Never had broadband but I�m being asked for a MAC code

We have a BT landline, no broadband enabled. All calls are billed by The Post Office. Due to a misunderstanding on our part, we transferred the account from Post Office to BT. Realised the mistake, cancelled the transfer within an hour or two, so back on the PO.
We applied for a broadband account with another provider. That provider says we must have a MAC code, because broadband has already been ordered by BT Retail for our number. The provider kindly sent us a screenshot from BT Wholesale which shows an order has been placed by BT Retail.
BT must have jumped the gun, put in an order without being asked, then not cancelled it when the account was moved back to PO.
Now, the BT helpline says there�s no record of the broadband order (I presume it�s because the account has already reverted to the PO), and therefore it can�t issue a MAC code.
Stalemate! What to do please?
(Would you suspect a lack of contact between BT Retail and BT Wholesale? )

Did you in fact order broadband from BT at the start of this, and that was the misunderstanding - as they require the line rental to be with them? Were you given a broadband date, or just a phone transfer date?

Just trying to clarify a bit. Can't think of the best thing to do.

Which is your chosen ISP?

The MAC issue is confusing, as that is for broadband transfer. But there isn't any broadband. Unless there is or soon will be . Gaining ISPs have access to a Tag removal Team for circumstances such as a houseowner has moved out without cancelling their broadband, and the "Tag" on the line prevents a new owner ordering broadband.

I'm surprised another provider can see what orders some other one has placed on a line! ? That there is an order preventing them doing something, yes, by which CP seems wrong.

Many thanks for reply. Broadband was not ordered. We understood the date given was a phone transfer date.
The screenshot I mentioned in my previous post is a BT Wholesale page called �tags on the line help�. It says: �A broadband provision order already exists [for the number in question]� placed by BT Retail � due to be installed on 7 Feb 12�.
It also says the order can be cancelled by contacting the service provider (i.e. BT Retail) before 6 Feb.
I phoned BT Retail (yet again) and they say there�s no outstanding broadband order -- all I need to do is ask the new ISP to get the tag removed. Phoned the ISP and they will try again. Watch this space.
The chosen ISP is Newnet.
(By the way, I should explain I�m doing this on behalf of someone who�s never had broadband, and feels very unconfident dealing with help desks � chose Newnet because I�m already a subscriber and find them excellent.)

Close to what I suggested then. Maybe tags get put on the line for phone orders as well and somehow things have got confused. Let's hope Newnet get it sorted.

You never know, they might end up with free BT broadband !

If the original poster emails or PM's me I'll send over an address to use.

AFAIK WLR phone changes should not show up as a broadband tag, and certainly should not need a MAC.

My money is on their being confusion over packages, and an attempt to upsell when originally talking to BT.

There is not TAG marker for WLR as part of the tags system for broadband.
If someone has done a tag check and it shows a broadband order for x of feb, then there a broadband order WAS placed on the line, although if it has since been cancelled I don't have the data for when that cancellation would show on TAGS, but we normally see things within 24hours update

Just for the record, the problem has at last been sorted, but not without a frustrating time when BT Wholesale was saying there was broadband on the number and BT Retail was saying there wasn't. Eventually a written complaint to BT did the trick. Many thanks to all on this site!