BT connection charge - how can they get away with it?

My son has just moved to a flat with no landline and wants to go on talktalk for everything. Firstly he's been told that he has to sign up to BT for a minimum of three months, but worse, the connection charge is ￡124.99! How is this not some sort of illegal monopoly? Why can't he just go straight onto a different provider?

BT can do anything...its a monopoly!! that sounds about right unfortunately, BT are better than talk talk though with some of their plans, tell him to get sky after the three months as you get phone, broadband and sky with free instillation for 22 quid per month. which is a bargain. Sounds about right.

BT do not have a phone monopoly any more but people like talk talk do not actually provide the telephone network and associated equipment. That's the BT bit. They rent if off them.

So, a connection charge of the amount you describe is required and if your son was not previously a BT customer and does not have a credit rating with them well they might see him as a possible bad debt customer depending on the area he lives in.

Talk Talk does not have an established good reputation I'm afraid. Their customer service is notoriously poor and many of these virtual companies make their money by cutting back on customer service and response tmes. They charge less because they pay less. And poorly paid staff do not always 'go the extra mile'.

I've tried all the alternative providers for most of my utilities and found all the 'new' companies wanting. Harsh but true. Actually, Talk Talk does own the landline - they bought Opal telecom a few years back, so they are the only non-BT broadband provider that can fully cut BT out of your life (with any other Broadband provider, you still have to rent your landline from BT). However, Talk Talk only owns a certain proportion of the landlines, and it sounds as though your son has moved to an area where they don't, so I think he's stuck with BT, initially at least. If you think you are being ripped off (it does sound a bit steep!) complain to OFCOM, but I'm guessing that he (or you) will just have to swallow hard and open the old cheque book. I know that a lot of people have had trouble switching to Talk Talk - the Sky option might be worth considering. Before privatisation it cost more and you had to wait longer, if you want results dial 100 and demand to speak to Tim Hunt PDM, (Product Development manager) tell him God says hi and can your son have a 15% discount? Save yourself the ￡124.99 and go with a Mobile Broadband solution.