Home phone Guides

Landline connections

Updated: Tuesday 25 October, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you need to get your phone line reconnected, you have two options: a copper wire line with a provider like BT or TalkTalk, or a cable line with Virgin Media. But which should you choose?

Whether you’ve just moved into a new house or you are thinking of switching home phone supplier, you will need to pay to have your landline reconnected or reactivated. This could be either a copper wire phone line or a cable phone line.

If you choose a copper wire phone line, you can choose from a number of home phone providers, including:

• BT (www.bt.com)
• TalkTalk (www.talktalk.co.uk)
• Direct Save Telecom (www.directsavetelecom.co.uk)
• Post Office (www.postoffice.co.uk)
• Primus Saver (www.primussaver.co.uk)
• YourCalls.net (www.yourcalls.net)

If you think that a cable phone line would suit your household more, you’ll have to have a new line installed by Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com). Virgin Media is the only cable phone line provider in the UK.

Take a look at the table below for more information about reconnection costs, and for an idea about how long it takes to get your line reactivated:

	Free installation	28 Day Guarantee
Call TalkTalk 0800 049 7834 Go	Call BT now 0800 028 4474 Go	Call Virgin Media 0808 189 0508 Go	Call Sky now 0844 241 0582 Go	Call Primus now 0800 036 0170 Go
FREE connection	£0 with any calls & Broadband package	£0 with Calls Broadband + TV £40 otherwise	£10 connection charge	£59 connection charge
Set-up usually within 7 & 10 days for a new line installation. If switching from Virgin, you can keep your line until your new line has been activated *	Setup within 4 working days for a connection, and up to 16 working days for new line installations *	Setup usually within 2 weeks. Plus you can normally keep your number. Virgin Media also offers a 28 day money back guarantee *	Setup normally between 14 and 28 days for connetion or new line*	Setup between 12 - 14 days normally for a new line installation *
Go Call TalkTalk now 0800 049 7834	Go Call BT now 0800 028 4474	Go Call Virgin Media 0808 189 0508	Go Call Sky now 0844 241 0582	Go Call Primus now 0800 036 0170

* All providers allow you to select a convenient appointment on a suitable date when you place your order online. However, line setup times will typically depend on the availability of an engineer, and other factors, such as the number of concurrent line installations in your area.

BT phone line connection

If you would like to get your phone line reconnected by BT, you should be aware that you will have to sign-up for at least a 12-month contract with a BT calls package.

BT offers a broad selection of calling plans, including Unlimited Anytime and Unlimited Evenings & Weekend packages.

Choosing a BT phone line often is an easier option, as other home phone providers are able to connect you to BT on your behalf. For more information, read our guide to phone line installation options.

Virgin landline connection

Virgin Media’s cable phone and broadband services are available to just over 50% of homes in the UK, so before you decide to get a cable phone line connected, you should check you can get Virgin Media.

Visit www.virginmedia.com to check Virgin Media availability in your area.

Virgin Media is also perfect if you only want broadband and/or TV services, and have no need for a landline, though you should be aware that prices are more expensive without a landline and Virgin line rental.