Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Nightmare, I was all ready have the virgin triple package installed when some neighbours decided that they didn't want the fibre optic wire installed in the communal drive.. So it's back to the £)%&"£)%&") drawing board. With other services such as Sky, I'll need an active phone line before I sign up for a broadband deal. Which means I can't get the TV, calls and Broadband combination deal There's a phone line connection in my living room, and it's 'probably' been connected at some point before. What's the best way to go about working out what the telephone number is / was? Is it as simple as connecting a phone and trying to call Bt or something? Cheers, Any advice welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I had the same issue with my old flat. I had to ring BT and they did checks to tell whether it was 'live' or not. They wanted to charge me £150 (there was a live line but it has been switched off) to come round and flick a switch so I just used an Orange dongle for the time I lived there and a freeview box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Have you tried talking to your neighbours, surely they are reasonable people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Have you tried talking to your neighbours, surely they are reasonable people? Tried talking as in getting the fibre optics installed? If that's what you mean, it's actually a shock to me too. It appears they are (or at least one or two), very narrow minded and certainly unreasonable. There's a retired couple and a middle age couple that I think are kicking up the fuss. They don't want the 'disturbance'. I'm Fuming mate. I wrote everyone a pleasant letter explaining the situation. The ironic thing is, I could have just got virgin in and got the cable installed, but I thought I'd do the right thing and inform everyone first, get them to agree to it. Wish I just signed that form myself now, the way that this has turned out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 I had the same issue with my old flat. I had to ring BT and they did checks to tell whether it was 'live' or not. They wanted to charge me £150 (there was a live line but it has been switched off) to come round and flick a switch so I just used an Orange dongle for the time I lived there and a freeview box. I've found out the post office do a 'no contract' connection, but there's still the 'possible charge of £120' that's scaring me. Would have all be inclusive with Virgin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kill1308 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Just arrange the install date for when you know they're going to be out..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Just arrange the install date for when you know they're going to be out..... Hard to do that when one of the couples is retired and always in! Grr, old people. Can't change with the times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Hard to do that when one of the couples is retired and always in! Grr, old people. Can't change with the times! It sounds like they just don't understand. Is there any documentation you can take round for them to read through? Does sound like a complete pain in the bum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Can't you route it somewhere that doesn't infringe on their space? A lawn to the side for example? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Tried talking as in getting the fibre optics installed? No, you should try talking to them about the price of fish. If that's what you mean, it's actually a shock to me too. It appears they are (or at least one or two), very narrow minded and certainly unreasonable. Yes, of course thats what I meant. Have you tried befrending your neighbours, how often do you walk their dog, or go round for a cup of tea? Are they understanding of the gay lifestyle, and have you invited them round for dinner yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 It sounds like they just don't understand. Is there any documentation you can take round for them to read through? Does sound like a complete pain in the bum! I wrote a full page letter in size 10 type explaining everything down to how the cable will be installed. No.2 said: 'I don't want Virgin, Sky is fine. I don't want the drive digging up because they never put it back as it was'. That's after explaining that the Virgin engineers would be running a narrow channel along the existing set paving 'I recieved a really unfriendly note from property 3, then the same from property 7. I've got a feeling it orignated from No.3 because it's the basement property, because it said that the downstairs property has had a damp proof membrane fitted - Like, so what?! is that any different from any other property in britain?! Basically said they didn't want the disturbance. I can't work out whether they are utterly selfish, or like you say, totally lacking any understanding of the minor work involved. Can't you route it somewhere that doesn't infringe on their space? A lawn to the side for example? The property is bounded by bitumen on both the front and sides. To get to the house, it will have to come up to the house via the large planting area running along the left boundary, then to the house via the drive, running alongside existing pavours. Not really an alternative, unfortuneatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 No, you should try talking to them about the price of fish. Yes, of course thats what I meant. Have you tried befrending your neighbours, how often do you walk their dog, or go round for a cup of tea? Are they understanding of the gay lifestyle, and have you invited them round for dinner yet? Well considering my question is about activating a phone line, not about how to convince my neighbours that fibre optics is a good thing, anyone with an ounce of logic might forgive someone for wondering what aspect you were refering to - whether I've asked my neighbours if they perhaps new the old phone number, how they got on with getting a line installed in their apartments?