telewest-is it overpriced?

phoebe03cat

I have supreme package+phone(not worth us having any packages as we don't use it enough and most are not covered on the non geog. numbers)+broadband complete for computer. Often wondered if this is the cheapest way of taking all 3 services? No problems with the package but finding it hard to do a comparison. Plus getting sick of looking at sky offers and separate phone offers and telewest new customer officers and not being in a position to look at any of them. Happy to stay if this is the best bet. Anyone any ideas on this one pls? Thanks

bbb_uk

Can you provide us with a little more info like do you have any additional boxes, etc?

Internet

Personally, I'd leave your internet with telewest as they aren't that bad value for the speed and when the speed increases to 2mb they will be very good value. Their internet service I found to be more reliable than other providers (except email but has been ok for a long while now).

If you only pay £9.99 for your broadband (their current special offer) then your speed will not be increased to the 2mb. It is only relevant for those paying £17.99 or more.

TV package

Their supreme package is £15.50 (£26 including line rental). Sky's equivalent package, Entertainment Mix, is £21. Depending on the channels you watch you could just get freeview.

Telephone
This is where problems can occur. Telewest's line rental is the same as BT's and telewest give you free geographical calls at the weekend. If you have caller display then you can get this free if you move to BT but doing so would mean your TV package is then increased by about £4 because you don't have their line rental.

The easiest thing to do is register for Call1899.co.uk and only pay 3p per call to geographical numbers during the daytime and evening and use Telewest for the weekend calls.

If you are mostly ringing non-geographical numbers then have you tried looking for alternative geographical numbers on Saynoto0870.com?

star1_2

I've also been a content Telewest Customer .... but have been increasinging been aware they are not really that competitive particularly as a "three in one package" .... I've spent some time looking at the options .... and have the following observations :-

- TV, generally cheeper than Sky - but the channel choice is not as great, some good features such as Teleport, and if the box goes wrong Telewest fix it. (I'm generally happy with the TV and don't plan to change it)

- Broadband, not as cheep as some ADSL providers, although Cable Internet is more reliable, faster and contention ratios more favourable (a major plus for me!), the only potential saving might be to change from 10mb to 4mb (£35 to £25 per month).

- The phone is not very good value, with 6p connection charges, and all inclusive phone packages costing around £15/month - (this is the area I've decided to focus on to help reduce my bill). Therefore (as from today) - I've stopped my 24/7 inclusive phone package and am now trying call1899 for phone calls. If it works out cheeper over the next month, I'll buy myself an orchiddialer (which will route my calls automatically - no need to dial the 0808 prefix).

At the time of writing I estimate my £15 (inclusive option) and £10 average call charges will be reduced from a total of £25 to around £10 .... the next month will see what happens.

:cool:

phoebe03cat

This is such a great site! Thanks so much for this help. Will look into the orchid dialler idea-where can I get one of these pls. It was mostly the phone giving me the bad vibes. No, we only have the one box (might increase in the future) Not on ANY offers as have been with them for some time , so £25 for the complete package,£15-50 Supreme package for TV, Line rental £10-50 caller display £1-50 plus the calls which I'm especially not sure of. Need to certainly get round the non geog. issue as nearly everywhere I ring seems to be buying into this.

bbb_uk

See this thread for more info on the Orchid Dialler including a 20% off.

See my link to saynoto0870 for geographical alternatives.

If you are outside your minimum term then you could ring t/w and choose the dept for leaving t/w (their retentions dept) and say you are moving your line rental to BT because they do free caller display and you are taking your number with you. You have to give in a months notice. Obviously don't actually move to BT if you don't want to but Telwest may offer to credit you the £1.50 your paying them to keep you. They'll either do this whilst talking to you or about a week after you have asked to leave they ring and try all kinds of things to keep you.