Moving house, love Be but hate BT. Options?

I am moving house, and just called BT to activate the line. Told that there's a £122 call out charge to activate a line that was in use barely a month ago by previous tenant. The house itself is only 2 years old. Told them to get lost. Am already unhappy paying the BT tax for service I don't use, would rather just pay line rental and broadband to one operator, but scared of TalkTalk horror stories as well.

I currently use Be, and very happy with the service, but BT's behaviour is the last straw, I refuse to give them a penny more.

Who can I use instead, for ADSL2 line rental and unmetered broadband?

Hi there,

Depending on the status of the line currently we can sort this for you (a 'stopped line' is free to reactivate, a new install is £50 compared to BT's £122). I can check which would apply if you like (you'd need to PM me the address though).

We have an Unlimited broadband product but ADSL2+ is only in the trial stage with us at the moment (you'd be welcome to register for said trial though ).

If that's not suitable any provider which offers a BT Wholesale based service should be ok, and will allow you to get BB from anyone.

Hey Anonymous, the charge you have been quoted is correct for the installation of a new line. If you need any help or want me to check the line for you just PM me and I will be happy to do that for you. Shane.

The OP has stated that the line was in use by the previous owner barely a month ago so why is there an installation charge?

And that is BT doesn't deserve mine or anyone's custom. The line has dialtone, I know the number, I've run 17070 test. But BT want an activation charge anyway, because they suck. And even then it takes them 14 days for someone to spend 2 minutes flipping a switch. What a bunch of losers.

IIRC, a Dialtone indicates that the Line is still active and therefore suspect that the outgoing tenant hasn't canceled the service. In this case, BT would offer you a NEW installation and that may be the cause of your problem

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

And that is BT doesn't deserve mine or anyone's custom. The line has dialtone, I know the number, I've run 17070 test. But BT want an activation charge anyway, because they suck. And even then it takes them 14 days for someone to spend 2 minutes flipping a switch. What a bunch of losers.

I think the post office will activate your line and cheaper than BT, or you can take up useless Plusnets offer.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

And that is BT doesn't deserve mine or anyone's custom. The line has dialtone, I know the number, I've run 17070 test. But BT want an activation charge anyway, because they suck. And even then it takes them 14 days for someone to spend 2 minutes flipping a switch. What a bunch of losers.

Something isn't right here. BT state on their own website that if a phone still has a dial tone, then it is free to reactivate the line. Only when there is no dial tone do they start charging.

Got a link for that?

http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cc...