Broadband

Had BT which was pretty good but expensive. Switched to Sky and cheaper and everything good too.

 

Yeah it used to be the case that companies would waive a contract in goodwill in such situations that we can't always foresee. I've had that several times with sky.

Virgin obviously thought it was worth taking my hundred and odd quid against any of my future custom over the course of my life.

 

Besides at that stage I moved to Headingley. I think it was pretty reasonable that I considered they'd be able to supply me. It was hardly the outer Hebrides.

Richard Branson can cough on my Google stock image

 

Somehow BT wireless signal is more reliable then when we had SKY, plus BT sports is cheap, found download speeds better as well, but that maybe due to new land line junction box thingy we had put in. If you’re suffering from slow download on Trad broadband I’d look at that first.

 

I live in Monk Bretton and have Virgin through fibre optic. The broadband is very good but we're absolutely sick of the Tivo service so we're looking for another supplier. Sky and BT are on the short list.

 

I also live in Monk Bretton and have been a customer since the first days of Telewest. Last 12-18 month the broadband service as been very hit and miss. I am advised by those in the know (see its not just on this board) that there are too many customers in MB for the infrastructure and it cannot cope.

 

That's interesting because when we first had it installed it was pathetic at certain times. An engineer came out and split our broadband so effectively we have two services. I work from home so need it to be a consistently good service and it's been fine ever since.

 

Been with Plusnet for yonks. Got the fibre and the telly for an extra fiver. Gets you a youview box and bt sport. They even rang me just before my last contract ended to negotiate a new deal which wound up with me paying less for the same service!

Usually good for a TopCashback too!

 

Reight, I know a bit about this.

First Virgin Media (cable).
When I used them, there then top package of 100Mbit wasn't at peak times. If you were a heavy user, it would really reduce your speeds in the evening peak. I believe they still do. Expensive and wouldn't touch them.

Sky/TalkTalk.
Use LLU based equipment, it's called "local loop unbundling". The ISP has equipment in the exchange. If you have a fault on the line, in my experience you could be stuck between who resolves the issue. That said, with the technology, you should me marginally quicker.

Most other providers (based on a BT Wholesale none LLU package)
Plusnet, BT Internet etc.
The customer service, the billing, how long you wait to get through, email, the extras, and the price are in some cases speed* are what you're looking at with these providers.

Many of the technical issues you may see, such as the speeds, any fault or provisioning issue will be exactly the same process with each of these providers. EXACTLY THE SAME *IF* it's down to a Wholesale/Openeach issue. It just depends on how quick and efficient the provider is at getting said information to supplier.

Quality providers.
Andrews and Arnold and or Zen internet.
These are the quality providers, but they ain't cheap. If you want a laugh, read the rants of the owner of A&A at https://www.revk.uk/. Specific rants aimed at BT at https://www.revk.uk/search/label/BT. All worth a read, because the guy makes some good points.

Personally
I operate two accounts. One at my parents (former Virgin cable), and one at my house. Both PlusNet, both have no issues. They've never ****** up my billing, the service is as you'd expect, and exactly as promised. They have call centres in Leeds and Sheffield so easy to understand. The former CEO, despite being the ex Wednesday chairmen, is a really nice bloke.

Speed
Please remember that whilst your ISP will guarantee a speed (sync, i.e. signal to the exchange), they cannot guarantee your wifi speeds, as that is impossible and so much of your home environment can change this.

 

Virgin Media is not, and hasn't for years, been anything to do with Mr Branson. They were sold off years ago but kept the name.

 

Did he ever have anything to do with it though? I thought the company, Yorkshire cable, Blueyonder, Telewest, VM, whatever you wish to call them, paid to use the Virgin brand in exchange for certain criteria being met. Could be wrong though.

 

I'll second that. I'm with Plusnet and have done the line rental saver, paying up front for the year, which makes it £16.50 per month. My anytime call plan and unlimited broadband totals £9 per month. This is made up of a £7 call plan and £2 broadband. I don't really need the £7 call plan, as I don't use all my mobile minutes, but I think I would be worse off by cancelling it. I get a £9 discount on my broadband and I don't think I would get that if I went "Line Only".

 

To return to this thread, It was nice to see vindication in the news that I was not alone in complaining about Virgin's exit policy.

Ofcom have fined them £7 million for unfair policies with EE another company at fault.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46233110

 

I'm with Virgin and have been for the last three years. My current bill is £62.94 per month which seems a bit high for the following:

"Fun" bundle - £43.94
Talk Weekends
Free Voicemail
Fun TV (L)
TiVo Monthly Fee
VIVID 100 Optical Fibre

Phone line rent - £19

Talk weekends I never use, as I never use the landline phone
Free voicemail - don't need it
TV package is extensive but does not include Sports or Movies so probably about 200 channels that I will never watch
TiVo box is a decent bit of kit so no complaints about that
100 mb Broadband is generally efficient - very little down time

What annoys me about these things is that you cannot avoid paying for things that you never use but are obligatory. I could just cancel the whole thing but you sort of get used to it all being there, don't you? I have the internet and Sky Sports (free) on my smart phone but I wouldn't like to give up the PC connection and the nice TV service. I can afford it so I pay up, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I cancelled Virgin altogether and just plugged my roof aerial into the back of the TV.

 

Wait until december... christmas dealz

 

Wow! You're basically paying that for an internet connection. I pay £30 in total (to Three Mobile) for internet and mobile, unlimited texts and calls, 44Gb data per month. I'm continually astounded at how much people are prepared to pay for stuff they don't use. Who on earth needs a landline these days?

 

Take no note of me pal, I talk ****** most of the time, especially after a few Westons.

 

No I'm paying for that and my tv package and massive storage TiVo box (you know, pause live tv, record in HD - all that stuff). Admittedly there are about 170 channels that I will never watch but I like the service and it never fails. As for a landline there is no way to get the Virgin connection unless you have one so I have to pay that as well

 

We've got identical package, apart from the basic (M) TV package, and we pay £37 summat a month. I'd definitely phone them and ask for a discount. The M tv package has still got about 100 more channels than I'll ever watch.