Switch from o2 to BE?

edwardmluk

I'm on o2. Sick of their lousy internet connection and the provided router constantly crashing. So I want to go to BE as thats the cheapest unlimited. However apparently I'm already on an old o2 package (standard) which isnt affected by traffic shaping and is only costing me £9 per month.

As BE is part of O2, would they provide any better a service? Having spoken to two separate o2 cancellation people one said I won't get any better speed switching to BE, and the other said that there's no point getting my MAC code because switching to BE is more difficult than switching to another provider (makes NO sense to me).

Any ideas on if I should bother cancelling or not? I am pretty fed up of o2's rubbish system, but I don't want to just move to another company which will have similar poor quality.

Any recommendations on cheap unltd deals? I do like downloading, so traffic shaping is a definite no-go.

Thanks.
Ed

Jake'sGran

A couple of days ago Macman told me to go to the above site to . see what is recommended in my area as I had assumed BT might be the best. (I'm with AOL at present)./Primus/BT line rental).

They have not responded so far. How long does it take for them to give their opinion, anyone know?

The speed of this laptop is fine for me. I don't download big files or play games. It's just that AOL have increased the broadband price twice in the last few months. I want to change to an all in service when I get my MAC code.

Stompa

Jake'sGran wrote: »

They have not responded so far. How long does it take for them to give their opinion, anyone know?

Errr, you enter your phone number and post code and it takes you to a page showing what's available to you.

Stompa

edwardmluk wrote: »

As BE is part of O2, would they provide any better a service? Having spoken to two separate o2 cancellation people one said I won't get any better speed switching to BE, and the other said that there's no point getting my MAC code because switching to BE is more difficult than switching to another provider (makes NO sense to me).

If you do switch to BE, make sure to do so before the end of the month:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3081696

macman

Jake'sGran wrote: »

A couple of days ago Macman told me to go to the above site to . see what is recommended in my area as I had assumed BT might be the best. (I'm with AOL at present)./Primus/BT line rental).

They have not responded so far. How long does it take for them to give their opinion, anyone know?

The speed of this laptop is fine for me. I don't download big files or play games. It's just that AOL have increased the broadband price twice in the last few months. I want to change to an all in service when I get my MAC code.

Gran, you just put your phone number into this page, select your exchange on the next page and you get the results instantly-they don't contact you! The info you are interested in is the list of LLU providers, bottom right on the results page:
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

macman

edwardmluk wrote: »

I'm on o2. Sick of their lousy internet connection and the provided router constantly crashing. So I want to go to BE as thats the cheapest unlimited. However apparently I'm already on an old o2 package (standard) which isnt affected by traffic shaping and is only costing me £9 per month.

As BE is part of O2, would they provide any better a service? Having spoken to two separate o2 cancellation people one said I won't get any better speed switching to BE, and the other said that there's no point getting my MAC code because switching to BE is more difficult than switching to another provider (makes NO sense to me).

Any ideas on if I should bother cancelling or not? I am pretty fed up of o2's rubbish system, but I don't want to just move to another company which will have similar poor quality.

Any recommendations on cheap unltd deals? I do like downloading, so traffic shaping is a definite no-go.

Thanks.
Ed

Sounds like you'd be better off staying on your o2 legacy tariff, if it's LLU. A standard Netgear router will cost you a tenner upwards on eBay and do a better job than the Thomson O2 box.
You don't specify what is wrong with your internet connection other than 'lousy'? If it's a fault with your set up, internal wiring or wireless network than that is not 02's responsibility. If there is an external line fault then that is the responsibility of your line rental provider, and again not 02's fault.
Changing provider's will not make any difference if the fault is either of the above.
So it make sense to investigate what might be wrong with your set up first. Suggest you post your router stats so someone can take a look for you.
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php#34
You can't switch using a MAC between O2 and BE, as you are not migrating onto a different network.

PNPSUKNET

isnt BE o2 anyway?

macman

BE is owned by O2, yes, but run as a separate unit.
Same relationship as Plusnet and BT.

Jake'sGran

Stompa wrote: »

Errr, you enter your phone number and post code and it takes you to a page showing what's available to you.

That's what I did !!

Stompa

Jake'sGran wrote: »

That's what I did !!

So presumably you will have read what it said. I don't understand what you mean by: "They have not responded so far. How long does it take for them to give their opinion, anyone know?" - there won't be any response/opinion, you've already seen the results haven't you?

ACDeag

edwardmluk wrote: »

I'm on o2. Sick of their lousy internet connection and the provided router constantly crashing. So I want to go to BE as thats the cheapest unlimited. However apparently I'm already on an old o2 package (standard) which isnt affected by traffic shaping and is only costing me £9 per month.

As BE is part of O2, would they provide any better a service? Having spoken to two separate o2 cancellation people one said I won't get any better speed switching to BE, and the other said that there's no point getting my MAC code because switching to BE is more difficult than switching to another provider (makes NO sense to me).

Any ideas on if I should bother cancelling or not? I am pretty fed up of o2's rubbish system, but I don't want to just move to another company which will have similar poor quality.

Any recommendations on cheap unltd deals? I do like downloading, so traffic shaping is a definite no-go.

Thanks.
Ed

I think you will find that O2 and BE use the same equipment. Nothing will really change when you move, if your connection is lousy it will probably stay lousy. O2 own BE and it is BE's network that is used.