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Sorry friend, perhaps I wasnt clear enough: If you had a better relationship with your neighbours they might be more understanding towards your cabling desires. This means they may accept the inconveniece because "its for the lovely man next door". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Sorry friend, perhaps I wasnt clear enough: If you had a better relationship with your neighbours they might be more understanding towards your cabling desires. This means they may accept the inconveniece because "its for the lovely man next door". I moved in 2 weeks ago, not really had enough time to invite everyone for a sleep over yet. Having said that, doing the small things like putting everyone's bin out for them and taking some stuff to the tip for a neighbour when I was heading that way musn't have put me in the rank of 'lovely man next door'. On the other hand, some of the other properties must think that because they were happy for it to happen, maybe that was due to me parking furthest away from the building to allow others the closer spaces. Or perhaps there just exists difficult people in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 BT will charge a connection fee(£120) if your phone line requires a lot of work to enable. if you have had a "line" before, then this shouldnt be applied, its mainly for new installations which require a cable from post to house etc etc As BT run all copper phone networks in the UK (except a few places like Hull) this charge will be mentioned on any "reseller" like post office etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 BT will charge a connection fee(£120) if your phone line requires a lot of work to enable. if you have had a "line" before, then this shouldnt be applied, its mainly for new installations which require a cable from post to house etc etc As BT run all copper phone networks in the UK (except a few places like Hull) this charge will be mentioned on any "reseller" like post office etc Cheers, Ric. I was trying to get that out of the girl on the end of the line, by asking for a definition of 'new connection', but she said 'I'm not an engineer so I can't tell you'. She didn't even want to give me an indication - proper scripted rubbish. Knowing my luck, I'll get a bill for £120 regardless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 BT will charge a connection fee(£120) if your phone line requires a lot of work to enable. if you have had a "line" before, then this shouldnt be applied, its mainly for new installations which require a cable from post to house etc etc As BT run all copper phone networks in the UK (except a few places like Hull) this charge will be mentioned on any "reseller" like post office etc I was told by BT it would still apply even though the line had only stopped being used a few months previously! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 I was told by BT it would still apply even though the line had only stopped being used a few months previously! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Don't worry dude, you might get someone nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Mine was installed in a newly built flat, i was the first tennant, therefore it had no connection previously, although, been a telephone engineer myself i know that it only takes a few minutes to connect a new line to the frame in the exchange, therefore its a bit of a cheap get out for BT (unless you do actually need cable laying to the house or from the telecoms pole in the street) if you have had service in the house previously all the cabling should be present, the jumper just needs "turning on" again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Mine was installed in a newly built flat, i was the first tennant, therefore it had no connection previously, although, been a telephone engineer myself i know that it only takes a few minutes to connect a new line to the frame in the exchange, therefore its a bit of a cheap get out for BT (unless you do actually need cable laying to the house or from the telecoms pole in the street) if you have had service in the house previously all the cabling should be present, the jumper just needs "turning on" again I know the property is serviced, and I've got a panel in the master bedroom and living room with connections for sat, radio and tv. That's got to suggest the simple 'turning on, wouldn't it Ric"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 It should, but it all depends what happens to the connection outside the house, they will probably just try to screw you anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 It should, but it all depends what happens to the connection outside the house, they will probably just try to screw you anyway! I want virgin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I want virgin How much do you want virgin Matt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 How much do you want virgin Matt? About this much: http://clubmagic.co.uk/gallery/gallery7/gallery7_files/Take%20me%20now%20I%20want%20you%20soooooo%20much.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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