BT - renewal for phone and broadband advice please

gemlover

I used to have a total package with Biscit before they went into administration 2 years ago and had to go back to BT just to get a phone line and signed up for this and Total Broadband. This deal comes to an end at the end of March and they have offered me a £5 off the £22.99 broadband deal! Our BT bill each month is about £45 for phone, line and broadband as I think we were put on Option 3 unlimited calls for the phone and also for Broadband Option 3. I know I have paid over the odds for the past 2 years and as I was tied in I couldn't change but it appears I can't move to a LLU provider as I've checked following the various threads on here.
Can anyone suggest a deal please.

kwikbreaks

You need to work out just what you need as a calls package ( possibly nothing if you use something like http://www.call1899.co.uk ) and what sort of download limit you need on broadband before you start to look for deals.

There are minor savings to be made moving the line billing to someone other than BT (power companies, Post Office, etc.) but my own experience in the past is that if anything does wrong with the line it can be a PITA dealing with it through these intermediaries so I stick with BT myself (although I may be tempted to move to O2 if that deal turns out to be as attractive as their BB)

Broadband - BT are one of the most expensive and poorest quality BB suppliers so picking a name from a hat would almost certainly be an improvement but knowing whether you need a high download limit or can get by on a low user type package will allow you to fine tune that choice

gemlover

Thankyou.

I would like to keep the phone line with BT and the limit for the download would be moderate. There is only me in the house using the internet and I don't download music or video files but do download census images for my family history research. When the contract with BT was first taken out there were 3 of us in the house on the internet for approx 5 hours a day.
We have Sky+ and was hoping to go with them but without the LLU we can't or can we?
Di

macman

What exchange are you on?
https://www.samknows.com

gemlover

Thanks.
Just checked and it's Mold. I'm sure when I checked at the weekend though it said Buckley!

macman

Well they don't move you around from exchange to exchange...if you use the number checker (rather than postcode checker) it should be completely accurate.
Plenty of LLU options on Mold: 02/Be is the obvious one.
Sky is not LLU on that exchange, so you would only be offered Sky Connect at £17.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/WNM

gemlover

Lol Macman.
Thank you. I will look at the website and see what option is best.
Di

macman

Don't forget the £5 02 mobile discount and £50 Quidco cashback if you go with them.

gemlover

Just looked and the O2 option looks good. I am an O2 mobile customer which will help reduce costs too. Just wondered how soon I should ask for the MAC code with BT if contract expires at end of March.

I would like to get it sorted asap so I can then go and get a deal on my gas and electric.
Thanks

macman

Your MAC lasts for 30 days, so quite soon would be OK-normally takes up to 5 working days to get that.

gemlover

Macman thank you for your advice. I really appreciate it. Will request MAC code and see what happens.
Di