Moving from Sky

surfatwork

Hi
AT the moment, I get TV+BB+phone from Sky. I decided I had to move after seeing my last few phone bills. I need anytime calls and unlimited BB - my wife and I both work from home and our work requires us to log into long conference calls with streaming video/audio. Sky doesnt have a phone package with free calls to 0844 numbers, so adding their £5 anytime option doesnt cut it.
The Orange deals look rather tempting, especially now that Orange is reputed to have significantly improved its call centre and support. However Orange informed that Sky had made changes to my phone line which made it impossible for them to provide me service straightaway i.e I had to go to BT, or suffer a break in service while Sky disconnected my service, restored it to BT in some manner, allowing Orange to provide services on it - the downtime was estimated to be about 3 weeks, which is simply not an option.
No change to TV - we are happy with Sky.
So this is my cunning plan:

1. Shift phone line to BT (BT has confirmed they can do this seamlessly) on line-rental only 12-month contract (£13.90/month). Retain BB with Sky.
2. After a month, ask Orange to provide me service for both BB and phone (£22.75/month)
3. I am told that BT would now send me a contract/service termination invoice, which would require me to pay them £2.50 for the balance 11 months. this is fine.
The numbers work as follows:
One month phone with BT: £13.90
BT penalty for early termination: 2.50 x 11 = £27.50
One month of Sky BB: £12.50
11 months of BB+phone with Orange: 22.75 x 11 = £250.25
Total for the year: £304.15 (and I get the Orange freebies, free wifi on BT Openzone etc.)

This compares to the £297 I would pay Sky if I add the Anytime call option to my current bill.

your comments would be very welcome.
1. Would the above work?
2. Does anyone have experience of BT early termination penalties? Do they charge the whole £13.90 per month, or £2.50?
3. Would there be any breaks in service?
4. How is Orange's service and support "of late"?

cheers

macman

Your line has been LLU'd by Sky-what Orange are proposing is basically a new line install (or a reconnection on the old line, which amounts to the same thing as far as OR are concerned). What I doubt is whether you'll retain the Sky broadband without interruption during that processs, should you go the return to donor route.

steveE2

You wont be able to keep the broadband if you transfer the line

If you decide to cancel or switch your Sky Talk services to another provider, your Sky Broadband service will automatically be cancelled at the same time.

http://www.sky.com/shop/terms-conditions/broadband/

surfatwork

Oh, that's terrible. Thanks for that, Steve - Sky confirmed it to me when I called and asked.
So is there a way out? Or is my only option BT with a 18-month broadband+landline contract?? That is horrendously expensive - costs 33.90 for 3months + 41.90 for 15 = £730 ?
Suggestions please....

macman

Your only other option is to get a new line provisioned. Starts at about £60 up to £130 depending on the provider.

property.advert

I too have a similar dilemma. I have everything with Sky including their daily unlimited etc. for £5 a month extra.

Every year or so I look at alternatives and every year it is just too troublesome to do anything about it, largely because their is no comparison service to Sky.

So what I resort to is to phone Sky and threaten to leave. This usually gives me some discount off something for 6 months, which reduces my overall bill from around £60 per month to around £40 per month. Given that the TV element is over £20 on its own, I can live with the rest, though I would like a true alternative.

surfatwork

bit the bullet and added the £5 SkyTalk unlimited package.
but its a bit shameful. On the face of it, consumers have a choice of several dozen suppliers. but its when you dig deeper that the truth emerges - there really is very little choice. and providers like Sky and BT are devious in how they tie you down.

property.advert

surfatwork wrote: »

bit the bullet and added the £5 SkyTalk unlimited package.
but its a bit shameful. On the face of it, consumers have a choice of several dozen suppliers. but its when you dig deeper that the truth emerges - there really is very little choice. and providers like Sky and BT are devious in how they tie you down.

Another fact which narks me is that Sky charge for 0845/0870. More and more companies are removing their geographic numbers and you can't find an alternative on saynoto0870.com

I had to phone one and the bill for that call alone will be around £2.

Yet to find a solution to telephone and internet which betters Sky and gives large or unlimited downloads and 0845/0870 free.