TalkTalk Speed Optimisation Bright Sparks

[Deleted User]

As my TalkTalk phone and broadband is coming up to end of contract, I got the call from them trying to get me to upgrade etc etc.

I told them on the phone that my broadband speed is only 2mb when I should be getting between 8-17mb according to their checker. So they say they will book a Speed Optimisation Bright Sparks engineer to come out on Saturday to test my speed for free.

What exactly do these Bright Sparks engineers do?

Sounds like a load of rubbish to me as the speed problem is to do with the line not the router as I've tried different routers on it in the past.

kwikbreaks

Couple of points...

first are you sure that you aren't confusing MBytes and Mbits - a 17Mbps connection will give ~ 2MBps of download.

If you really are getting just 2Mbps on a line they've estimated at 8-17Mbps then it could be internal wiring or as you suggest a line fault. It could also just be a bad estimate. The stats should show which is the case and I'm certain will be amongst the things any competent "bright spark" will check.

There remains another couple of possibilities - incorrect speed testing or using WiFi which frequently gives slower speeds than an ethernet connection.

macman

'Competent' and 'bright sparks ' is surely an oxymoron? Nor are they 'engineers'.
They don't do anything you can't do yourself. They're not qualified or allowed to do any work on the BT line itself, so if that's the issue then they won't be able to help you.

kwikbreaks

macman wrote: »

if that's the issue then they won't be able to help you.

If TalkTalk place any value on their "bright sparks" abilities and they determine there is a line fault and can arrange an Openreach visit then that is a lot of help - it bypasses going through the reportedly useless TT tech support to get the issue fixed.

Admittedly that is a pretty large IF though.

krok

With my experience of them, there is nothing bright about them.

macman

The advice available on this forum is usually sufficient to determine if there is a line fault, without the need for Bright Sparks to get involved.
If the fault turns out to be an internal wiring/wireless or extension issue, then I'd be amazed if TT don't then put in a charge for this 'free' service.
A speed test can be done by the OP from the test socket in five minutes. If TT CS weren't so clueless, then that's the first thing they'd have advised over the phone.

krok

Also if they come to your home and find a fault inside the premises they will blame you and you will be charged.

I sugest you take the cover off your phone socket and plug your router into the master socket which is inside.
Then do a speed test yourself.

[Deleted User]

When I say 2mb speed I mean the connection says 2mb when I log into the router. Nothing to do with wifi speeds as I've always had pretty low sync speeds even in the days before wifi with ethernet routers and with other ISPs etc.

I don't have a test socket on my main BT socket as it is an older type.

Anywhere I'm phoning up to cancel the BrightSpark as from what I've read all they do is stuff I can do myself anyway. What I need is OpenReach out to check over my line.