Is BT my best option

shaz77_2

I currently have a BT line and use BT option 1 and in addition to this I use BT broadband.

While I'm quite happy with my broadbands performance I am a little unhappy with the rather steep prices.

The primary use for my landline is for Internet access with the odd call made ater 6pm on the landline. I usually get a quartly bill of around £110 and I would be interested in reducing this.

I was wondering is there a better package available to tailor my needs, I'm from Northern Ireland so I understand that not all packages such as Talktalk are available to me. Incidentally while price is a key factor I don't want to change to a shoddy package either.

Thanks in advance.

mar7t1n

BT Broadband costs way too much! You can do much better with anyone else. Most of the ISP's still use BT equipment to supply the actual service so service stability will not change whoever you go with. You can of course choose the big boys who have fancy portal sites, but that's what BBC.co.uk if for if you ask me! Free Services = No Customer Service! And lots of hidden terms and conditions and having to pay for things you probably didn't want anyway.

So my recommendation is Force 9. Their service is from £9.99 a month (for 1Gb) but an average used would pay £14.99 for plenty of download allowance.

So you'd then be paying £33 to BT + £44.97 to F9 = £77.97 a quater = £32 saved!

shaz77_2

That is an interesting response, one reason why I have held out with BT for this long was because I thought a cheaper service would mean a lesser provider.

While I'm not ruling Force 9 in or out (I know very little about it) what other providers are worth considering?

Thanks again.

Drunkstar

Ring Bt on 0800800880 and take optionn 2. this is the team that makes save offers. They will give you a £4 a month discount on that package. Not a huge saving, but its a saving.

Spendaholic_Chick

shaz77 wrote: »

I'm from Northern Ireland so I understand that not all packages such as Talktalk are available to me. QUOTE]

For that you should be truly thankful!

darwin-rover

Virgin (formally NTL) have a bundle deal . 2 for £20 , broadband and phone line inc line rental . At the minute the basic phone line only includes free weekend landline calls , but rumour has it it will be upgraded for free to include free evening calls as well from 1st May . So you will save £50 a quarter .
Customer service used to be really bad , but I've found it is getting better .
There is also a money-back guarantee at the minute
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/money_back_guarantee.html

former_student

Hi Darwin

I've heard a lot of good stuff regarding Virgin as of late, would it be rated higher than BT both quality and price wise?

hurrah

former_student wrote: »

Hi Darwin

I've heard a lot of good stuff regarding Virgin as of late, would it be rated higher than BT both quality and price wise?

On the phone front,their is no proof yet that Free Evening as well as Weekend Calls will be included. They have only just reduced the cost of this add on from 1/5/2007.

From the 1/5/07 it will operate minute billing for all chargeable calls.

It charges 6p connection for all chargeable calls.

Its NGN 0845/0870 rates are expensive.

It has started to block cheap call access numbers.

It charges £1 for itemised billing.

It charges £1.75p for caller display.

Its meddling with its voicemail service to get you to pay more for it
see:http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=428607

Its call packages are dear

Its the most expensive phone service around.

If your looking for a cheaper plain old telephone service,have a read of this useful post.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=4

former_student

hurrah wrote: »

On the phone front,their is no proof yet that Free Evening as well as Weekend Calls will be included. They have only just reduced the cost of this add on from 1/5/2007.

From the 1/5/07 it will operate minute billing for all chargeable calls.

It charges 6p connection for all chargeable calls.

Its NGN 0845/0870 rates are expensive.

It has started to block cheap call access numbers.

It charges £1 for itemised billing.

It charges £1.75p for caller display.

Its meddling with its voicemail service to get you to pay more for it
see:http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=428607

Its call packages are dear

Its the most expensive phone service around.

If your looking for a cheaper plain old telephone service,have a read of this useful post.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1598074&postcount=4

Thanks Hurrah

I'm currently on BT option one and I also receive broadband from them as well, quartly bills work out about £110 so I'm looking for something a little cheaper. I don't really use the landline much it just exists mainly for broadband. Any recommendations on a better package than BT, maybe there iisnt one.

darwin-rover

former_student wrote: »

Hi Darwin

I've heard a lot of good stuff regarding Virgin as of late, would it be rated higher than BT both quality and price wise?

Would probably work out cheaper if you took a bundle , ie. phone BB , TV . Theres a 3 for £30 bundle for instance .
If you are using the phone a lot I would agree as Hurrah says , its not the cheapest for calls , but then I rarely use it to call people , I get free minutes on my mobile for that .

former_student

darwin-rover wrote: »

Would probably work out cheaper if you took a bundle , ie. phone BB , TV . Theres a 3 for £30 bundle for instance .
If you are using the phone a lot I would agree as Hurrah says , its not the cheapest for calls , but then I rarely use it to call people , I get free minutes on my mobile for that .

Don't make many calls to be honest, the most the calls has ever come to for a quarter is around £15, most of the rest is on VAT and broadband (£48.48).