Telephone, broadband, satellite TV and other nightmares
Modern technology is great, but if you haven’t got the right service provider(s) it can turn out to be very frustrating! Our clients repeatedly tell us that getting connected can be the most frustrating part of their whole relocation so we advise you to do your homework well in advance of your move. This little guide should make it easier to ensure you can do that – as well as get the right deal at the outset, before you get tied into a 12 month contract with one which doesn’t quite suit you.
As a word of warning, initially getting connected can take a while depending on which supplier you use and what facilities/lines are already at the property you’re moving to. Connection doesn’t happen overnight and is not always as simple as just switching a switch.
Packages
In many cases getting a TV/telephone/broadband package is an easy and less expensive option than buying each service separately. There are many websites which allow you to compare different companies by simply entering your postcode:
http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk
http://www.moneysupermarket.com”rel=”nofollow”/broadband/
http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/how-to-switch-broadband/
http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/broadband/in/london
If you don’t need all the services included in a package, you can buy them separately:
Telephone/Broadband:
There are many suppliers of landline telephone and broadband services available:
For a full list of broadband service providers in your area along with contact numbers, full details, and costs for each, just follow the link and enter your postcode:
http://www.broadbandchecker.co.uk/
British Telecom can usually connect your phone line on the same day and broadband 7 days later. You can contact them on 0800 800 800.
More information about moving home and setting things up can be found at the following website:
http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/blog/20130516-broadband-phone-what-do-when-move-home
TV Licence
If you use a TV in your home, you MUST own a TV licence, which can be purchased annually for £145.50. Failure to produce a TV licence when requested by the licensing authority could incur a fine of up to £1,000. There are several ways to purchase a TV Licence:
- Visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk or call 0870 240 3352
- Any Post Office
- Any PayPoint outlet. These can be found in newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol stations displaying the PayPoint logo. To find out your nearest PayPoint outlet visit www.paypoint.co.uk/locator.htm
Satellite/Cable TV:
Sky Digital
In the UK, the digital satellite TV leader is Sky Digital. Sky offers the largest range of channels. To get Sky, you can sign up online at www.sky/com or call 08442 441 268, and arrange for a Sky engineer to install a satellite dish and hook up a digibox to your existing TV. If there is not an existing dish installed then permission will have to be obtained from the landlord.
Cable
If you live in an area that’s covered by cable operator Virgin Media, they may be able to provide you with a cable TV package, as well as home phone and high-speed Internet access. They will install a set-top box and an engineer will call to connect it to their fibre-optic cable. To see if cable is available in your area, go to www.virginmedia.com
Whichever service provider you choose, setting up accounts and arranging connection can only be carried out by the person who will be the account holder. This is because of credit checks that need to take place of part of the set-up process. As soon as you have chosen a property and have a postcode, start with finding out what services are available and get connected – inevitably it will take longer than you expect!