Transfering ADSL accounts, charging setup fee.

(I posted this to alt.internet.providers.uk - they suggested I post here.)

Hiya. I have a broadband account with an ISP (which shall remain nameless
for now) which I share between the two of us who live here.

However, I'll be moving out soon, and I'd like to transfer the account to
the remaining resident.

I emailed them, hoping it would be a simple switching of customer name.
They said they couldn't do that as I had agreed to the terms of service but
she had not.

Fair enough, I would have to close the account and she would have to open a
new one. Thing is, the response to my email also said another setup fee
would be charged. (Around £50)

I thought this charge was to pay for the telecom engineers to go out and
fit some hardware on my phone line. As best I can tell, the hardware is
already there and the only costs to switching accounts would be a bit of
filing.

Question is please, would it be reasonable to ask them to waive the new
setup fee? (Perhaps I am underestimating the work load involved.)

Bill, waivey davey.

On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 21:23:57 UTC, bill-(E-Mail Removed)lid
(Bill Godfrey) wrote:

> I thought this charge was to pay for the telecom engineers to go out and
> fit some hardware on my phone line. As best I can tell, the hardware is
> already there and the only costs to switching accounts would be a bit of
> filing.

It's to pay BT...yes.

> Question is please, would it be reasonable to ask them to waive the new
> setup fee? (Perhaps I am underestimating the work load involved.)

They're still going to have to pay it. The account is linked to YOUR BT
line. Presumably the line will be in another name, and BT will insist on
a removal/reinstatement.

--
Bob Eager
begin a new life...dump Windows!

"Bob Eager" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> They're still going to have to pay it. The account is linked to YOUR BT
> line. Presumably the line will be in another name, and BT will insist on
> a removal/reinstatement.

Just checked, the BT account is in her name, the one who will be staying
here and wants to take over my broadband account.

She just happened to be the one who opened the BT account ages ago after
Ionica closed down, and so her name is on the account. As I'm the techie, I
organised the ISP and so that account is in my name.

It was all very arbitary whose name went on the bills. Neither of us had
any idea I'd be moving out back then.

Bill, so very hard to do. Now I know, I know that it's true.

On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 21:54:29 UTC, bill-(E-Mail Removed)lid
(Bill Godfrey) wrote:

> "Bob Eager" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > They're still going to have to pay it. The account is linked to YOUR BT
> > line. Presumably the line will be in another name, and BT will insist on
> > a removal/reinstatement.
>
> Just checked, the BT account is in her name, the one who will be staying
> here and wants to take over my broadband account.
>
> She just happened to be the one who opened the BT account ages ago after
> Ionica closed down, and so her name is on the account. As I'm the techie, I
> organised the ISP and so that account is in my name.

In theory, BT should have noticed that and not allowed it. Bet they now
want to charge a new setup fee anyway!


--
Bob Eager
begin a new life...dump Windows!

Bob Eager wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 21:54:29 UTC,
> bill-(E-Mail Removed)lid (Bill Godfrey) wrote:
>
>> "Bob Eager" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> They're still going to have to pay it. The account is linked to
>>> YOUR BT line. Presumably the line will be in another name, and BT
>>> will insist on a removal/reinstatement.
>>
>> Just checked, the BT account is in her name, the one who will be
>> staying here and wants to take over my broadband account.
>>
>> She just happened to be the one who opened the BT account ages ago
>> after Ionica closed down, and so her name is on the account. As
>> I'm the techie, I organised the ISP and so that account is in my
>> name.
>
> In theory, BT should have noticed that and not allowed it. Bet they
> now want to charge a new setup fee anyway!

Why????

The telephone is in the wife's name, whilst the DSL service is in mine, no
problems at all. As long as the bill gets paid you can put whatever name
you want.....

On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 22:24:34 UTC, "Kráftéé"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Why????

Indeed...why?

> The telephone is in the wife's name, whilst the DSL service is in mine, no
> problems at all. As long as the bill gets paid you can put whatever name
> you want.....

But I've seen that requirement mentioned here...the only reason it isn't
enforced is because BT's 'system's don't always catch it. No criticism,
just what I've read here.

--
Bob Eager
begin a new life...dump Windows!

Bill Godfrey wrote:
> "Bob Eager" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>They're still going to have to pay it. The account is linked to YOUR BT
>>line. Presumably the line will be in another name, and BT will insist on
>>a removal/reinstatement.
>
>
> Just checked, the BT account is in her name, the one who will be staying
> here and wants to take over my broadband account.

I would suggest you come to some suitable arrangement re payment and
leave the account running - you may even be able to change the credit
card details to her's. Otherwise she faces not only the new connection
charge but also at least several days loss of service - possibly longer
if your ISP/BT does not cease the existing service promptly.

The whole area of BT flexibility (lack of) in transferring ADSL is
something which needs to be addressed.

JP

"John" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)
> I would suggest you come to some suitable arrangement re payment and
> leave the account running - you may even be able to change the credit
> card details to her's. Otherwise she faces not only the new connection
> charge but also at least several days loss of service - possibly
> longer if your ISP/BT does not cease the existing service promptly.
>
> The whole area of BT flexibility (lack of) in transferring ADSL is
> something which needs to be addressed.

I can't see it having anything to do with BT.

The ISP should simply be able to change the name of the account holder (of
the ADSL account) on their records.

It doesn't involve BT changing their records at all - its the OP's ISP that
is being inflexible.

The OP could always migrate to a different ISP and just give the new ISP the
"correct"/new name.

Regards
Sunil

Bill Godfrey wrote:
> (I posted this to alt.internet.providers.uk - they suggested I post
> here.)
>
> Hiya. I have a broadband account with an ISP (which shall remain
> nameless for now) which I share between the two of us who live here.
>
> However, I'll be moving out soon, and I'd like to transfer the
> account to the remaining resident.
>
> I emailed them, hoping it would be a simple switching of customer
> name. They said they couldn't do that as I had agreed to the terms of
> service but she had not.
>
> Fair enough, I would have to close the account and she would have to
> open a new one. Thing is, the response to my email also said another
> setup fee would be charged. (Around £50)
>
> I thought this charge was to pay for the telecom engineers to go out
> and fit some hardware on my phone line. As best I can tell, the
> hardware is already there and the only costs to switching accounts
> would be a bit of filing.
>
> Question is please, would it be reasonable to ask them to waive the
> new setup fee? (Perhaps I am underestimating the work load involved.)
>
> Bill, waivey davey.

Hiya Bill!!!

Absolutely nothing to do with your question... Wotcha doin' since you left
Marconi????

I remember you from the local.general group there! Dave Chaimberlain has
resurrected the cvup176 server (it fell into much demise) - but there's only
a few old'uns left now
--
(E-Mail Removed)
Reply address is spamtrapped. Remove theobvious for valid e-mail address