NTL TV and Telehone

[Raistlin]

Can anybody suggest to me a "legitimate" reason why NTL should insist that you have a telephone connection from then when you take out one of their television packages?

I have recently signed up for a new account (BB Internet and Television) and have been told that I have "no option but to have the telephone installed as well" and that they will charge me an extra £9.50 per month for the priviledge.

Is this just another way for NTL to screw more money out of its customers or is there a technical reason behind this? I REALLY don't want the telephone line installed, I have a mobile and I'm not afraid to use it

Thanks guys.

[Neil]

If you don't want the phone line that ntl make you have with your DTV package, don't take the DTV package.

They will still charge you £9.50, which is a waste.

People not taking it is the only way ntl will realise that it is not a good idea to force it on people.

We recently had a 'discussion' about this here: http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...4&page=1&pp=15

[Raistlin]

Thanks Neil.

[Stephen]

bit like sky saying you need a phone line to get their service really/

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by DarthYoda

bit like sky saying you need a phone line to get their service really/

No, Sky only say you need connection to a phone line if you are taking advantage of their interactive discount scheme or mirror subscription service.

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by ianathuth

No, Sky only say you need connection to a phone line if you are taking advantage of their interactive discount scheme or mirror subscription service.

And if you do not take advantage of their discount you have to pay something like £100 installation, which works out at £8.33 per month for the minimum contract.

Edit: I think a mod might like to merge this with the thread Neil pointed to earlier to save us going over old ground AGAIN!

[Neil]

Originally Posted by DarthYoda

bit like sky saying you need a phone line to get their service really/

The difference is Sky don't force their phone line on you.

They don't give a hoot whose phone line the STB is connected to.

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by Neil

The difference is Sky don't force their phone line on you.

They don't give a hoot whose phone line the STB is connected to.

But you still have to have a landline, which is of no use to Raistlin as he does not want one as he has a mobile.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Raistlin

Can anybody suggest to me a "legitimate" reason why NTL should insist that you have a telephone connection from then when you take out one of their television packages?

I have recently signed up for a new account (BB Internet and Television) and have been told that I have "no option but to have the telephone installed as well" and that they will charge me an extra £9.50 per month for the priviledge.

Is this just another way for NTL to screw more money out of its customers or is there a technical reason behind this? I REALLY don't want the telephone line installed, I have a mobile and I'm not afraid to use it

Thanks guys.

I'll answer your question seeing as no-one else bothered to (in 4 replies)...

Basically, it only takes ntl something like 14 months (someone correct me if I'm wrong) to break even on the cost of installing new customers if they have TV and phone, compared to something like 2 years for TV only.

HTH

[Neil]

Originally Posted by bob_builder

But you still have to have a landline, which is of no use to Raistlin as he does not want one as he has a mobile.

Absolutely correct!

Which is another reason why Sky's DTV service is superior to ntl's-the fact that he won't have to waste £9.50 on a phone line he doesn't want or need.

It's all about choice (or lack of)......

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Neil

Absolutely correct!

Which is another reason why Sky's DTV service is superior to ntl's-the fact that he won't have to waste £9.50 on a phone line he doesn't want or need.

It's all about choice (or lack of)......

Sky still insist you have a phone line though.....

[Neil]

Originally Posted by orangebird

Sky still insist you have a phone line though.....

But not a Sky phone line.

If you want Sky DTV & have a BT/ntl/Telewest line, Sky are happy-they will offer you a £33.00 per month DTV pack (so your only extra outlay is £33.00)

ntl on the other hand will offer you their "£33.00 " DTV pack, but also insist that you take their phone line too @ another £9.50 (total outlay= £42.50)

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by Neil

Absolutely correct!

Which is another reason why Sky's DTV service is superior to ntl's-the fact that he won't have to waste £9.50 on a phone line he doesn't want or need.

It's all about choice (or lack of)......

Exactly, it is about the Sky choice of paying £9.50 a month for a phone line one does not want or need or paying £100 for installation.

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by Neil

But not a Sky phone line.

If you want Sky DTV & have a BT/ntl/Telewest line, Sky are happy-they will offer you a £33.00 per month DTV pack (so your only extra outlay is £33.00)

ntl on the other hand will offer you their "£33.00 " DTV pack, but also insist that you take their phone line too @ another £9.50 (total outlay= £42.50)

But Raistlin does not have a BT/ntl/Telewest line so how does this apply to him?

[Raistlin]

Originally Posted by orangebird

I'll answer your question seeing as no-one else bothered to (in 4 replies)...

Basically, it only takes ntl something like 14 months (someone correct me if I'm wrong) to break even on the cost of installing new customers if they have TV and phone, compared to something like 2 years for TV only.

HTH

Thanks Orangebird. I knew that there would be a logical reason, I just wanted to know what it was.
When I asked the guy at NTL sales he wouldn't tell me why I had to have it, he just said that I did (have to have it). We went round in circles for a while and then I just gave up asking.