BT not renewing business contract
Discussion
In the office we have two analogue exchange lines, an 8 extension phone system with 6 handsets and a broadband connection that runs over one of the analogue lines.
The phone system serves two buildings and we have a gate entry too.
The BT contract is up for renewal and they are saying that they cannot re-contract for the analogue lines, we have to migrate to VoIP and that they cannot provide a solution to our gate entry. If we don't want to go to VoIP we cannot have any call discounts and everything is full-price.
This has all come as a bit of a surprise and we have not, to my knowledge, had any prior warning.
I have a hunch that there is an element of sales pitch about this and that, if they cannot provide a like-for-like system, they will sort out something. I stand to be corrected.
Has anyone else had the same issue?
Not just business. There are a couple of threads in this previous.
Here is one I started.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Here is one I started.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You will probably make swift savings by moving the phone lines to VOIP - it's one of the easiest (though perhaps small beer) company savings to make.
If you ignore the gate's phone entry system - this would be a trivial migration for any VOIP seller. Not so sure about BT.
If you can solve the gate entry separately then I think the rest will fall into place. There are lots of "door entry" VOIP products, I am sure a good reseller will be used to this.
If you ignore the gate's phone entry system - this would be a trivial migration for any VOIP seller. Not so sure about BT.
If you can solve the gate entry separately then I think the rest will fall into place. There are lots of "door entry" VOIP products, I am sure a good reseller will be used to this.
The issue with analogue lines is an ongoing one & only going to get worse. Maybe give Andrews & Arnold a call, although your gate entry requirement might be tricky:
https://www.aa.net.uk/
https://www.aa.net.uk/
Unfortunately the old analogue Telephone system as you know it, is being phased out rather rapidly, I say rapidly but its been going on for a few years now. No new installs or contracts will offer the old Telephone system. There are solutions out there that will still allow you to use your current internal set up but will involve a VOIP (Internet) solution.
biggiles said:
You will probably make swift savings by moving the phone lines to VOIP - it's one of the easiest (though perhaps small beer) company savings to make.
Really?I looked into this recently and for my business it was significantly dearer with BT and marginally dearer with an independent supplier.
Neddy Sea Goon said:
The gate entry issue is easily solved by replacing it with a GSM version
Shout me up if you need help with this. Not a sales pitch at all, we're an installer, but I can recommend what to buy
Because we are in a valley our mobile signal is poor. Voda seems the best but it is not fool proof. Shout me up if you need help with this. Not a sales pitch at all, we're an installer, but I can recommend what to buy
If we can get one of our wifi mesh nodes near enough is there a wifi solution?
The gate actuator is BSF if that matters.
Rufus Stone said:
biggiles said:
You will probably make swift savings by moving the phone lines to VOIP - it's one of the easiest (though perhaps small beer) company savings to make.
Really?I looked into this recently and for my business it was significantly dearer with BT and marginally dearer with an independent supplier.
Edited by biggiles on Tuesday 13th February 10:34
Louis Balfour said:
Because we are in a valley our mobile signal is poor. Voda seems the best but it is not fool proof.
If we can get one of our wifi mesh nodes near enough is there a wifi solution?
The gate actuator is BSF if that matters.
Just a quick search for "VOIP gate intercom" throws up a number of systems so it looks as if this part may not be such a big issue. This is just the first hit as an example:If we can get one of our wifi mesh nodes near enough is there a wifi solution?
The gate actuator is BSF if that matters.
https://www.algosolutions.com/products/ip-intercom...
Louis Balfour said:
In the office we have two analogue exchange lines, an 8 extension phone system with 6 handsets and a broadband connection that runs over one of the analogue lines.
The phone system serves two buildings and we have a gate entry too.
The BT contract is up for renewal and they are saying that they cannot re-contract for the analogue lines, we have to migrate to VoIP and that they cannot provide a solution to our gate entry. If we don't want to go to VoIP we cannot have any call discounts and everything is full-price.
This has all come as a bit of a surprise and we have not, to my knowledge, had any prior warning.
I have a hunch that there is an element of sales pitch about this and that, if they cannot provide a like-for-like system, they will sort out something. I stand to be corrected.
Has anyone else had the same issue?
It isn't a sales pitch, BT are replacing the old analogue network with digital, it is called 21cn and has been ongoing for 20 years.The phone system serves two buildings and we have a gate entry too.
The BT contract is up for renewal and they are saying that they cannot re-contract for the analogue lines, we have to migrate to VoIP and that they cannot provide a solution to our gate entry. If we don't want to go to VoIP we cannot have any call discounts and everything is full-price.
This has all come as a bit of a surprise and we have not, to my knowledge, had any prior warning.
I have a hunch that there is an element of sales pitch about this and that, if they cannot provide a like-for-like system, they will sort out something. I stand to be corrected.
