Cancelling BT Landline

[#1]

We have a BT landline account and a Plusnet Broadband account, both accounts are indifferent names. If we cancel the BT landline account does the Plusnet Broadband still function? We no longer require the landline.

[#2]

Both ADSL and FTTC broadband require a landline, whether or not a PSTN phone service is present.

If you wish to keep Plusnet broadband, you could change your contract to SOGEA which is a FTTC service without phone. That would terminate your BT phone contract and keep your Plusnet broadband.

[#3]

Thanks Corringham, I knew that was the case but it's more about how I go about it. Do I cancel my BT landline and then renew my broadband package with Plusnet or do I renew my Plusnet package and they cancel the BT landline? As the accounts are indifferent names I am not sure how the logistics work and I don't want to be without internet connection for any period of time.

[#4]

Contact Plusnet, and they will take over your landline and cancel your BT contract for you. There shouldn't be any broadband downtime at all (although sometimes things do go wrong).

[#5]

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@Knrill wrote:

If we cancel the BT landline account does the Plusnet Broadband still function?

NO !

If Full Fibre FTTP is available to you, then the ideal solution would be to upgrade to that (automatically cancelling your BT contract)

If your Plusnet broadband is currently VDSL FTTC then do as @corringham  said.

HOWEVER,  if you are still on ADSL then you have a problem, because theoretically you *should* be able to ask for your ADSL service to be changed to SOADSL (i.e. remove the voice and cancel the BT contract).  Unfortunately Plusnet don't provide SOADSL so you'd have to move to an ISP that does (such as those listed here)

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[#6]

deleted as covered by others above

[#7]

OK, Thanks for your help. I wasn't sure if the Broadband provider would have the legal right to take over the line that was in someone elses name. I'll give them a call.

Thanks again for your help. 

[#8 · Accepted solution]

Ideally the surnames should be the same, to avoid any issues.

There shouldn't be a problem as the address and physical line details will be identical.

The recent change to "one touch switching", has removed the "anti-slamming" safeguards, making your situation easier

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[#9]

Thanks Outcast, unfortunately we are out in the sticks and still have overhead copper wires. (no notifications of that changing in the near future!) As mentioned to Corringham, it's the logistics of whether to renew the Plusnet first or whether to cancel BT first and if Plusnet have the legal right to cancel a landline if the account is in another's name. Best thing I can do is to contact Plusnet and see what is possible.

Thanks for you help.

[#10]

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@Knrill wrote:

... unfortunately we are out in the sticks and still have overhead copper wires.

Yes, I'm in the same situation !

@Knrill  you haven't clarified whether you're on FTTC or ADSL ?

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[#11]

@Knrill 

The key point is that if you cancel the BT phone service first that this will automatically trigger the cancellation of your Plusnet broadband connection.

I would expect that if you move to Plusnet SOGEA  you will receive a ‘sorry you are leaving’ email from BT.

[#12]

you haven't clarified whether you're on FTTC or ADSL ?

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This is actually quite important - as you say you are out in the sticks it is possible you are on ADSL as it works over longer distances from the exchange than FTTC works from the cabinet. 

ADSL can only work with a landline, and Plusnet don't offer ADSL without a phone service (SOADSL) and can't provide new or changed contracts with a phone service.

Also, soon (by end 2025) BT will be removing its PSTN phone service, so your land line will go away. When that happens if you are on ADSL you will lose Plusnet broadband too. If you are on FTTC you should be able to move to SOGEA with Plusnet.

[#13]

Surely when @Knrill  rings Plusnet this question will be answered? Either Plusnet  can supply a connection or the answer will be sorry, no go.

[#14]

@Baldrick1, yes you are correct - hopefully. However, I can envisage various cracks that a change from BT phone + Plusnet ADSL could fall through. I suspect staff are maybe not familiar with the issues involved, and I fear the systems may not be either.

[#15]

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@Baldrick1 wrote:

Surely when @Knrill  rings Plusnet this question will be answered?

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There are a couple of topics about this, and it would appear that Plusnet phone support are unaware of the SOADSL dilemma.

I also doubt whether Plusnet support would voluntarily tell an ADSL only customer, that in a few months (because of the PSTN switch off) they will lose their phone, broadband, email, website, referrals, etc - unless prompted by an informed customer asking very specific questions.

Plusnet support have already told ADSL customers that they need to move to BT or EE to keep their landline phones, but when this has been followed up, the customer was told by BT and EE that SOADSL is not available.  As a side point, it is doubtful whether moving an ADSL phone number to BT/EE "Digital Voice" would actually work because of the low broadband data rates.

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