Hi, I've already had a search but can't find a specific topic on this.

I've just moved house and my mobile reception is now terrible so I need a landline phone. I already have broadband so don't need that. I was going to go with the Blueyonder/Telewest TV and phone for £10.50 a month but they don't supply my area.

I'd be quite happy to go with BT but am not prepared to pay a £75 installation fee! The room I am in has a telephone socket (no logos or anything on it). Does this mean it has at one point had a BT line and therefore does not require installation? My landlord is not aware of what has been installed in here previously. Does anyone know of an alternative to BT which doesn't charge an extortionate installation or monthly fee?

Thanks!

Can I ask, how do you have Broadband if no phone line or telewest coverage?

I've got NTL broadband they don't require you to have a telephone line.

EDIT: I should also add I've just checked the telephone point again and it does indeed have BT on it (forgive me I've got a stinking cold so I'm not with it today).

So, the question now is does anyone know a general cheaper alternative to BT for either just phone or phone and a basic TV package (I don't really want to spend more than £15). Thanks!

try telecom plus cheap calls and line rental

Originally posted by Twiglet
I've got NTL broadband they don't require you to have a telephone line.

EDIT: I should also add I've just checked the telephone point again and it does indeed have BT on it (forgive me I've got a stinking cold so I'm not with it today).

So, the question now is does anyone know a general cheaper alternative to BT for either just phone or phone and a basic TV package (I don't really want to spend more than £15). Thanks!

Then get a NTL telephone line for ease?

Or consider Talktalk I have found them not too bad.

If there is already a BT socket then they will not charge an installation fee, I have the following package:

Option 2 - the Evening and Weekend plan

Enjoy FREE evening and weekend calls to anywhere in the UK for up to an hour each call, plus daytime calls in the UK at just 3p a minute.

£16.50** per month

I also have broadband unlimited with BT which costs me £17 a month

if you have NTL broadband then why not pay £30 a month for digital TV, phone and 1mb broadband? :P or £40 for even more channels and free calls to landlines!

Originally posted by xafier
if you have NTL broadband then why not pay £30 a month for digital TV, phone and 1mb broadband? :P or £40 for even more channels and free landline calls!

I was wondering that myself! Does seem the logical option :loopy: :clap:

I have also recently moved and am having problems with setting up my landline. The previous occupiers moved and apparently didn't tell their phone company that they were going, BT are telling me they can't set up my line until the existing provider has stopped their line into the property. BT have told me they cannot request this. I want to try and contact the company and request it myself, but I can't find any record of them on the internet - has anyone heard of Cordwell (or something similar)? Does anyone have a phone number for them?

Originally posted by banesmabes
I have also recently moved and am having problems with setting up my landline. The previous occupiers moved and apparently didn't tell their phone company that they were going, BT are telling me they can't set up my line until the existing provider has stopped their line into the property. BT have told me they cannot request this. I want to try and contact the company and request it myself, but I can't find any record of them on the internet - has anyone heard of Cordwell (or something similar)? Does anyone have a phone number for them?

Is it Caudwell Communications? They err don't have a good reputation. You will find out about them on google!

Originally posted by banesmabes
I have also recently moved and am having problems with setting up my landline. The previous occupiers moved and apparently didn't tell their phone company that they were going, BT are telling me they can't set up my line until the existing provider has stopped their line into the property. BT have told me they cannot request this. I want to try and contact the company and request it myself, but I can't find any record of them on the internet - has anyone heard of Cordwell (or something similar)? Does anyone have a phone number for them?

Change the name on the BT account it will cease all services, aka CPS.
Unless the person was using WLR and then you will need to speak to Caudwell to get this sorted.

If you have broadband, just sign up with a VoIP provider, it'll almost certainly work out cheaper.

Originally posted by Bookey
Change the name on the BT account it will cease all services, aka CPS.
Unless the person was using WLR and then you will need to speak to Caudwell to get this sorted.

There's no BT account at the property, so it's not so simple as just changing the name. BT can't supply the address until the existing line has been cancelled with the other company. The other company won't do this until they have attempted to contact the previous occupiers three times without success. In the meantime I am stuck without my phone number and with no internet access at home :-(

Originally posted by banesmabes
There's no BT account at the property, so it's not so simple as just changing the name. BT can't supply the address until the existing line has been cancelled with the other company. The other company won't do this until they have attempted to contact the previous occupiers three times without success. In the meantime I am stuck without my phone number and with no internet access at home :-(

Otelo is the way forward as a previous occupant(sp?) is "holding" the line while they are no longer resident at the property.

Write to Caudwell and enlighten them that the people they have details of no longer live at the property and you would like them to close the account and switch the line back to BT.
Send this recored if you can. Also may wish to fax them also (make sure you get a fax reciept) (if you cant fax I will send it if you like just PM me for a email address)

To contact our customer care team, with any query, please telephone us on: 0870 220 2112

Our customer care team are here ready to help you from:

Monday - Friday, 8am - 8pm and Saturday, 8am - 5pm

You can also Fax us on 0870 220 2113 or email us at care@caudwellcommunications.co.uk

Alternatively, you can write to us at:

Caudwell Communications Ltd
Christie Fields
Derwent Ave.
Manchester
M21 7QS


Also might want to try john.caudwell@caudwellcommunications.co.uk

Right, I have called Caudwell and it seems they are perfectly aware that the previous occupants have moved house. The previous occupants have requested that their account with Caudwell be moved to their new address. Caudwell inform me that this process takes 2 weeks, however they also admit to having received this particular request 4 weeks ago!

Unfortunately the department that deals with this were not willing to speak to me and were not willing to explain why it was taking so long. They also said they could not tell me how much longer it will take, and that until they have actioned the house move I will not be able to have BT set up a new line for me. They also said that there's no point in my trying to contact the previous occupiers because even if they call they will not tell them what the hold up is and it will not speed up the process! Good thing really as I have no contact details for their new address, and the estate agents won’t tell me them because of data protection reasons.

Thanks for the advice. I'd thought of going wth NTL but 1) £30 a month is a fair bit of money when I also have a mobile phone bill of £30-40/month or so. and 2) Because I already had broadband NTL told me they would charge me for installation of said TV and telephone.

So, I downgraded my mobile phone tariff to £15/month (will no longer use it for outgoing calls, can use work phone during the day). I got a BT landline at £10.50/month, where all landline calls are 5.5p per hour on evenings and weekends, so even if I spend an hour on the phone every day (which I don't) its only 42p odd extra a week.

It seems I may have finally got to the bottom of my landline cock-up, and it is all BT’s fault (and yes, they actually admitted this to me!). When I placed the order with them to have a landline connected to my new address they failed to put through the stop order to Caudwell. This order was made 3 weeks before I needed the line, so it was ample time for them to do this. They did not even realise it had not been done until I called them last Thursday to say the line wasn’t up and running. I was told on Thursday that the stop order would now be placed. After three further phone calls by myself to BT they have now told me that the stop order was not put through to Caudwell until Monday this week; they have to give Caudwell 7 days notice, so I won’t have my landline until next Monday! So it seems BT need around a month’s notice, and several nagging phone calls before they will actually do the work that has been asked of them – strange really, you think they’d bend over backwards to get a new customer :mad: