Moving PlusNet Broadband and BT Phone to EE

[#1]

This is a long post as I thought the full context would be useful!

I recently received a letter from BT relating to the digital switchover. Since I have different landline and broadband providers, I need to do something.

Current providers:

Broadband: PlusNet - FTTC (12 years)

Landline: BT (35 years)

Mobile: EE (22 years)

The letter contained an offer to switch to BT Fibre 2 Broadband, although the website and their helpline confirmed that only Fibre 1 was available from my exchange. I had seen lower prices elsewhere so I thought I would try other options.

Looking at PlusNet directed me to an EE package (as they don’t offer phone packages). This was £23.99/m for the broadband (as I am an EE mobile customer) and £2/m for the phone (as I am a PlusNet broadband customer). This sounded good and accepted that.

The problem came when I tried to keep my old BT landline number. It directed me to a page that said:

It looks like you're a BT Broadband customer

You'll get our best deals by logging in to My BT for your personalised offers.

That is false on two counts:

1. I am not a BT Broadband customer
2. The EE offer is much better than the BT offer

Unfortunately, I cannot get past this to place an order.

I was on the phone to EE for nearly an hour and they concluded it is not possible, because PlusNet do not offer phone services, so I cannot transfer my BT phone to EE broadband.

Ignoring the fact it appears to be a complete shambles, I am wondering:

• Can I take up this offer and not transfer my existing land line number, but then use the 30-day window (I have read about on this forum) to do the transfer?
• At what stage should I cancel my BT phone contract? (I assume there is no technical issue keeping my existing landline while also having a new digital line.)

[#2]

Interesting and complex, probably a situation the "systems" are not set up to deal with, so it's DIY.

Probably depends how important the landline and number are to you.

If you transfer the Broadband to EE it "may" (or may not) cancel your BT phone line. As EE "probably" can only supply a SOGEA line (no POTS phone) due to "stop sell" rules, so cancellation is MY best guess. Once cancelled you then have IIRC 30 days to "ensnare" your old phone number with a chosen new provider.

EE might be prepared to pick up that old number for £2/month, if not companies like A&A are similarly priced, depending if you need to make outgoing calls.

Don't cancel your BT phone line, it will almost certainly terminate the PlusNet broadband too.

I was in a similar but less complex position with BT phone and PlusNet broadband (ADSL) but FTTC was available. I decided to have a new SOGEA FTTC line installed (by PlusNet). Once working I cancelled the old ADSL contract, BT phone continued working. Finally I transferred my old phone number to a VOIP supplier which ended the BT phone contract. I had no complexity of mobile contracts, they were unrelated and did not need changing or confer any advantages.

[#3]

@dwd123 

First thing to decide is - how important is your landline and the number?

Apart from anything else you could stay with PN for Broadband and move your number to a VOIP provider like A&A.

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Brian

[#4]

Do you have any other network provider options available at your property apart from staying with an ISP over the Openreach network?

[#5]

BT and EE tend to use the telephone number to lock you in to THEIR telephone service. However, you can transfer your number to a 3rd party (e.g. AAISP are popular, competent, and reasonably priced) and then your number is independent of your broadband supplier - much more future-proof!

[#6]

Many thanks for all the swift replies.

Keeping my number is very important, so I will investigate A&A as they look promising.

Since I still have FTTC, I am confused about the need for a landline rental. It appears the EE broadband package includes line rental, but PlusNet does not. But I may be wrong! Either way, I believe there is no line rental when FTTP is rolled out in my area, later this year.

[#7]

@dwd123 

There is no line rental as such nowadays - the charge is included in the price you pay for broadband.

If looking to stay with PN you'll need to get them to transfer you to a SOGEA connection (FTTC without a phone service) which will automatically cancel your BT line. You may suffer BT early termination charges.

You then have 30 days to port your number to a VOIP provider. What ever you do do not start the port until it's confirmed your on SOGEA.

You may have a bit of work to do to get your phone working with VOIP and house extensions won't be useable. Also, VOIP doesn't work during power cuts.

Brian