Please help me choose a new internet/phone provider

daska

I'm struggling here. I'm disabled and rely on my internet for communication/ shopping/ entertainment. I watch a lot on iPlayer but I don't play games or download films unless my son is visiting during the holidays (and I can always tell him not to and be relatively sure he'll remember. I'm trying to read the advice and the terms and it's just not going click! The swathes of prices v. pros v. cons might as well be in swahili (I can read Greek LOL)

Currently
BT unlimited broadband and pay for free LL calls 24/7
Using a homehub - so will need a new router?
Using McAfee because it comes with BT
Out of contract so can move to a new provider without penalty.

Hoping that I'll be able to move house in the next few months (but this might not happen). So ideally I need to be able to move whatever contract I take on with me. Do any/all do this?

What's my best bet?

vicx

Are TalkTalk available at your exchange? If you are unsure you can find out here: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

TalkTalk Line Rental £14.50 which includes free evening & weekend calls (or £9.50 per month if you pay £114 up front).
The Essentials plan is £3.25 per month plus free unlimited broadband.

You will receive a new router.

Extras include; free 1,000 minutes to mobiles for 3 months (usually £5.00 per month) and £25.00 love to shop voucher

You can also add anytime calls for £5 so the monthly cost would be £22.75

http://sales.talktalk.co.uk/product/broadband/v-essentials?portalId=BB_GENIE

Also cashback via Quido and TCB

daska

Yes they are, I'll see if I can find out whether I can move the contract if I move house.

It's not a huge selection here. If it helps SamKnows lists:
AOL
C&W
Sky/Easynet
TalkTalk
Tiscali
Tiscali TV

For all that I watch a lot on iPlayer I'm not a great TV watcher. I lose track easily so I like to be able to go back and double check what's going on.

daska

No, I've managed to get part way through the terms and conditions but I can't find it, and I'm beginning to twitch with the effort. I might try to get in to CPW tomorrow.

vicx

It is under the Help section:

http://help.talktalk.co.uk/app/answers/detail/a_id/2072

macman

Sky is the obvious LLU option on your exchange. However if you move and they are not available LLU on your new exchange (if different) then you'd be stuck either with a large ETC or the dire Sky Connect service (resold BT Wholesale service).
So it might be better to saty with your current service until OOC, or you move.
Do yourself a favour and ditch McCrappee though, plenty of much better free options such as Avira or Avast, even MSE.

bod1467

TLA overload?

ETC - Early Termination Charges
OOC - Out Of Contract
MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials (not Money Saving Expert)

daska

Yep! I got OOC and MSE but ETC was doing my head in. I am out of contract with BT, I'm just anxious not to take on something that will cost me if I move given that I'm actively trying to find somewhere new to live.

Sky would require a dish, yes? I can't do that here due to the listing, it's only grade 2 but we're in a conservation area as well so I foresee reams of paperwork with that option...

I only have McAfee because it's part of the BT package. It's a pain! I won't be sad to leave it behind. I'm not up to speed with what's available now, I used to use panda and avg and the like but my head doesn't deal well with 'new' things. Old skills and knowlege are fine, new ones are quite literally a headache.

vicx

daska wrote: »

Yep! I got OOC and MSE but ETC was doing my head in. I am out of contract with BT, I'm just anxious not to take on something that will cost me if I move given that I'm actively trying to find somewhere new to live.

Sky would require a dish, yes? I can't do that here due to the listing, it's only grade 2 but we're in a conservation area as well so I foresee reams of paperwork with that option...

I only have McAfee because it's part of the BT package. It's a pain! I won't be sad to leave it behind. I'm not up to speed with what's available now, I used to use panda and avg and the like but my head doesn't deal well with 'new' things. Old skills and knowlege are fine, new ones are quite literally a headache.

Unless you are taking Sky TV then you won't need a dish for taking out Sky phone & broadband. I recently signed up for Sky, not realising they had changed the call package from evening & weekends to weekends only so cancelled my order to stay with my current provider.

Sky line rental is £14.50 which includes free weekend calls or you can add anytime calls for an extra £5 per month. They have offers on broadband at the moment, either free for the first 6 month then £10 per month after or £5 per month for 12 months - however both of these offers work out the same over the full year.

daska

Thanks vicx, Sky becomes a possibility except that looking through the home move faqs, it only talks about cancelling and getting a new installation.

Gordon_Hose

Don't change provider until after you've moved house. Or that you've checked you can get an equivalent service with your new ISP at the new property.

Otherwise you'll be back moaning they can't give you what you signed up for now that you've moved house, breach of contract, can you cancel etc. lol