Home vs Business Use of BT Total

(just posted this to the VOIP group by mistake - sorry folks)

As a home based small business we, my wife & I, use the web almost
constantly. We are currently on a BT 2Mb broadband service & are
considering upgrading to 8Mb. However, the small print on the BT
Total
(option 3) sign-up Ts & Cs excludes use for businesses. With more
searching BT Business Total Broadband (Option 2) appears to do pretty
much the same.

What's the deal here - is there any issue for a small business using
the BT Total service? What are the risks? What are the benefits of
the
business vs home services? What would happen if they realised I was
using it for business. Is my assumption that I am probably already
using the service 'incorrectly' correct?


Thanks

John Y wrote:
> (just posted this to the VOIP group by mistake - sorry folks)
>
> As a home based small business we, my wife & I, use the web almost
> constantly. We are currently on a BT 2Mb broadband service & are
> considering upgrading to 8Mb. However, the small print on the BT
> Total
> (option 3) sign-up Ts & Cs excludes use for businesses. With more
> searching BT Business Total Broadband (Option 2) appears to do pretty
> much the same.
>
> What's the deal here - is there any issue for a small business using
> the BT Total service? What are the risks? What are the benefits of
> the
> business vs home services? What would happen if they realised I was
> using it for business. Is my assumption that I am probably already
> using the service 'incorrectly' correct?
>
>
> Thanks
>
If it is a "domestic" line you will be able to sign up for the home
services and you can use them as you see fit. If it is a 'Business'
line they will refuse to sign you up for anything except Business
Broadband. But be aware the upgrade to 8 Mb will force you into a new
minimum contract term with BT. Consider migarting to someone like Zen
who offer 1 month contracts.

JP

John P wrote:
> John Y wrote:
>> (just posted this to the VOIP group by mistake - sorry folks)
>>
>> As a home based small business we, my wife & I, use the web almost
>> constantly. We are currently on a BT 2Mb broadband service & are
>> considering upgrading to 8Mb. However, the small print on the BT
>> Total
>> (option 3) sign-up Ts & Cs excludes use for businesses. With more
>> searching BT Business Total Broadband (Option 2) appears to do pretty
>> much the same.
>>
>> What's the deal here - is there any issue for a small business using
>> the BT Total service? What are the risks? What are the benefits of
>> the
>> business vs home services? What would happen if they realised I was
>> using it for business. Is my assumption that I am probably already
>> using the service 'incorrectly' correct?
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
> If it is a "domestic" line you will be able to sign up for the home
> services and you can use them as you see fit. If it is a 'Business'
> line they will refuse to sign you up for anything except Business
> Broadband. But be aware the upgrade to 8 Mb will force you into a new
> minimum contract term with BT. Consider migarting to someone like Zen
> who offer 1 month contracts.
>
> JP

I dont think other ISPs enforce that about a business line requiring
business broadband though, do they?

Gaz

On Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:10:38 -0000, "Gaz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I dont think other ISPs enforce that about a business line requiring
>business broadband though, do they?

correct, perhaps because they don't know if the line is business or
residential.

Phil

On 28 Jan 2007, "Gaz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I dont think other ISPs enforce that about a business line requiring
>business broadband though, do they?

I don't know what data was searched, but using the postcode for the user's
address may have been the way one business had a request for a residential
type of account declined. Things may have changed, and I don't know which
other ISPs might do similar checks...

> As a home based small business we, my wife & I, use the web almost
> constantly. We are currently on a BT 2Mb broadband service & are
> considering upgrading to 8Mb. However, the small print on the BT
> Total
> (option 3) sign-up Ts & Cs excludes use for businesses. With more
> searching BT Business Total Broadband (Option 2) appears to do pretty
> much the same.
>
> What's the deal here - is there any issue for a small business using
> the BT Total service? What are the risks? What are the benefits of
> the
> business vs home services? What would happen if they realised I was
> using it for business. Is my assumption that I am probably already
> using the service 'incorrectly' correct?

The would probably insist that you change to the appropriate tariff. At
worst they report you for your offence under the Theft Act.

Peter Crosland