Scaremongering. The advice was you can REPLACE the NTE5, what point would there be in having a white NTE5 & a nice chrome BT socket next to it?
Informing the DIYer of the the terms of the legally binding contract that he or she has signed with the telephone service provider is not scaremongering.
I remain doubtful that the advice was that you can replace the entire NTE 5.
The site I linked to sells the exact same NTE5 & NTE2000 that BT get, same manufacturer (Pressac).
From that website
BT NTE5 Master Socket, manufactured by Pressac UK who supply BT.
NTE5 BT Type Master Socket (NTE5A)
Please note, we supply the latest version of the NTE5(A) that features the filter on the bell wire circuit for IMPROVED ADSL PERFORMANCE! NOT all versions of the NTE5 currently available feature the bell wire filter! Note the presence of the moulding does NOT guarantee your socket has the inductor!
All of which imply the socket is the "same" as the BT sockets they manufacture but does not say it is 100% the same. The image does not appear to have the BT logo on it. Some suppliers who manufacture the "same" item to more than one branded name companies may have different build and quality standards for the different brands. Note the variation about the inductor that may or may not be fitted depending on brand even though the moulding may imply it is fitted
It is very probable that Openreach engineers will recognise that and other manufacturers as being acceptable quality and turn a blind eye to any competent DIY tampering with the BT cable. But there are some poor quality NTE 5 look alikes, even with the BT logo forged, which are prone to failure due to sub-standard components and assembly methods.
at times they have left us with bare lines on a terminal strip leaving US to install non branded NTE5's!
Same here, but in commercial premises where the NTE was the terminal strip where the incoming multi-pair ( 25 or more ) cable was terminated.