Should I leave Virgin Media? CONFUSED!!!

LilyLarkin

Hi everyone - I'm looking for advice, please!

Like many people, I am desperate to cut my outgoings. I work for myself and it is thin on the ground at the moment. Still, in the course of my work, I use the internet for many hours a day, every day. So I VERY MUCH need a reliable, and fast, broadband service.

I am with Virgin Media - have been for many years since switching elsewhere seems a major hassle (and cost), and I don't think going back to ADSL from cable would be a good idea, with ADSL being an inferior technology.

I currently pay VM £35.39 a month for my bundle - XL phone (unlimited calls but not to 0845 etc) and 20Mb broadband, plus any additional usage charges on top. I am no longer in contract, but I just phoned to see if they can offer any savings and basically, all they can do is cut my phone service to L (unlimited weekend & evening calls only), which would save approx £4 a month.

I actually don't use the landline phone an awful lot, but I do prefer it to my mobile for when it comes to long calls with friends, though I suppose these do tend to be evening. Although it is also better for long interviews as I only have so many free minutes on my mobile (in contract until November this year with Orange, paying £21pm).

I am very confused as to what the options are - looking at comparison sites only serves to confuse me even more. I don't know whether to leave Virgin as I do feel like I am paying a lot, and times are tough. But I need unlimited broadband usage really.

I don;t know who else are reliable cable providers? Any ideas/help? I barely watch TV - so deals which include TV are not of interest to me. I am in fact thinking of getting rid of my TV altogether to save on the license fee!

And also - what is the difference with the BT Infinity fibre optic broadband? It sounds fancy but is it better?

Thanks.

macman

There are no other national cable providers. If you leave VM, you must install or reconnect a BT-based landline to get any kind of ADSL or fibre broadband.
BT's FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet) service is branded Infinity and should give you a faster service than ADSL, but the same wholesale service is available from many BT resellers such as Plusnet, Sky etc-as long your area offers FTTC of course.
I suggest that you start with an exchange search on www.samknows.com to see what LLU providers are available to you.

LilyLarkin

Thank you - well I think according to the site, I am likely to be able to get FTTC in my area.

So this is available through companies like Plusnet, rather than going to BT?

fozia06

I am wondering the same thing.....paying roughly the same as you

Being made redundant end of this month so looking on ways to save some money....

kwikbreaks

If you have no BT phone line it will be cheaper initiall to go with them as they have been doing free installs on Infinity for a long time now but the others will charge.

macman

LilyLarkin wrote: »

Thank you - well I think according to the site, I am likely to be able to get FTTC in my area.

So this is available through companies like Plusnet, rather than going to BT?

Yes, check who offers FTTC in your area-use the number checkers on the websites. Plusnet are the obvious non-LLU alternative to BT for FTTC. Sky may also offer it, and there are others.
PN typically charge £49 for a new line provision or reconnection.

LilyLarkin

Hmm I'm really starting to think I might have to switch to ADSL but it feels like going backwards!

But the Utility Warehouse deal looks good (can't link it properly because I am too new!):

https:// www utilitywarehouse.co.uk/ comms/ index

Timalay

But you've got to ask yourself what you use your broadband for.

If it's for say multiple hd streams, or downloading big files. Then ADSL is a step backwards. But even if you stream one HD video, you don't need a huge connection for it (minimum I would say 8 - 9 Mbps).

If you don't use the internet heavily, then ADSL should be fine.

Next is to see what you can get in your area, best bet is to check BT Wholesale.

victor2

Virgin Media IME do give good broadband over cable, although their phone service can be pricey. Their "Superhub" gives barely adequate wireless access, but other than that seems to do the job.
You can pay the phone line rental 12 months in advance (£120) to reduce your effective monthly cost, so long as you are going to be with them for the coming 12 months.

Buzby

You will be going backwards if you switch - FTTC is already used by Virgin, but has the benefit of using co-ax copper, lower contention rates and generally superior service (providing you don't call VM's overseas centre!).

If you can dump TV, then you can lose your phone line and use VOIP instead of a landline. All your comms will still be using cable, but also for phone and streamed TV.

This will certainly be cheaper than any ADSL offering.

LilyLarkin

Thanks Buzby I think that sounds like a plan. There are ways I can still use a standard telephone to use VOIP aren't there? Like Vonage?

I hardly use the telephone but sort of like having it, just in case! But I have to ask myself if it's worth keeping up the cost.