Broadband
Owing to a potential disagreement I’m about to have with my current broadband supplier, I’m researching alternatives - preferably including a landline package as well. So 2 questions for all (UK) based readers:
1. Has anybody tried Virgin Broadband/Talk? Issues? Problems?
2. Can you recommend anyone else?
Much obliged.
A friend of mine has always been very happy with his NTL internet connection, which I suspect has since been rebranded as Virgin. I don’t know how the support and so on has been, but he’s always stuck by the product as being technically very strong.
I might go to them after I next move.
Comment by QE — November 12, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Yeah, they were subsumed into Virgin Media last year. I might actually move - unlimited downloads, anytime phone calls and a (free) freeview box for the miserly sum of £19.99 a month which nearly halves my current outgoings.
Comment by Tom — November 12, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
I was/am a Blueyonder (TeleWest) user. I cannot fault their service to be honest, and apart from a little blip when Virgin took over (quickly and knowledgeably sorted out by tech support phone line! yes, really!) I’ve had no reason to switch.
Sure I need to kick the modem over once a month (less probably on average) but that’s more likely a hardware issue (my cable modem is 6 years old).
Only downside for me is price, I could get a better deal if I took their sucky TV packages but Sky+ kicks that Virgin nonsense all over the place.
As such I’m currently considering going with Sky for broadband but so far it’s not looking too good.
Comment by Gordon — November 12, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
I had to switch over to broadband from dial-up due to the greed of BT and decided to stick with my previous provider, Demon Internet, because there weren’t huge price differences between it and any other company but, in the end, it came down to the sheer quality of the customer service that I’d experienced over the previous couple of years with them. For the switchover, they sent all the cables, modem, installer software, etc. but because of my world-renowned computer iliteracy I phoned them for help with the set-up… they talked me through the entire set-up process from start to finish without any hint of ‘you’re an idiot aren’t you?’ creeping in. I suspect it’s because they’re more geared up as a business service provider than a private one that their customer service is as it is.
Now, you’ll tell me that the company you’re about to argue with is Demon aren’t you?
Comment by Jon Peacey — November 13, 2007 @ 1:11 am
I used to use Zen internet, ( http://www.zen.co.uk/ ) who were bloody marvellous.
I’ve also heard good things about Be* ( https://www.bethere.co.uk/ ) , but have no personal experience.
And at the moment? I’m using BT for phone/broadband. It’s not cheap. I may be looking at changing in the new year. Maybe.
Comment by Lyle — November 13, 2007 @ 8:40 am
I’m with BT at the moment. Pissed off because they sent me an email telling me I’d gone over my usage limit - which is odd because a) my surfing/gaming habits haven’t changed that much and b) I shouldn’t be on the limit they said anyway. Of course, after being passed around 3 departments (all offshore by the sounds of it) they couldn’t help me. And after not being able to help me, I got a call from their sales department 20 minutes later trying to sell me something else. Not impressed. They’ll get one more call to see if they can’t sort it out but either way, I’m very tempted to move to someone else and Virgin and looking good at the moment for phone, broadband and free TV box.
Comment by Tom — November 13, 2007 @ 10:11 am
BT removed the surf-time package I was on with them without telling me. (They claim they did… of course!) It took days to even find a department who knew what they were talking about but before long they’d pass me onto another (often the one I’d just come from). They worked so specifically from a set script that they couldn’t answer any specific questions, their call centres do seem to be overseas with one bloke I spoke to barely able to speak English (which made life difficult) and when even a hint of frustration crept into my voice at any time… they just hung up!
However, refusing to pay the several hundred pound bill that the unannounced pricing change had run up got them into a more negotiating frame of mind.
Comment by Jon Peacey — November 13, 2007 @ 4:24 pm