BT Rep's response to Virgin Broadband deal

StephenDerbyshire

So this is actually how a BT representative on their web chat actually responded to me as a prospective customer...


We are now routing you to one of our chat team...

You are now connected with Stacie
Stacie: Welcome to BT, the most complete broadband provider. My name is Stacie.
Stacie: Hi, how can I help?
Stephen: I need to choose a broadband package
Stephen: We'll be using it mostly for streaming media and home working
Stacie: Great
Stacie: do you have a phone line with bt?
Stephen: what happens if we go ofver the 40gb allowance?
Stacie: You will be charged £5 per 5GB used
Stacie: If you approach your limit, you will be informed
Stephen: What does 40gb look like?
Stacie: With 40Gb you can download 10,240 music files, 40,960 photos, 59 movies, 10 HD movies or 117 hours of iPlayer every month. If you exceed your usage allowance, we won't just cut you off.
Stephen: Would HD streaming significantly cut that down?
Stacie: I'm not sure on how much usage HD streaming would affect
Stephen: What would be the costs on top to have a phone for emergencies only?
Stephen: Can we change packages and upgrade within the 18month contract?
Stacie: You can upgrade at anytime during your contract
Stephen: What does £10 line rental mean?
Stacie: That is the line rental for the phone line
Stacie: You will need this to receive broadband
Stephen: So 40gb a month is actually £28?
Stacie: This package is just £7.50 a month for the first 3 months and then only £18 a month on an 18 month contract. *line rental fee from £10 per month will apply additionally*
Stacie: This also gives you weekend calls
Stephen: What if we don't want a call allowance?
Stacie: you will need calls with BT to receive broadband
Stephen: That doesn't seem very competative, we currently receive unlimitted broadband from Virgin for just £24 per month
Stephen: no line rental
Stacie: Ok
Stephen: Don't BT have anything to compete?
Stacie: No,
Stacie: Thank you for chatting with me today, as BT Values your feedback, please click the "Close" button at top right to close the chat.

Thank you for chatting with us.




The problem is, where I'm moving to, I don't actually have a choice - BT is the only provider. Can anyone recomend someone that I can send this to at BT?

deklan99

BT Retail won't be the only provider. Assuming you've checked http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search and found no LLU providers listed you can pick from any ISP that resells BT Wholesale products, that's just about all of them.

StephenDerbyshire

Thanks for that. I didn't know - I have options it seems!

loeeza

true BT did not even try to offer me a deal similar to VM.

iniltous

VM are the only ISP who offer broadband without also having to pay line rental...apart from mobile broadband, if you dont want to pay line rental and VM isnt in the area then mobile is the only option...but does it matter ?, if you dont want a phone line, dont plug a phone in, chose a provider who's line and broadband fees are suitable, chose a calls plan that doesnt require calls to be made, you should be able to do this for less than VM figure even with the supposed extra fee for 'line rental', but cheapest isnt always best..buy dont get hung up on 'why do I have to pay line rental if I only want broadband', because unless you chose mobile broadband, and if you stream HD video thats a non starter, as it will cost a fortune, then you have no choice

jamesy1986

The only thing BT are competitive with is their TV service which isnt that great anyway but very cheap.

I use to do the same thing when I was selling BT stuff. Any mention of Virgin and I knew I wasnt going to win it. I use Virgin myself for Broadband and would never think of going to another ISP, and if I did it would be o2, but I dont want or need a phone line.

Chomerly

Virgin Media do provide their broadband service through BT lines.
If the property where your moving to has a BT line already installed you can call BT to find out what the MAC is for that address and get them to send it to you.

All you do then is call Virgin and provide them with the MAC and it'll usually be sorted within a week. Usually 5 days.

If the property doesn't have a line then you may have to ask BT to provide one but it will cost you a bit as your not going to be taking out a service with them.