Orange Home Broadband on Quidco + Other Questions

RoboDog

Hi Guys,

My BT Landline is going to be active by tomorrow. Following this, I am going to get the Orange Home Broadband "Home Starter" package. It will be free for me as I have an Orange monthly mobile phone contract.

Firstly, since it is free for me, will I still be eligible for the Quidco cashback?

Secondly, I saw a thread posted earlier today about Orange increasing broadband prices. Will this affect me? Do I still get it free? Also, are there any hidden costs in this? They said that they will give me a free wireless router & there is no installation required. Will I have to incur any costs at all?

Lastly, how is the service & speed in general? My package states that I can get up to 8 meg. I know the it will not be that fast, but will it be satisfactory? I am on an Orange LLU Exchange - http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/WEWLOR

Thanks in advance for any help guys.
Cheers

macman

Orange broadband has one of the worst reputations in the market, invariably at the bottom of any surveys. You may find that 'free' is of little comfort if the service is bad.
On your exchange you have a wide choice of LLU ISP's and of those I would recommend O2 as the best. You can get it for £7.34 pm if there is an O2 mobile no. you can register to it, otherwise about £12 pm.
Impossible to predict your speed, have you gone via the BT checker?
http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.TelephoneNumberOutput.
All ADSL broadband is self install.

RoboDog

Thanks for the advice macman.
My flatmate does have an O2 mobile contract.
Do you think (& others) think that Orange is so bad that I should actually ditch the free offer & pay for the O2 one? Would it really be worth it? Please keep in mind that I have great coverage for Orange & O2 in my area. I dont really care about their customer service because I have been with them for over 2-3 years now. Its just the quality of internet provided in my area that I am concerned about.

macman

The mobile coverage for O2 and Orange in your area has no bearing at all on their landline broadband provision.
I also qualify for free Orange broadband, but personally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. When it works it may be OK, but when it doesn't you'll wish you had gone elsewhere.
I pay 02 £7.34 and am very happy with the service, and my speeds have almost doubled with ADSL2+ on my exchange. Since that is nearly half what I used to pay, it's a deal I'm happy with, and in terms of value it's well worth that amount over a 'free' but unreliable service.
Don't believe me, look at all the broadband surveys (Which, Computer Shopper) where O2 comes out near the top and Orange near the bottom.

Bettingmad

It depends who you talk too, I have absolutely no issues with Orange and have been with them since Wanadoo. I was also on their free broadband but I have now moved my package to the old broadband unlimited where for £5 month I get 8meg speed, 40 Mb download, 2nd line with free calls 24/7 to 01,02 & 03 numbers and 30 international destinations. Pretty unbeatable for me I think, especially since my exchange is not unbundled.

macman

Also bear in mind that comparing 02 to Orange is not like for like. Orange is capped at 10GB pm, and 8MBps. O2 is unlimited, and you may get more than 8MBps depending on your line. Orange charges for calling technical 'support' (I tried-don't bother) which is limited hours, O2 is free 24/7.
If cost is paramount, obviously go for Orange. If you want a decent service look elsewhere.

neil9313

Bettingmad wrote: »

It depends who you talk too, I have absolutely no issues with Orange and have been with them since Wanadoo. I was also on their free broadband but I have now moved my package to the old broadband unlimited where for £5 month I get 8meg speed, 40 Mb download, 2nd line with free calls 24/7 to 01,02 & 03 numbers and 30 international destinations. Pretty unbeatable for me I think, especially since my exchange is not unbundled.

same here, been with then since 2001, i pay about £4.78 a month, 1 year contract but get 6 months free:T

RoboDog

Thanks for the invaluable information guys.
I will be looking into the O2 offer. I think that Quidco might be having some cashback deals with them which I could use to bring the price down.

macman

Quidco are curently doing £50 cashback on all O2 LLU packages, and O2 are offering the first 2 months free if you sign up before 31/8 (though this offer may be extended, as it has been before). And of course you have the £5pm O2 mobile discount available.
Together this can all bring your first year costs down to £1.95pm.
Still not as cheap as Orange of course...
BTW, Orange is also an 18m contract, O2 is only 12m.

RoboDog

All taken into account.
I will not be availing of the Orange Broadband. O2 it is!!!
Thanks again Macman!

macman

RoboDog wrote: »

All taken into account.
I will not be availing of the Orange Broadband. O2 it is!!!
Thanks again Macman!

You're welcome. A good decision. Remember the 2 months free offer expires on 31/8, so don't miss that.