Anyone using Plusnet value - pros and cons

tedsui

Does anybody that is signed up with Plusnet value have any pros or cons regarding this ISP that they would like to share with me. I have been researching them on the web and what I have learned is that they are owned by BT, they seem to offer a fair "value for money" service, but is there any "small print" I should be aware of? I have a BT phone line already but the web seems to suggest I need to pay extra for a dedicated Plusnet line - can't quite get my head round this. Also they advertise a 10GB monthly usage (which is the same as BT) but then they quote another charge for extra usage. Any comments appreciated.

Quentin

The amount charged depends on how much competition there is at your exchange. It's either £5.99/month or £11.99/month.

The main small print to note is the speed restrictions:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/quality_broadband/speed.shtml#valuespeeds

You don't need to switch line rental to them.

If you exceed the 10GB allowance you pay £2 per 2GB (or part) extra.

The minimum contract is 18 months.

tedsui

Hi Quentin
Thank you very much for the info. As I understand it I will pay 3 months at £5.99 and then switch to £11.99 for the remaining 15 months. I have been using Pipex for the last year with a 2GB usage per month so I don't think I will be exceeding the 10 GB they quote, but I was unsure if I was reading it correctly. I only get 512 Kb where I live so they seem to be an excellent value package. I have about 10 days left on my MAC code so I will be needing to sort this out before Easter me thinks. Thanks again.

JohalaReewi

Not sure what you mean about you only get 512Kb where you live but, I will assume you live a long way from the exchange and have a fixed 512Kb connection. If you take up the Plusnet package, you will be on upto 8Mb ADSL. The key thing is the upto because it could also be downto 400K. Have a read over at http://www.kitz.co.uk/

notbritishgas

Hi tedsui, I changed from Tiscali to plusnet value in early March. I am lucky to be in a market 3 area so have got the permanent £5.99 deal.
I have to say so far so good, the 10gb limit does not affect me as I am not an avid downloader, and as for the speed limitations pointed out by Quentin they do at least make it clear what speed you get and at what times, normal surfing is not limited, except by the numbers of people using the system.
Have a look at the plusnet forum and you will see the help available by their tech guys.
One thing though, if your line characteristics limit you to 512kbs then you will not get faster speed from plusnet, but if you are on a fixed 512k then changing to ADSL max could improve speed, but I went from a fixed 1mb with Tiscali to my current 4.2 mb and have not noticed too much improvement in general surfing.

tedsui

Hi JohalaReewi
Thanks for the link which I had a look at, fascinating, if I could understand what it all means. Each time I have checked my line I have been informed that the best I can hope for is 512 Kb. I live 4.76 Km from Lydd, Kent exchange which seems to be a predominately BT wholesale exchange. People in New Romney living 1/2 a mile from their exchange get 8 Mb no probs. C'est la vie.

tedsui

Hi notbritishgas,
Thanks for your response also. I am certainly not a big user (having been used to a 2GB cap for the last year). I certainly liked the write-ups on the Plusnet website on the customer satisfaction side. As I have just replied in my previous response, I don't understand the technical side of an exchange and what all the figures mean (I am a mere woman after all, and not supposed to know these things). However, I am going to sit tight for the next couple of days and hope BT re-make contact with me, and if not, then it will be Plusnet here I come.

Quentin

Be careful - you say your MAC runs out in 10 days, which is about the time it takes for a move to complete.

If you don't use it in time you could end up paying another month to your current ISP, and have to start again giving in your notice and getting a new MAC. Or worse, could you end up getting cut off by your current ISP at the end of your notice period even though your MAC hasn't been used?

Lorian

Don't forget there is ually a big quidco payback to be had signing up to plusnet - currently £28. Don't use anyones referal code at the same time though otherwise you'll loose your cashback.

They only real restriction with value is you can't get a static IP address but for you average user this is not a problem.

notbritishgas

tedsui wrote: »

Hi notbritishgas,
Thanks for your response also. I am certainly not a big user (having been used to a 2GB cap for the last year). I certainly liked the write-ups on the Plusnet website on the customer satisfaction side. As I have just replied in my previous response, I don't understand the technical side of an exchange and what all the figures mean (I am a mere woman after all, and not supposed to know these things). However, I am going to sit tight for the next couple of days and hope BT re-make contact with me, and if not, then it will be Plusnet here I come.

Oops, I nearly called you Ted.
Further to what Quentin said, I got my MAC from Tiscali on 3 March, applied to Plusnet same day and was connected on 10 Mar, so your 10 days is running out fast.

tedsui

Thanks to all of you that have replied to me with this thread. My MAC expires on 16 Apr and I have the BT rep trying to sort out a contract for me back with BT, but my fall-back idea is to go with Plusnet if I cannot get back to BT. I am in correspondence with the BT rep (via the forum) and I have to give them a few days to work something out for me. The person at Tiscali who gave me my Pipex MAC code (after I got OFCOM involved) has said if it runs out of time he will renew it for me (well we will see). And no, I am not the Ted part of this, he is my other half.