HELP! Who would be best broadband and phone provider??

Dollyfaceangel

I've been looking at broadband and phone providers for their best deals and service. Currently with Virgin, who as we know, are bumping up their prices very soon.
Been looking at providers pages on Facebook, but all I can see is complaint after complaint after complaint. Leaving me to conclude that ALL providers are total rubbish and not worth bothering with.
Also conclude that all these customers are trying to leave/leaving, which means that apparently I am still the only one online.
So I seem to be talking to myself being as the internet has fallen silent with everyone leaving their providers.
Any ideas as to who might actually be good? Or provide best service? Best price?

jem16

Dollyfaceangel wrote: »

Any ideas as to who might actually be good? Or provide best service? Best price?

What options do you have at your exchange? This will make all the difference in the first place if you move away from Virgin cable - assuming it is the cable service you have.

Check on SamKnows if you don't know.

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker

Dollyfaceangel

Have already checked on that...apparently I have to fork out money to have a phone line installed. Did consider Primus, but apparently this site doesn't recommend them either.
Thinking about Talk Talk, BUT on their site I noticed £30 connection PLUS £50 phone line installation charge!!! I'm looking to SAVE money not spend as much as possible!!!
EE have dreadful customer service apparently. According to that Sam knows thing EE are NOT in my area. But aren't EE a mobile telecoms company?? Which is supposed to be all over the UK? I have Orange on my mobile, which is part of EE, and I can get that. They also charge phone installation.
I am so, so confused. Maybe I should forget phones and internet and go back into the dark ages and use the Post Office to send letters to folk instead....

jem16

Dollyfaceangel wrote: »

Have already checked on that...apparently I have to fork out money to have a phone line installed.

Only cable doesn't require you to have a phone line. Virgin's phone line does not carry ADSL services so you need a new line if you move.

All ADSL providers require a phone line as that is how the BB signal is carried. So if you want to move from Virgin that is your only choice.

macman

Dollyfaceangel wrote: »

Have already checked on that...apparently I have to fork out money to have a phone line installed. Did consider Primus, but apparently this site doesn't recommend them either.
Thinking about Talk Talk, BUT on their site I noticed £30 connection PLUS £50 phone line installation charge!!! I'm looking to SAVE money not spend as much as possible!!!
EE have dreadful customer service apparently. According to that Sam knows thing EE are NOT in my area. But aren't EE a mobile telecoms company?? Which is supposed to be all over the UK? I have Orange on my mobile, which is part of EE, and I can get that. They also charge phone installation.
I am so, so confused. Maybe I should forget phones and internet and go back into the dark ages and use the Post Office to send letters to folk instead....

Yes, but their broadband service is run over a landline-nothing to do with their mobile network. EE is a non-LLU provider reselling BT's wholeale product, so it should be available on all exchanges; samknows therefore doesn't need to list it individually-it only lists LLU providers.
All providers charge for a line provision, the standard BT rate being £130, but many discount it down to £50 or less, depending on the value of the contract you take.

Pitchshifter

Plusnet seems OK, I've just switched to them.
You can now get £105 cashback from topcashback for signing up to plusnet for 18month min contract. It's £2.50 per month for 12 months (+line rental) then £9.99 + £14.50 line rental. The cashback would more than cover the cost of line provision.

Sparx

Pointless switching from Virgin if the service is good. EVERY provider Sky, BT, TalkTalk, Plusnet put their prices up annually these days amongst every other service and utility provider. It seems to be the norm now like a ritual.

Just ring Virgin say you're looking to cancel (you need to mean it and be prepared to move). Typically they will offer you a good deal to stay (i.e. half price for 6 or 12 months) then simply rinse/repeat and do the same when the offer ends.

Could you also cancel any service(s) with Virgin you don't use much if it at all? i.e. Phone as you use your mobile, TV as you don't watch it much, etc? Most money savers are just after broadband only.

Dollyfaceangel

Well sorted it out in the end. Decided to ring Virgin, say to them, what can you do for me to make me stay with you? What deal can you give me?
Told them just want the freeview now..ok sorted..said I could keep the digibox to watch freeview..no charge.
Deal on the phoneline, pay upfront for 12 months, saving nearly £60.
Just pay for internet.
All costing me now less than £15 per month (with any call charges on top obviously).
PLUS I went into credit with them..so no payments to them for a couple of months!!