swapped back from Sky to BT network at the exchange.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Have contacted O2 today who have confirmed that this is the earliest appointment they can do and that the same engineer will visit the house that attends the exchange.

Does this sound accurate or are O2 fobbing me off. I still think it's a little ridiculous, even with the exchange work involved, that the first date for activation is over a month and a half away.

Did you ask o2 why a BT openreach engineer would need to visit your home or not ?
Something doesn't sound right , And a new line doesn't mean installing a new cable into your home, they will normally just connect a different pair within the existing bt cable, usually there is 2 or 3 pairs in the cable

I bet that you could get a return to donor order through & subsequently order the adsl yourself before that date, I would be seeking confirmation in writing that they have not placed a new line order with bt , or cancel your current order with o2 and get your line swapped back to the BTW platform yourself ,

To do this ring bt ask for a return to donor order for your line to be transfered back to bt wholesale WLR3 I think the RTD is free, ( not too sure of the department that deals with this )but best to check before hand,
Then all you do is order o2 phone and bb, as the line stays WLR3 with o2 the whole thing should be done by end of the month if not before

Edited by tommy45 (Sun 04-Nov-12 15:48:03)

If he rings BT and gets a RTD he will be in contract on the phone with BT Retail!

When I asked O2 they said it's "just in case" but that it would be the same openreach engineer visiting my home that does the exchange work. I did ask whether it was the home visit that was holding it all back but apparently that doesn't matter!

I'd do the manual return to donor process myself but I imagine this'd be a different process to the way O2 are trying to do it, and it'd subsequently mean significant downtime on the broadband - something I can't really allow as I work from home!

I was having a snoop around on the BT openreach website and found this which seems to suggest problems with getting engineers out quickly:
http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/updates/briefin...

Although I also found a pricing page for 'Line Transfer (inc Working Line Takeover and Starting of Stopped lines) Basic line - Per transfer' which quotes £2 ex VAT despite the fact O2 are charging me ~£45 for a line transfer.

I did try my best earlier on the phone to O2 and told them I'd have to cancel if it can't be done quicker, and the guy said there was literally nothing he or I could do to speed it up. Seems bonkers.

Thanks again for everyone's help!

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

If he rings BT and gets a RTD he will be in contract on the phone with BT Retail!

But wouldn't that be a rolling monthly contract, or would they tie the op in to a new 12mth min term ?
If it would be only a rolling monthly contract ,then it would work out cheaper than the £45.00 transfare fee quoted by o2

Edited by tommy45 (Sun 04-Nov-12 16:35:23)

LOL, "just in case" Just in case what ? that they connect the wrong pair up to the o2 kit in the exchange ? I would think that the engineer actually visiting your home is unlikely , unless they goof something up,

Yes the £45.00 fee seems unreasonable to be if you are also entering into a 12th min term contract for both telephone and bb ,it should be free ,

Personally i wouldn't choose any of the big retail ISP's for business use,
But that's me ,

RTD to BT Retail is a 12-month term.

Where the £45 comes from I have no idea. Unless he is going for an O2 Business connection.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Although I also found a pricing page for 'Line Transfer (inc Working Line Takeover and Starting of Stopped lines) Basic line - Per transfer' which quotes £2 ex VAT despite the fact O2 are charging me ~£45 for a line transfer.

Different sort of transfer.

That's for a transfer of a line from a previous occupant of a premises to the person just moved in. A simple accounting change.

Have you signed up for an O2 Business connection? That could be what is confusing things, for them and us.

Sorry, I think I've confused everyone here!

Although I'd be using the connection for a bit of homeworking, it is only the regular home package I have signed up for and not a specific business broadband.

Well i wouldn't be happy paying any fee and having to sign up for 12mths min term as well,
Can i ask why you want o2 as you telephone provider,as there are cheaper alternatives available ?

Hi,

Just had to register as anon posting turned off.

Literally chose O2 because the price is reasonable for BB as I'm an existing O2 mobile customer. They could also offer the static IP I'll need for my work.

I presume if I was to choose a sep landline provider to BB that there would be downtime in broadband inbetween ordering the new landline, and being able to order the new BB.

Downtime, there's going to be some downtime regardless of how it's done,
But yes once the line is switched from sky llu back to btw then the bb would most probably be ceased at the same time if on their newer SBVN equipment

And by having the telephony with a different provider, may mean a longer downtime, or may not,

Lets say you order the telephony from provider A, they will be able to give you a date that they will take over the line, there maybe a mechanism available to them known as a sim provide, this would /should mean both services change within hours of each other, this will be or should be what o2 have ordered from openreach , if they haven't done, then it's likely that only the telephone will change over on that day,
So if no sim provide , no point in having o2 for the phone service or paying a £45 fee and being tied into a 12mth contract and you will still get the discount offered for bb only

Some info regarding SIM provide,sim provide It says for home movers or a new line ,But the process should also work in your situation

I knew i had read it was an available option to those who were migrating from full llu
No need to return to BT So in theory any provider can request a sim provide order, in wich case if the telephony provider agreed the provider of the BB could be with the isp of your choice ?

Edited by tommy45 (Mon 05-Nov-12 18:28:57)