Internet Access

Question: Why do i need a bt landline to switch broadband providers (i'm currently with talktalk)?

(Posted by: Cathy on 2010-05-28 13:52:33)

I'm thinking of changing broadband supplier as my talktalk broadband is getting slower and slower. When I compare providers on the web they all say they can't supply broadband to me as my home number is not a BT land- line. There's nothing on the talktalk website to say it's not a BT line.

Posted by: fivetoze on 2010-05-28, 13:58:43

TT block buy airtime on the BT exchange.. I recently left BT for TT... and whilst TT has it issues, its still faster than anything BT has on offer... i was getting around 56k/ s downmloads off BT... this afternoon, via TT i managed to get two streams, one at 615k and the other around 510...a second... and even better, TT includes line rental i got their top package, unlimted and 24meg... for 4 quid cheaper than BT and unlike BT this includes line rental... and if its slow, do some maintenance on your PC or tell TT...

Posted by: Acka on 2010-05-28, 14:00:36

Swapping ISP (but staying on ADSL) isn't going to fix a decreasing line speed. You will keep the same cable in the street and in the home when you switch. You will be better off fixing the problem than switching and swapping and getting no where. Your BT line has been unbundled at the exchange, you will be able to change ISP.

Posted by: Inca Yebail - The 6th profit. on 2010-05-28, 14:13:08

I was with TalkTalk; the endless cut-offs, needing to dial a person several times just to hold one conversation, minimal cost savings and electronic help line were just some of the reasons that I was very pleased to go back to BT: which I did as soon as I could! Sometimes the savings just aren't worth the costs! TalkTalk offer everything, but can't even provide the minimum.

Posted by: sewrobb on 2010-05-28, 14:40:27

Well technically it is and it isn't and there is some element of truth in what you say. However I have just been reading into this in Talk Talk Terms and Conditions and others. BT own the UK phone network and all the rights over it. Anyone who uses it PAYS a levy to BT. Once upon a time no one could put phone lines in but BT. Over the years, because of the amount of broadband providers and the number of people going on line BT could not keep up with demand of new phone lines. So BT in the end had to make concessions and allow other broadband suppliers engineers under licence to install phone lines and make connections in exchanges. Some people pay for their line rental direct to BT. Others pay their in their cost to their provider. Now while Talk Talk put your line in and you pay rental to them, technically the line belongs to BT. Yes comparison sites do say you need a BT line but if you phone the one of your choice to get connected your line will be transferred to them and it will become a BT line. [Which it was really all along anyway] Also I think you'll find that condition only applies to Virgin's cable service where they supply a phone line and Virgin do not allow services to be connected to their own phone lines After all if you cease to be with Talk Talk, what are they going to do, come and rip your line out because it belong to them? Some how I don't think so! If you read in Talk Talk's Small Print it says in 1.19 and I quote ► "When you connect to our Network you will usually be charged a connection fee (“Connection Fee�). This Connection Fee is levied in addition to any other Charges, which may be due under any other term of these Conditions and it arises primarily from charges which BT levy on us " media.talktalk.co.uk/ sites/ TalkTalk/ Global/ PDF/ Complete.pdf