New customer - Ordered ADSL but FTTP activated in the meantime..

[#1]

I signed up through a moneysavingexpert.com offer for Plusnet ADSL Broadband on 28/02/2018 after giving up waiting since last July for the promised FTTP to be activated locally. Sods law, today FTTP has appeared as available for my line at dslchecker.bt.com!

My ADSL activation date is this Thursday 15/03/2018 and my router has arrived today.

I called Plusnet customer service tonight and after a 35 minute wait I spoke with a helpful guy who explained that I could sign up for a FTTP trial once my service is active. This will cost me an additional £14.99 a month (minimum), on top of the £197.88 line rental saver already paid, making a grand total of £377.66 over my 12 month contract, equivalent to £31.48 per month. That didn't sound bad until I realised that if i'd been able to sign up for FTTP directly it would have only cost me £369.82 over an 18 month contract, equivalent to £20.55 per month.

I'm aware I can cancel as I'm within the 14 day period and I'm told I'll incur no costs, just need to return the router, howeverI'd prefer to not mess around and just stay with Plusnet and go straight onto the FTTP trial - what are the chances of the cheaper deal above being made available to me?

I should mention that both offers above take into account an identical £50 cashback offer.

The other alternative is cancel Plusnet and go with BT Infinity at an equivalent £18.38 per month on a 12 month deal (up to 52Mb) but this is a bit of a faff with £50 cashback and a £175 prepaid Mastercard to claim for....

Why can't these things be simple! Any advice appreciated....

Moderator's note by Mike (Mav): Post released from Spam Filter.

[#2]

Moderator's note by Mike (Mav): This thread is now in the appropriate board.

[#3]

Hi there. Welcome to the community forums.

I've looked into this and unfortunately we'd have to wait until your service activates before you can sign up to the trial by heading on over to http://trials.plus.net

That didn't sound bad until I realised that if i'd been able to sign up for FTTP directly it would have only cost me £369.82 over an 18 month contract, equivalent to £20.55 per month.

Might I ask where you found out this info? The costs for our FTTP packages are: Unlimited Fibre (38mbps) for £14.99 per month, and Unlimited Fibre Extra (76mbps) for £19.99 per month, on top of line rental of £18.99 per month.

When your line rental saver runs out you'll have the option to cease your phone line and just pay the FTTP costs above, plus a broadband only surcharge of £2.50 (Assuming FTTP can be provided and work completed by our suppliers).

Sorry if this isn't the answer you were hoping for. Let us know if you have any questions.

[#4]

If you don't need your phone line, and are still within your cooling off period, it may be possible to cancel the Line Rental Saver, and just pay monthly until FTTP is activated and you could cancel your phone line altogether.

@Gandalf, would that be possible if it was helpful to the OP, or would that cause everything to be cancelled and started again?

[#5]

Hi Gandalf, I've worked those figures out using the offer on the MSE Broadband Unbundled site, I may have got it wrong of course.

[#6]

That would be of interest to me, thanks, I wasn't aware it might be an option. @Gandalf is this something that could be arranged or would it be easier if I cancelled and started again from scratch.
Thanks .

[#7]

You have to be a PlusNet customer before you sign up to the FTTP Trial so you have to have an internet service with PlusNet.

You might be able to  leave your phone line with your current provider (if you're out of contract) and sign up for PlusNet ADSL only (a £2.50 surcharge applies to internet only accounts). Once that's up and running apply for FTTP and then, when that's installed cancel your phone line.

Just to confirm - the DSL Checker says "WBC FTTP" is available for your line. Under the heading "install Process" does it say "1 stage" or  "2 stage" - http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/adslchecker.welcome

Brian

[#8]

@Pete_T

Can I call you back to discuss this further?

Ideally before 4pm. If so can you PM me the best contact number?

[#9]

Hi Brian, yes FTTP is showing as available and 1 stage, both as of yesterday.
Thanks.

[#10]

Cheers for your time on the phone @Pete_T

Sorry again for the complications. I've sent you an e-mail following our conversation.

I've taken ownership of this and you can reply to the ticket I've raised here if you need any help or have any queries.

[#11]

I'd just like to put on the record a very big thank you to Anoush, aka @Gandalf for his attention and assistance over the last couple of days, what a great ambassador for the brand!  I now have Plusnet ADSL and have been accepted for the FTTP trial. Hopefully everything will go to plan now!

[#12]

No problems at all. Cheers for the kind words and feedback.

[#13]

@Gandalf I updated the ticket a few minutes after you'd added to it earlier this evening. The install was aborted today due to a blocked duct unfortunately.

[#14]

Sorry to hear the install didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped. I saw your response to the ticket just as I logged out for the day.

I’ll pick it up tomorrow once I’ve spoken with the FTTP team at Openreach for the next steps including a timeframe.

[#15]

I've just spoken to the FTTP team at Openreach. They've advised me that the extra work is scheduled to take place on Monday. Once this is complete we've been advised we'll need to re-book the appointment with you for the installation.