Master socket headache

[daveeb]

Hi all I moved into my house 11 years ago which at the time of moving in had no active phone line although there was some old BT (marked GPO) wiring near the front door and a BELL cablemedia master socket in the living room. We had a BT line installed which comprised 2 extensions with no obvious BT master socket (I suspect they used the defunct Bell master socket although I don't know for sure). A few years ago we had an NTL line installed also, the main line uses the Bell cable media master socket. The engineer mentioned something about it at the time, I think along the lines of BT knicked this socket and i've knicked it back). I recently got O2 BB and need a BT master socket for best speeds...of course I don't have one. I complained to BT about this and (a whole month later !!) they rang to say the BT engineer did everything above board and I needed to speak to VM. My gut feeling here is that BT were at fault although they insist that their engineer was quite entitled to use a "dead" piece of socketry to enable the line and that NTL should have provided a new master socket rather then "reposses" the old Bell cable media one. I've e-mailed VM but I can see myself turning into a ping pong ball with each company denying any liability. Does anyone have any views on the rights or wrongs of the whole thing ? i.e. is installation of a master socket compulsory and who is at fault

[on in an hour!]

when installing a phone line in a house it is (legal) and common practice for BT or bell cable or NTL or C & W (you get the picture!!) to utilise any or all, existing wiring AFTER another companies master socket,specifically any extentions that have been fitted by prior companies,as these are considered 'customer responsibility' after 12 months of being installed.
that is,any faults on these wires/sockets are deemed payable by the customer if they need to be fixed/replaced.

now im not saying it doesnt happen but you arent allowed to remove another companies 'hard wire' from a socket to install another companies 'hard wire'.so (good luck!!) but i think your beef must be with BT

[daveeb]

Thanks OIAH that gives me some ammunition, i'll need it as BT are in full retreat regarding any responsibility.

[Vlad_Dracul]

Just fit a new master socket yourself. Its not rocket science.

[daveeb]

Originally Posted by Vlad_Dracul

Just fit a new master socket yourself. Its not rocket science.

er....i'm sure it's not rocket science when you fully understand it, too many wires for me

[MovedGoalPosts]

The master socket should only be altered by the supplying telecom authority. Thus a property should have both a cable phone master socket and a BT phone master socket if it has been served by both. As posted above the extensions can then be wired to either socket.

[daveeb]

Originally Posted by Rob

The master socket should only be altered by the supplying telecom authority. Thus a property should have both a cable phone master socket and a BT phone master socket if it has been served by both. As posted above the extensions can then be wired to either socket.

Cheers Rob. BT have now done a massive U-turn and are coming to fit a master socket tomorrow

[haydnwalker]

WOW! BT giving in! Thats a first!! Though I am presuming here that they knew they were in the wrong in the first place

[daveeb]

Originally Posted by haydnwalker

WOW! BT giving in! Thats a first!! Though I am presuming here that they knew they were in the wrong in the first place

Yes it surprised me a bit as well only 24 hours after they were blaming VM. Still they'll probably try and charge me for the work

[on in an hour!]

nice 1...they must have read my post!!!