BT say no

blackthorn · 05-02-2012, 09:36

I just like other peoples views on this.
About 15 years ago i remember paying BT £250 to have a line installed. Since then I`m now with Virgin media and the phone line is now disconnected but the line to the house is still there or rather it was until last wednesday when a drink driver drove into the telegraph pole in the street and knocked it clean down. BT are in the process of putting a new one back up and when I spoke to them about my line, they said as I no longer have an account with them, then they do not have to put the line back.
At the moment I have no intention of going back to BT but its a case of you never know and I if I ever did I dont see why I should have to pay again.

**Graham M** · 05-02-2012, 10:48

If you're not paying for their service, why should they provide you with a line?

colin25 · 05-02-2012, 11:19

Have to agree...there is no automatic right to a phoneline

Jayster · 05-02-2012, 11:31

I would have to agree with op. Paying to have a line installed in the future is not on imo since that has already been done.

martyh · 05-02-2012, 11:38

How about charging the drunk driver as part of the costs when he gets prosecuted .Is there any way of finding out if BT are pursuing a claim for damages from the driver because if so then they should reinstate the line because they will be getting paid for it if any claim for damages is successful

colin25 · 05-02-2012, 12:04

Hmm..i can see BT having a claim, but not sure you can claim (or Bt re-doing your line).

If BT were your provider, then they would replace the line. But nothing says they have to if you aren't

martyh · 05-02-2012, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin25

Hmm..i can see BT having a claim, but not sure you can claim (or Bt re-doing your line).

If BT were your provider, then they would replace the line. But nothing says they have to if you aren't

If BT make a claim for damages then they will claim for all damages including inactive lines that where attached to the pole at the time and since the op paid to have the line installed in the first place then i think he has a very good case to insist it be re-instated .If the line is not re-instated then BT should provide proof to the op that they have not been paid to replace the line and simply not done the work to save money.The fact that the line is inactive is immaterial imo.

Peter_ · 05-02-2012, 12:27

It would cost BT money to fit an inactive line to your property so unless you sign up with them the is little incentive or reason to do so, if in the future you require a BT line then you just look around for the provider that will fit a new line free of charge.

It is also probably in their Terms and Conditions so unless you want to fund a court case that you are unlikely to win I would just forget about it.

martyh · 05-02-2012, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_

It would cost BT money to fit an inactive line to your property so unless you sign up with them the is little incentive or reason to do so, if in the future you require a BT line then you just look around for the provider that will fit a new line free of charge.

It is also probably in their Terms and Conditions so unless you want to fund a court case that you are unlikely to win I would just forget about it.

Assuming that BT file a claim for damages then they will not be footing any bill ,the driver will pay for returning the pole to the same condition as it was before it was hit .The line remains BT's property even though the op paid £250 to have it installed so the op need not go to court that is BT's responsibility .

Peter_ · 05-02-2012, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

Assuming that BT file a claim for damages then they will not be footing any bill ,the driver will pay for returning the pole to the same condition as it was before it was hit .The line remains BT's property even though the op paid £250 to have it installed so the op need not go to court that is BT's responsibility .

As the is no valid reason to refit the line and as above it is probably in the Terms and Conditions so again, so realistically this thread will go around in circles arguing about a non event that will not happen unless the OP foots the bill and signs up for a new contract.

Also the OP is not paying any line rental so the line belongs to BT not him.

martyh · 05-02-2012, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_

As the is no valid reason to refit the line and as above it is probably in the Terms and Conditions so again, so realistically this thread will go around in circles arguing about a non event that will not happen unless the OP foots the bill and signs up for a new contract.

Also the OP is not paying any line rental so the line belongs to BT not him.

There is if BT claim for the damages and get a successful outcome .Why should the op have to pay to have the line reinstated because of damage to the pole should he wish to return to BT ,he's done that and through no fault of his own the line was damaged .

I didn't say that the line did belong to the op

it is BT's property so they are responsible for claiming any damages not the op

Peter_ · 05-02-2012, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

There is if BT claim for the damages and get a successful outcome .Why should the op have to pay to have the line reinstated because of damage to the pole should he wish to return to BT ,he's done that and through no fault of his own the line was damaged .

I didn't say that the line did belong to the op

it is BT's property so they are responsible for claiming any damages not the op

The OP has no BT services so the is no valid reason to refit the line regardless of whether BT claim from the driver so very unlikely to get a replacement line that is not required.

colin25 · 05-02-2012, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_

The OP has no BT services so the is no valid reason to refit the line regardless of whether BT claim from the driver so very unlikely to get a replacement line that is not required.

yup, as peter says. Even if Bt get reimbursed, and the reimbursement includes costs of restating the line, that doesn't mean they have to. Same as if you get damages, because your car was a write off, doesn't mean you have to buy the same car, or another car.

That also means, if you want to get a BT line (for BT service, or sky etc) they are within their rights to charge you full costs to install the line

But not saying they will, mainly as I'm not BT

Gary L · 05-02-2012, 19:05

There was a time when BT would go out and physically take down the lines from the poles to properties that were no longer with BT. the only reason I can see why that was and probably still is, is so that they can charge the next person that wants the line put back up that they took down.

Digi Tel · 05-02-2012, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

There was a time when BT would go out and physically take down the lines from the poles to properties that were no longer with BT. the only reason I can see why that was and probably still is, is so that they can charge the next person that wants the line put back up that they took down.

Good point. That was before the days of competition. (Although historians would point out that pre-competition there was always a shortage of lines.)

I left BT for Telewest (now Virgin Media) six years ago. I still have a dial tone on my BT line because they know that in order to win me back, I would not entertain an installation charge.