Internet while bankrupt?

Eddie_S

Hi, not sure if this is in the right forum as its mainly about utilities, but it is during bankruptcy and needs the advise of people who know more about bankruptcy than phones.

I was made bankrupt last year, automatic discharge due in June, at the moment I am connected to the net via pay as you go mobile broadband, but due to my location it used a lot of bandwidth (bad reception combined with high speed isnt a good idea!) and is also really slow and need to hit refresh many times. It also costs about £15 every 2 weeks.

Is there any way of getting broadband before I'm discharged or do I have to keep paying extortionate fees until then? I don't have a landline as I don't need one, I have a mobile but never use it. I thought Virgin Media might be best, but apparently they don't take on bankrupt customers. They're also involved with a dodgy adware company called phorm that I'd prefer to avoid.

If possible I want to avoid getting a phone that I dont need, keep contract lengths as low as possible, and avoid phorm, but seems like everyone except Virgin say I need to pay BT line retal too. Seems like all line rentals are very long contracts and I don't know how long I'm going to be living here.

Any ideas?

tigerfeet2006

Do you have Sky?

Eddie_S

No, at the moment I haven't got satelite or cable tv (figured this would be an expense that the OR wouldnt allow, and I never watch much TV anyway).
Theres nothing here atm apart from the basics, only bills I have is gas, electric, water.
I have a pay as you go mobile that I dont use and pay as you go mobile broadband which is rubbish!

Merry_Gentry

I think the problem is that in order to get a decent broadband you do need a phone line (in my limited experience).

get_me_out

Depends on your area I guess, I have a 3 pay as you go dongle and it seams fine in Cheshire even down in Rhyl too.

Waspeze

I was in a similar boat.. no phone line (would have cost me £125 to get one + over £100 deposit) and Virgin didn't have a service here.. ended up with a contract 3 dongle that's pretty rubbish.

there are other ways of getting internet via satelitte but this is not something I know much about .. maybe a bit of research will give you some ideas though I expect there'll be a large initial expense!

Waspeze

There's a thread here about it which maybe a useful read .. not sure if it'd be suitable though from my brief scan
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1151407&highlight=satelite

Eddie_S wrote: »

No, at the moment I haven't got satelite or cable tv (figured this would be an expense that the OR wouldnt allow, and I never watch much TV anyway).

Don't mistake "allowing" for "allowed on an SoA" .. you are pretty much allowed anything as long as you pay for it out of any surplus

movingforward2010

i find it bizarre your not allowed internet access when BR, it wasnt long the government wanted every household in the uk to have the internet, but if your BR your seen as some minority, its £9.99 a month, not £100!

Costus

Eddie_S wrote: »

I thought Virgin Media might be best, but apparently they don't take on bankrupt customers. They're also involved with a dodgy adware company called phorm that I'd prefer to avoid.

Hi Eddie_S, Recently went BR in Dec 08, and previous to that we got Virgin Media installed.

All they wanted before they sent out the equipment and set up the contract was £100 deposit that is refunded in 12 months, (probably due to our very poor credit rating pre BR).


We are on the 3 for £30 package, t.v., landline &broadband, i must say i think their broadband is superb, and i've never had a problem with adware/spyware whatsoever, as i currently run 5 antispyware at different times, i think one of them would of picked it up if it was there.

Its up to you obviously but i've had BT broadband and Virgin is just as quick with only 2 meg, and would recommend it highly.

Also don't worry about what the OR would say, you are allowed a £99 surplus to do with as you wish while you are BR, so you will just be using that.

Hope my comments help you.

T-T_4

anyone who has the 3 for £30 with virgin, its worth trying this number;08009529846. this will get u 3 for £20, it seems (like all companies) that u have to ask before u can receive. also when u pass this on & friends call the number & quote your reference number u will get a £30 discounted bill at a later date... worth a try....

Merry_Gentry

Costus wrote: »

Hi Eddie_S, Recently went BR in Dec 08, and previous to that we got Virgin Media installed.

All they wanted before they sent out the equipment and set up the contract was £100 deposit that is refunded in 12 months, (probably due to our very poor credit rating pre BR).

Unfortunately Virgin won't touch you until you're discharged - I moved house once Bankrupt and tried, and they said if I had my discharge papers, no problems but they wouldn't touch me while I was bankrupt