Change from NTL to BT with no reconnect fee?

A question about : Change from NTL to BT with no reconnect fee?

I want to change our phone to BT from NTL and also change our internet from NTL to Metronet but when we rang BT and explained what our old Bt connection box looked like (its been in our house since it was built in 1930!)they said it would cost us Ј75 to go back to them! Does anyone know of any offers we can take advantage of so that this is cheaper or even free?

Best answers:

• The charge they have quoted you for is a new line. According to the BT price list:
  "A new line is where there has been no previous BT PSTN connection at the location, or is in addition to other BT lines at the premises. Additionally, it may be a replacement to another line at the premises that may have been used for supply of certain other services. New line charges may also apply if BT is unable to utilise existing wiring or installations, or if new wiring/routing is required. There is normally no connection charge for Residential customers if BT service has previously existed at a premises, unless that premises has been refurbished (e.g. divided into flats, rebuilt) or extensive new construction is required, as specified at Section 45 Part 1 All new supply is subject to survey. "
  If the wiring is OK but the socket is the old fasioned sort then they may consider that they are "unable to utilise existing wiring or installations" and charge the full Ј74.99 or might charge Ј29.38 to change the hard wired old fashioned master socket to a modern linebox, unless "there is someone in the household who is disabled as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act i.e. someone with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities " where there is no charge.
  https://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/c...s.boo/0002.htm
• The thing is we've only had Ntl for about 4-5 years and previous to that we were on Bt which we had put in when we bought the house in 1985 (there was no telephone connection before this) and we paid the connection fee whatever it was then.
  But now they are saying we have to pay Ј75 to reconnect because of this brown box that they put in in 1985 and that we had up until a few years ago. Seems unfair that we have to pay Ј75 yet again (it was probably more than this in 1985 because I think charges have come down?)
• Thanks for your input and suggestions. Our box looks like the BT35A or BT60A shown in your picture, Wellisorter, but we also have a white plug-in socket with ntl on it. Im sure this used to be a BT one!
  I may try ringing up and asking to 'reconnect' as you say, gt. It was my husband that rang before and he mentioned the brown box to them - I don't think I would have thought to do so.
  I'll let you know how I get on!
• I was discussing this with hubby last night and we're both pretty sure, after thinking about it, that the brown box hasn't been in use for some time. I'm positive that the Ntl white box we have is where the Bt one used to be.
  We were just confused because it had Ntl on it and not Bt, but Im sure it used to be Bt!
• I think maybe the Ntl engineer must have! :-/