Can I remove old BT phone lines if I don't use BT?

Question

I recently bought a house which, like most UK houses, has a BT landline installed. It also has a second ISDN line which comes in upstairs.

However I have signed up to Virgin cable so have no need for any BT phone lines in the house as Virgin provide my landline.

The main BT landline comes in by the front door. The 2 wire-cable goes into a small junction box, and from there another 2 wire cable runs all the way to the master socket - about 10m away.

The wiring from junction box to master socket is very poorly done and is an eye-sore. I want to get rid of it, but have read that you're not allowed to touch anything before the master socket. Is this still the case if I'm not a BT customer? Obviously I'd keep the junction box, so there's access to a landline for future owners.

The ISDN line comes in upstairs on a separate line, but I'd rather not have an ISDN box in the room if I don't need it. Is it safe to remove it so that, again, the line stops when it enters the house?

Answer 1

Hi,

As said in short the answer to your question is "No" however if you call BT and demand they take it out then they will, it take a long time but the will do it.

You would just do it yourself, but the items you mention to infact belong to BT not yourself even though they are in your home.

Also should you move the next home owner may wish to use BT, so it maybe better to leave well alone.

The choice is yours at the end of the day.

Hope this helps?

Answer 2

By law it`s belongs to B,T but many people that move to a new house remove them, just say it was like that when you moved in

Answer 3

It will be better when you come to sell the house if both Virgin and BT connections are there - the next resident won't have to pay to undo the damage if you've removed BT, and they want it.

Answer 4

Yes you can remove all redundant BT wiring in your house, since it is your house and you are no longer using it. However if you do and decide that Virgin are no longer your prefered provider, you will have to pay BT for the re installation and the charges will be more than if all the wiring has not been altered.It would be preferable if you left the junction box by the door so if you come back to BT we only have to wire from there and not have to replace any other wiring and make any more mess than is required. If you are unsure call BT to confirm. To remove the ISDN squeeze the top and bottom of the lid and it will pop off, then undo the bottom s***w and the unit will slide up and off once you have disconnected the wiring.

Answer 5

NO

It has to remain because it belongs to BT

Answer 6

you may not alter the cableing after the master connection box, that belongs to BT and although is in your house, it has to remain.

Answer 7

If fit was my house I would do away with the small junction box and replace it with the master socket.