Trying to get BT line in my name, so I can get Sky...

Question

I will try and keep this short so everyone can understand!
I moved into a new house on 4th May. On the 24th April, I ordered a sky package of tv, broadband and phone. Everything went thru ok, and I was told everything would be up and running within 4 weeks.
The Tv has been installed and Im having big problems with the phone & broadband end of the deal. After 3 weeks of phoning sky with no results, I finally get told by them that the phone line which is active at my house is not in my name and until BT put it in my name, they cant give me phone & broadband services.
So, I phone BT to get the line put into my name, they tell me I need the former account holder to phone up and cancel their account and then they will put the line into my name! The girl who used to live at my address phoned today and cancelled her account, and BT have put the line in my name.
This will be completed by 14th June BT tell me.
What I need to know is, If BT put the line into my name, does that mean Im now in a new 12 month contract with them, and will be unable to get phone & broadband deal with sky now?

Answer 1

When Sky placed a provision order with BT Wholesale it would have been rejected on the basis that there was already an active line/account with a different service provider, in this instance BT Retail. It is a bit odd the previous person who lived there didn’t cancel the account because you could have run up a massive bill in her name.
Sky shouldn’t have really told you to get the line put in, ‘your name’. All they should have said was to get the previous occupant to cease her service so the line was spare and you could then take over it with a service provider of your choice.
As you have now signed up to BT Retail you will inevitably be tied into some sort of contract, your only hope is that there is some sort of get out period, you know where if you change your mind in 14 days of something like that you can cancel it with no obligation. I am unsure if BT Retail have that or not but I am sure when you called BT they explained the terms and conditions to you.