Ask Our Expert

Will switching supplier affect my broadband connection?

Dear Simon, I’ve been considering switching my line rental and calls package from BT to the Post Office because the prices seem a lot cheaper.

However as I have BT Option 1 Broadband and a BT home hub, will switching my line rental and calls to another provider affect my broadband?

Can you help?

Samantha Stevens, Brighton, via email, Tuesday 19 May, 2009

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Our expert says...

Hi Samantha, thanks for your email about switching your line rental and calls to the Post Office (www.postoffice.co.uk). The good news is that switching your home phone service from BT (www.bt.com) will not affect your broadband service.

However, if your home phone and broadband services were provided by a fully unbundled (LLU) provider, such as TalkTalk (www.talktalk.co.uk) and Tiscali (www.tiscali.co.uk), switching packages would affect your broadband.

Read my top tips on switching home phone provider, and how to guarantee your broadband won’t be affected by the switch…

Top tips for switching home phone providers

Switching from a LLU provider - If your home phone line is LLU your broadband will affected if you switch suppliers. If you’re switching from LLU back to ADSL, then your new connection will use a completely different technology so you will have to be manually returned to the BT network before your new connection can be set up, and there could be a charge for this. This will affect your broadband and your home phone services.
Switching from Virgin Media - If your current home phone service is from a cable provider, such as Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com), you will either have to get a new phone line installed, or get an old BT line reactivated.
Bundled packages - If your new home phone provider also offers bundled broadband and home phone packages, such as the Post Office’s Broadband Standard and Home Phone deal, and you don’t want to switch your broadband, make sure that you make it clear to the new provider that you are only switching your home phone service.

For some households, bundled deals can work out cheaper than taking your line rental, calls and broadband packages separately. It is worth considering whether switching your broadband and home phone to the same provider will save you money in the long term. For example, line rental from the Post Office is currently £10.72 a month. However, from 1 June it will be £11.75 a month - 50p more than BT line rental.

You should compare home phone deals before switching, as other providers may have cheaper packages, saving more on your monthly bills. The following providers all have competitive rates:

Hope this gives you a bit more information Samantha, and helps you decide whether you should make the home phone switch from BT to the Post Office.