O2 versus BT

quinechinoise

I currently have BT Total Broadband Option 3. My broadband bill (excluding line rental) for last month was apparently £28.75.

I have just acquired a PAYG O2 SIM card, for various reasons. Their combined "The Works" package for O2 mobile customers is £34 per month for broadband plus line rental. Their MSE review suggests they have very good customer service.

Alternatively, BT have apparently changed all their packages, while I've been oblivious. Even their "Unlimited Infinity" broadband seems cheaper than my present rate. £23 to £26 per month excluding line rental.

Do you think I should upgrade my BT package to another BT package? Or do you think the O2 package is worth switching to?

I do not want the absolute cheapest deal on the market - I'd rather go with a well-known service provider that has good customer service. So please do not recommend the likes of TalkTalk, etc! The broadband equivalent of Santander is not welcome. lol

quinechinoise

If it helps, SamKnows says:

The following services are available in your location:

BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max
BT Wholesale WBC (21CN)
BT FTTC
AOL LLU
O2 / Be LLU
Bulldog LLU
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
Tiscali LLU
Tiscali TV (via Tiscali LLU)

quinechinoise

For the benefit of anyone else considering BT/O2, I've found this interesting review:
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/01/the-uk-best-broadband-isps-for-2013-ispreview-co-uk-editors-pick.html

There are also several customer reviews for various ISPs. O2 generally have good customer service reviews. BT have not so good customer service reviews - all their recent good reviews seem to focus solely on their new Infinity package. Perhaps speed is more important than a decent call centre...

chanz4

I used to work on bt broadband faults field, go with o2

macman

If customer service is a priority, why would you even have BT on your shortlist? They are regularly at the bottom of the consumer reviews, along with Horange and TT.
02 has slipped in recent years but is still near the top.

quinechinoise

macman wrote: »

If customer service is a priority, why would you even have BT on your shortlist? They are regularly at the bottom of the consumer reviews, along with Horange and TT.
02 has slipped in recent years but is still near the top.

The only reason BT is on there is: it's the only one that offers a faster service in my area - fibre to premises.

If sticking to regular broadband is good enough, then BT are NOT on my shortlist.

quinechinoise

chanz4 wrote: »

I used to work on bt broadband faults field, go with o2

Would you recommend the O2 line rental too? We don't really use our landline for anything and I'd prefer to have one combined bill.

Mind you... BT originally promised a combined bill and I've still ended up with separate bills for broadband and line rental. Is there any point to staying with such incompetence for the sake of upgrading to FTTP?

macman

quinechinoise wrote: »

The only reason BT is on there is: it's the only one that offers a faster service in my area - fibre to premises.

If sticking to regular broadband is good enough, then BT are NOT on my shortlist.

FFTC should be available from all the usual resellers as well as BT (Plusnet, Sky etc). If you must have FTTP, then obviously your options narrow somewhat! Your original post made no mention of a requirement for FTTP. And your samknows list does not show that FTTP is available. Why do you specifically need it over ADSL or FTTC?
The obvious LLU option on your list is Sky.

quinechinoise

macman wrote: »

FFTC should be available from all the usual resellers as well as BT (Plusnet, Sky etc). If you must have FTTP, then obviously your options narrow somewhat! Your original post made no mention of a requirement for FTTP. And your samknows list does not show that FTTP is available. Why do you specifically need it over ADSL or FTTC?
The obvious LLU option on your list is Sky.

Sorry. Typo - wasn't thinking and it's an unpronounceable acronym so it's easy to forget.

I do not specifically need anything other than an unlimited internet connection. We use it round the clock and watch a lot of tv online.

I will take a look at Sky next... Thanks for that suggestion. Why is it the obvious one? Have they particularly good customer service? I don't want a tv package.

quinechinoise

Well, I can apparently get Sky Fibre without satellite tv for a reasonable £34.50 including line rental. On the downside, reviews of their customer service are quite as bad as BT's. But they are cheaper than BT.

How annoying that you can't seem to get good customer service with good products. Apparently one is supposed to make up for the lack of the other!!

macman

quinechinoise wrote: »

Sorry. Typo - wasn't thinking and it's an unpronounceable acronym so it's easy to forget.

I do not specifically need anything other than an unlimited internet connection. We use it round the clock and watch a lot of tv online.

I will take a look at Sky next... Thanks for that suggestion. Why is it the obvious one? Have they particularly good customer service? I don't want a tv package.

So you don't need FTTC. If you want a genuinely unlimited broadband service, then Sky LLU is probably the best choice. You don't need Sky TV to get Sky broadband and phone-different services.