restriction

[Kymmy]

Actually they don't but do take a comapny line that if the customer can provide a decent credit report or a down payment then they'll suplly a line

[dilli-theclaw]

MMMmmm can't argue with that.

I had to pay £130 and £50 to get my line installed here because of my bad credit.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

Actually they don't but do take a comapny line that if the customer can provide a decent credit report or a down payment then they'll suplly a line

I thought BT did as they and Kingston are designated 'Universal Service Providers'

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archi...03/uso0703.pdf

[Kymmy]

But Ofcom are toothless (trust me I have 3 different licences issued by them)... Unlike the goverment bill that specified water/gas/electricity os public services BT has ofcom...

[Turkey Machine]

Originally Posted by Thomas T

To quote south park - I really learnt something today

I did not know that BT HAVE to provide a phone line.

I can't remember where I read it and how long ago it was, but BT by law have to provide a fixed telephone service to the areas they service in the UK; in Hull they're exempt because Kingston has the monopoly there. Any other company can possibly provide you a phone line in this country, but BT have to be able to install the line and provide the service in the first place. All new properties built have this provision, most old ones do too. It's not always from a telegraph pole either, there are places in town around the exchange where there are no telegraph poles, but a lot of BT ducting covers.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Turkey Machine

I can't remember where I read it and how long ago it was, but BT by law have to provide a fixed telephone service to the areas they service in the UK; .

Actually they have to provide the option of a service, but they don't have to give anyone an account.. Otherwise their "deposit for bad credit risks" would be irrrelavant

I thought it was only water that cannot be disconnected for non payment.

[EBD3000]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I thought it was only water that cannot be disconnected for non payment.

No it cannot. Thats why they tend to have large debt collecting departments which work with customers to make payments or take people to court.

This usually depends if the customer falls into the can't pay or won't pay categories. Won't pays get sent to court after being given plenty of opps to pay. Can't pays usually get dealt with by way of a payment plan.

Water companies cannot mess about with the pressure to restrict usage either, well in the uk, in Australia they do.

P.S. I work for Yorkshire Water.

[Sannas]

Originally Posted by deathtrap3000

A landline isnt 100% reliable. I would get a cheap pay and go mobile as a backup - even use it as your main emergency link as you dont even need credit to phone emergency numbers.

A mobile phone wouldn't work in this situation unfortunately, as life line is a emergency pull switch or remote activated via a pendant or floor sensor the person doesnt have to pick up the phone as they could be paralaysed or be having a fit or any other number of issues that could prevent them from retriving a phone to make a call, or they are physically unable to make a call at all.

Now although I tend to agree with the other responders their are alternatives for life line you could go to an independant company who will take care of the situation for you however they also expect to be paid regulary for the service they provide, however should your phone line be cut off the service will still function through a BT line only I believe.

I had this system in my home before I could afford a land line(the physical phone line had to be there however) and just had a pay as you go mobile phone for all general calls the system worked through something called telecare which was provided by my local council now although I didnt have a pendant, the service if I remember correct was apprx £25 however as this was a council service and I am clearly disabled I didnt have to pay.

IMO emergency calls are free and with some mobile providers even if you havent paid your bill you are still permitted to make emergency calls, An emergency is and emergency after all... Sometimes I feel a simple full call baring apart from emergency calls is all that is required.

However I will say from experience with Virgin media they can be extremely hasty to cut off a line when a bill isnt paid, and even when speaking to them prior to the issue that can sometimes just hurry the process of being disconnected up

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Sannas

and even when speaking to them prior to the issue that can sometimes just hurry the process of being disconnected up

No they can't.

As I have previously said restrictions due to non-payment are automatic and there are very strict rules and timings as to when a restriction happens.

The ONLY time there is any form of manual restriction is if there is out of pattern usage e.g significant Premium phone calls or lots of PPV events - and that is done for customers protection as much as it is done to protect payment for the account

[Sannas]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

No they can't.

As I have previously said restrictions due to non-payment are automatic and there are very strict rules and timings as to when a restriction happens.

The ONLY time there is any form of manual restriction is if there is out of pattern usage e.g significant Premium phone calls or lots of PPV events - and that is done for customers protection as much as it is done to protect payment for the account

I must have been unlucky and stand corrected

[chrome]

Maybe this will help the lady, also my next door neighbour has the lifeline system and she said that if the phone is cut off ( bt ), 999 and the lifeline will work as said by the city council here's a link for a free bt line install

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/dea...e-installation