Which Broadband/phone is best?

HeadKM

We have been with Tiscali for the internet for years and, on the whole, have been perfectly happy with very few problems after the initial set up.

However, I am well aware that we could get a much better deal, financially speaking, by switching to a phone and internet package (our phone is currently with Talk Talk so could add the internet to that)

What has been holding me back is worries about whether there will be any teething problems with the switch over, the hassle of letting everyone know our new email addresses (which include our home business) and whether the customer service or internet quality will be worse with a new provider

Can anyone recommend a provider or comment on Talk Talk's service and how to ensure a good changeover?
After reading other comments I'm worried when asking for the MAC code that we will be disconnected before our new service is up and running.
Are there any providers with UK call centres and great customer service?

I am now at the end of my tether with the HUGE amount of spam emails (despite bullguard spam filter which I constantly "train" but with only partial success) we get every day and think that changing our email address will help.

Would be most grateful to hear from you.

Many thanks for reading

macman

Are you already out of contract with Tiscali?
I would suggest you look at o2 (but they don't do home phone services, only mobile and broadband). if you have an o2 mobile (contract or PAYG) you will get about £5 a month off the usual rate. They have a UK call centre and good CS. But you need to check first if they are LLU on your exchange (use samknows.com)-if not the rate is not very competitive.
If you look at other threads on this board you will be able to form your own opinions about TT's service level...
Changeover should be painless enough, you should only lose service for minutes or a few hours at most.
Since Tiscali could be going down the tube any day now no real reason to delay.

HeadKM

Many thanks for your advice.
I have looked on Samknows and found out that we are ADSL and LLT -
does this mean that O2 won't be very good for us pricewise?
My husband's mobile 'phone is with O2 so that would give us the extra discount.
If the price isn't very good on O2 what would you recommend in second place (not just on price but customer service as well)
We don't download music, films etc so only need normal internet use and emails.
Much appreciated
Katie

Sazbo

Thanks macman for the info. I have today requested (and just received) my MAC code from Tiscali, after reading about Tiscali's troubles. Was wondering if it was worth hanging on with Tiscali to see who takes over their customers - but I guess that assumes they find a buyer? I have a pay and go mobile with O2 so may switch to their broadband. Will check on samknows. I switched my folks to their deal earlier this year and the service they've received so far seems to be very good. At least I have the MAC code now.

S

macman

HeadKM: you need to look at the 'LLU Operators' list for your exchange on samknows, if o2 is on that list, that will tell you that you can get it at the best rate. Otherwise you can only get it at the higher rate (but still with the mobile discount).

HeadKM

Sazbo - are you confident that Tiscali won't disconnect you now that they have given you the MAC code ? - I am a bit wary of asking for it even if I don't say I want to terminate just in case!

Macman - I went on to O2's website and when I filled in our postcode it came up that I could only have their "Access" package which is £10 more expensive than their "normal" one so not competitive (£17 even with the £5 discount). I didn''t realise that you couldn't just choose any provider (I am now learning fast!) - I thought that once your area had Broadband then everyone covered you
Do you have any other suggestions please?

Many thanks Katie

Sazbo

HeadKM wrote: »

Sazbo - are you confident that Tiscali won't disconnect you now that they have given you the MAC code ? - I am a bit wary of asking for it even if I don't say I want to terminate just in case!

Hmm... well I guess the short answer is I don't know Katie! I requested my Mac code by email - I kinda assumed that they would only terminate accounts over the phone (and if explicitly asked to) - but maybe that's faulty logic on my part lol. Slightly different scenario for me as I've not been living at that address recently anyway, so for me not the end of the world if they do terminate. But I guess time will tell!

Sx

macman

HeadKM: shame about o2, but recheck it with your actual phone number not just postcode, as this is more accurate.
If still no, see which other ISP's are on the LLU list at your exchange, these are the ones that are likely to give you a better deal-this is because they have their own kit in the exchange, all the others are just reselling the BT service, so their prices are less competitive.

Picklepie_2

the gadget show just covered this on Monday's show, should be on their website, apparently Tiscali came out tops!

HeadKM

Macman - thank you - I have checked the actual phone number with O2 but it still comes up that we can't get their service . I have checked on Samknows and we can't get LLU here.
So I think we are a bit stuck really - looks like we don't have much choice but to stay with Tiscali! I didn't realise it was only a limited number of providers that we could use.

Thank you too to the other respondent - I will look at The Gadget show's website with interest

macman

If no other operators are LLU you may still get a better deal with someone other than Tiscali-you can use any ISP that offers a non-LLU service, which is most of them. If you are on a Tiscali non-LLU service already then the other non-LLU services are probably offering similar pricing. On price alone you will probably find it cheapest to bundle broadbandwith your Talktalk phone.