Expiry of talk talk contract

MrChips

Hi,

I signed up for TalkTalk's broadband deal in March 2007 on an 18 month contract. This has now expired and I am considering my options. I have been happy with the service provided and never had any reason to complain, or even query their customer service line.

I currently pay £19.49 a month in line rental and I see that they have a new offer which would be cheaper than this. One of Martin's articles also suggests that Tiscali are cheaper still.

I am a bit ignorant in the way of broadband, but wouldn't want any down time if I was to transfer providers. I understand there is some sort of code (MAC?) which can facilitate a transfer. However TalkTalk suggested to me that a quick transfer wouldn't be possible due to me being on a LLU line.

My questions are:
1) Can I transfer to TalkTalk's better offer (and if so will I be put on another 18 month contract)?
2) Would I be better off switching to Tiscali (or anyone else) bearing in mind I haven't had any problems with TalkTalk and the price difference is relatively minor
3) If I did transfer, is TalkTalk right in saying it wouldn't take place quickly?

Thanks for any responses!

deklan99

1) Think you should phone their retentions dept.. If you push them they will even have your love child to make you stay.
2) If it ain't broke don't fix it I suppose.
3) Correct, once you're on full LLU it's a struggle to migrate to another ISP and will take time.

rummy

Mozkowitz wrote: »

If you get good service for broadband and landline rental for 19.95 pcm and you are still considering moving its a lot to gamble for saving a few pounds and potentially getting moved to a worse service.

I agree with Mozkowitz on that - if you think it's a good service it's worth it.

MrChips wrote: »

One of Martin's articles also suggests that Tiscali are cheaper still.

Yep they are cheap for a reason - you have endless problems with them. Maybe the cheapest but I would never consider them (read around on the forums for endless Tiscali complaints). And if you do go with them, expect downtime!

MrChips wrote: »

My questions are:
1) Can I transfer to TalkTalk's better offer (and if so will I be put on another 18 month contract)?
2) Would I be better off switching to Tiscali (or anyone else) bearing in mind I haven't had any problems with TalkTalk and the price difference is relatively minor
3) If I did transfer, is TalkTalk right in saying it wouldn't take place quickly?

Thanks for any responses!

That LLU thing is not true. I considered LLU to a non LLU line and I was told I'd have to pay a charge for it. I asked for downtime and they said, the most I'd suffer is a few minute unless it goes completely wrong then maybe two hours max but no more than that. Eventually I chose against it for various reasons and went from one LLU provider (Pipex Tiscali) to another (o2 Broadband). I didn't suffer any downtime. And if I did, it happened while I was out of the house. On the day of my migration, I was using Pipex in the morning, came home in the evening, changed my routers and found myself to be using o2 Broadband.

In response to your questions:
1) If you do take another offer from them, you are most likely going to be locked into another contract with them. When they give you a new package better than your previous, that's to keep you for another 12 months. You should confirm this in writing with them though so you know for sure.

2) I would strongly suggest you against going to Tiscali. As I said, read around on any forums about Tiscali's abmyssal service. If you go down that route, good luck. If talk talk are going alright, I'd stay with them but I'd never ever recommend Tiscali. Their price reflects their level of service (even then, I'd say it's too expensive for that sort of sh-it service!)

3) You shouldn't have a downtime at all if you are using a MAC code. You only have downtime if you cancel the contract and then you have to wait for them to remove their tag from the line, put you back on BTs exhange blah blah. If,on the other hand, you request a MAC code, whoeever you go to whether they are a LLU provider or not, you'll experience at most very little downtime. Definitely no more than a day. So yeh, they are lying.