Has anyone else had the same issue?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT_21CN
The above page is a little out of date as FTTC is now becoming obsolete and being replaced with sogea, which is the digital equivalent.
The speed at which the exchanges are moving over to digital is rapidly increasing. Providers want to get customers off the old analogue exchanges before they can be retired.
All I would say to anyone with this situation is that BT (often a franchise trading as BT Local Business) will want to get you signed up to new services because that is how they earn commission from BT, so it pays to do some due diligence and check what services you can get from other providers when the time comes.
With recent experience of BT for Business uppermost in my mind, I would strongly recommend that you get everything in writing and don’t go any further with anything they recommend verbally.
Ensure you have all the costs completely laid out for everything and in full detail.
Record every single conversation with them, and tell them you are doing it.
My solicitor couldn’t believe what they did, but recommended that taking it further would cost more (and be at risk) than the fine I eventually received - £1254.
They are total s
ts.
As soon as my current contract is up with them - I am off.
Ensure you have all the costs completely laid out for everything and in full detail.
Record every single conversation with them, and tell them you are doing it.
My solicitor couldn’t believe what they did, but recommended that taking it further would cost more (and be at risk) than the fine I eventually received - £1254.
They are total s
ts.As soon as my current contract is up with them - I am off.
OK, you got your money out of that PBX! Great systems, Panasonic.
Of what I can see there is conflicting info as to what you will actually be provided with. eg, your ONT may have two phone ports that may or may not be active!
https://business.bt.com/help/article/optical-netwo...
Then there is this that also has two analogue lines : -
https://business.bt.com/help/guides/getting-starte...
Finally, Cisco do this : -
https://m.businessdirect.bt.com/products/cisco-2-p...
Seeing as you only have two incoming lines I can see no reason why your current setup would need changing, if it ain't broke don't fix it!
Do you know how your current analogue lines are connected to the PBX? If they simply plug into BT master sockets all you should have to do is connect them to the ports on the ONT or whatever.
As ever with BT, they've made a right mess of this switch over.
Of what I can see there is conflicting info as to what you will actually be provided with. eg, your ONT may have two phone ports that may or may not be active!
https://business.bt.com/help/article/optical-netwo...
Then there is this that also has two analogue lines : -
https://business.bt.com/help/guides/getting-starte...
Finally, Cisco do this : -
https://m.businessdirect.bt.com/products/cisco-2-p...
Seeing as you only have two incoming lines I can see no reason why your current setup would need changing, if it ain't broke don't fix it!
Do you know how your current analogue lines are connected to the PBX? If they simply plug into BT master sockets all you should have to do is connect them to the ports on the ONT or whatever.
As ever with BT, they've made a right mess of this switch over.
As an IT and telecoms company we have been telling all our clients for some years now of the switch over and get moving - So so many options for what you wanting to do - Hosted, On-prem server, Voice to Teams etc
Also, any access control company can easily sort your gate, be via an ATA box or a GSM sim solution - Sounds like an ATA would be a good choice, it allows you to use an old analogue device on an IP Phone system as an extension
I am still not shocked to hear BT not telling the direct clients and helping them plan a migration
Also, any access control company can easily sort your gate, be via an ATA box or a GSM sim solution - Sounds like an ATA would be a good choice, it allows you to use an old analogue device on an IP Phone system as an extension
I am still not shocked to hear BT not telling the direct clients and helping them plan a migration
_-XXXX-_ said:
OP, when you say gate do you mean the door intercom that is part of your PBX?
It's a North Supplies intercom, which rings all extensions. When we dial 8 it opens the gate.The North supplies kit is very expensive and lasts a few short years. I would not be sad to see the back of it.
BUT I shall be annoyed if I have to invest in additional kit because BT is "upgrading" the exchange lines. Your earlier post suggested that I may not have to however.
We still have the older KX-TDA30 with 20 odd extensions. About 3 years ago I bought a 2nd hand VOIP gateway card to replace our ISDN-E cards and just pay for SIP channels with Dial9. Phones still function exactly as before.
I don't think your system has add in cards, even though it is the same box, but it would be very easy to put a couple of VOIP to ATA adaptors where your incoming BT lines are to use VOIP through your network. The PBX would know no different, the door lock would still work as before too. Probably cost you £100 plus £5-30 per month for SIP channels plus whatever the call costs are, normally at least half of the old BT costs.
I don't think your system has add in cards, even though it is the same box, but it would be very easy to put a couple of VOIP to ATA adaptors where your incoming BT lines are to use VOIP through your network. The PBX would know no different, the door lock would still work as before too. Probably cost you £100 plus £5-30 per month for SIP channels plus whatever the call costs are, normally at least half of the old BT costs.
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