BT Vision - Do I HAVE to take a 24 month contract?

Ste_C

I'd much rather only take 12.

Don't want to try phoning them as you can never get through to BT and I want to complete the order online to get Quidco cash.

Am I able to select a 12 month option - or will this cost me more per month?

On a related note, how long before companies are offering 36 and 48 month contracts as the norm? Why as consumers have we allowed them to extend the standard 12 month contracts to 24 months?

Pegman

When I signed up I had to for 18 months, Vision is fine and works well, it has some good features like on demand, but the films are well out of date, and some are worse than B movies.

The broadband package is terrible, my home hub needs resetting at least twice a day, the port allocation is useless, my laptop was once allocated a gaming port ( which is very unsecure).

BT also have a fairusage, and network management policy, which means if you go over your download limit in any one month, they reduce your speed for thirty days, this happened to me, and I've been without Vision for 5 days now, even though BT themselves say broadband usage does not affect Vision, the Vision department says otherwise.

My contract ends in November, and to be honest I can't wait.

Digital TV was never supposed to be this difficult

Ste_C

I know the service is hit and miss. I know friends who have it and it's fine for them but others hate it.

Due to where I live it works out the best package for me and I'm not too bothered about the TV stuff.

I just don't like how they tie you into such long deals these days when media and technology are changing constantly.

Stuart_W

If you end up deciding on BTVision there is up to £135 cashback up for grabs from quidco for new BT customers.

http://www.quidco.com/bt-total-broadband/

Pegman

Ste_C wrote: »

I know the service is hit and miss. I know friends who have it and it's fine for them but others hate it.

Due to where I live it works out the best package for me and I'm not too bothered about the TV stuff.

I just don't like how they tie you into such long deals these days when media and technology are changing constantly.

If you have optical fibre in you're area it costs the same as the outdated copper wire, how does that work ?
i would seriously look at the Sky HD package online, it's afantastic price and works out cheaper than the BT full package price, plus Sky sports on BT Vision is not a HD service, nor won't be for another 3 or 4 yrs, the only HD channels available to Vision customers are on-demand

macman

Ste_C wrote: »

I know the service is hit and miss. I know friends who have it and it's fine for them but others hate it.

Due to where I live it works out the best package for me and I'm not too bothered about the TV stuff.

I just don't like how they tie you into such long deals these days when media and technology are changing constantly.

What does BT Vision give you that Freesat/Freeview and a decent PVR cannot (apart from the limited on-demand content)?
It also ties you into BT's overpriced and poor broadband.

jd87

Any answers to the original question? I too am interested in BT Vision but really don't want a 24 month contract.

Also any ideas whether Freeview HD channels will be available through it at all soon?

GlasWolf

They used to offer a shorter term, but I've just gone part-way through the order process and there's no option to change it there. I'm on a slightly worse package than their £17.99 option for slightly more money, but I'm not sure if they'd let me recontract for the new price (or if I want to). I was quoted about £7.50 per remaining month each for phone and broadband cancellation. Bear in mind that you can transfer the contract if you move house though.

macman wrote: »

What does BT Vision give you that Freesat/Freeview and a decent PVR cannot (apart from the limited on-demand content)?
It also ties you into BT's overpriced and poor broadband.

Not much, but it's a good box and I got it for free, along with ESPN for £10 and free line activation. And broadband quality just seems to depend where you live - I've had no problems at all in nearly a year with BT (touch wood), and had 7 years' perfect service with ntl/Virgin before that.

jd87 wrote: »

Also any ideas whether Freeview HD channels will be available through it at all soon?

According to BT there will be a Freeview HD box "later this year". The question is what they will charge for the box and/or service when it's available, particularly if you're already an existing customer.

Inactive

Ste_C wrote: »

On a related note, how long before companies are offering 36 and 48 month contracts as the norm? Why as consumers have we allowed them to extend the standard 12 month contracts to 24 months?

Because many punters sign up to them, I avoid all companies that have contracts over 30 days.

Ste_C

macman wrote: »

What does BT Vision give you that Freesat/Freeview and a decent PVR cannot (apart from the limited on-demand content)?
It also ties you into BT's overpriced and poor broadband.

I'm not really bothered about the TV stuff. It works out cheaper because I don't already have broadband in my new place and I don't have a phone line connection.

To get broadband I need a phone line, and this works out cheapest and most convenient.

macman

Eh? But you can get a BT line installed for £30 without taking BT Vision-then you can choose a decent ISP.