If you have incoming calls only (known as In-Contact Plus) then you can not use other companies for calls via their access numbers.  The same thing with broadband via ADSL.

To use another company for calls or/and to use ADSL broadband (ie via a BT line but not necessary with BT broadband) then incoming/outgoing line is needed.  The cheapest BT charge for this is currently £10.50 a month via direct debit for BT Together Option 1.

Many people have complained about this and the matter was referred to OfCOM but they decided BT was right to insist that people upgraded to incoming/outgoing line to use other call companies.  I believe OfCOM are currently investigating whether incoming/outgoing line is needed for those wanting just broadband.

The only other possible way to get broadband without the use of incoming/outgoing line with BT is to get broadband with Telewest or NTL (generally Telewest are a lot cheaper and do unlimited/uncapped broadband unlike NTL).

The downside to this is that you have to be in a Telewest or NTL enabled area.

That's an idea.

When you are on BT then Call18866 is cheaper for geographical calls (those beginning 01 or 02) at only 2p per call and can be accessed via short code 18866 although this may also be blocked along with other calls but I'm not sure.

If it is then you can use the Call1899 freephone access number instead as this should work (but try Call18866 as its cheaper for BT customers).

I don't use ADSL so not sure what number ADSL broadband rings but its possibly a freephone 0808 number which should work with call barring.

Alternatively, you could use a Orchid Dialler which could be setup to bar all calls and this would still allow you to use freephone and Call18866 via its normal short code access number.

It costs about £15 but in the long-run it's cheaper than BT's £1.75 a month (over 9+ months) but gives greater flexability and you can choose your own override code (within reason) for when you do want to make calls.  If you're interested in this method then read the MSE forum here to get 20% off when ordering online.

The problem is that because its a dialler box that needs to plug into the telephone line if someone else notices it and realises what its doing they can simply unplug it and bypass it so if this is possible then the BT method is really the only answer.

So if ADSL doesn't actually dial a number, do you think that you could connect to your broadband connection even if outoing voice calls were barred?

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No they don't and people have complained to OfCOM about it and last I heard they are investigating whether having a line for both incoming/outgoing calls was necessary.  The problem is BT know that if OfCOM rule against it then a lot people may start using VoIP and therefore stop using BT for calls (who does anyhow!) and this probably has BT scared.

Technically I don't think (but not sure) that an outgoing line is necessary but BT wont allow broadband unless you have an incoming/outgoing line which is reason why OfCOM are meant to be investigating it.

Just for your information, i have a BT line (incoming calls only) -- and on that line have a Broadband connection set up with no problems as all.  The fact that i had just an incoming call only line made no difference whatsoever.

And as for VOIP -- you are quite right.  I use my Broadband connection for making VOIP phone calls no problem either.

Hope this helps you a bit!

Oops, i'll defo keep quiet about it then. 

Had no idea there was an issue with it.  I had wondered about it before i got BB, but i enquired with a couple of ISPs and they suggested it was no problem at all.  I guess BT will eventually clamp down on it more stringently.

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And of course even if you find a way of making the wall socket end tamper-proof the lead probably connects to the phone using a plug anyway, rather than being hard-wired.