new phone connection and broad band - help

CRT21

We have purchased a property and need to have the phone connected. We only use the phone on an occasional basis ie evenings and weekends. I would also like broadband (speed is 7mb), only use the broadband for emails, facebook etc.


BT have said there is a £50 connection charge unless I sign up for a phone and broadband package!


Am I best to stick with BT? any help appreciated, just want the best price for a phone line and broadband package!!


CRT


ps onle last thing is a 7mb broadband very slow, if so are there any other options?

kwikbreaks

There are basically 3 types of broadband commonly available - ADSL - FTTC (BT branding is Infinity) - cable from VM. The SamKnows exchange search will give you a pointer to what you can get and what LLU providers have equipment at your exchange.

FTTC and cable will be faster than ADSL but from your stated usage you probably don't need anything faster anyway.

It's likely BT can be bettered. Anything BT can provide will be available from others reselling the basic product and usually cheaper.

Use a cashback site whoever you pick and don't forget to include any charges for the install in your calculations. Some will be free in exchange for a longer contract.

g6jns_2

CRT21 wrote: »

We have purchased a property and need to have the phone connected. We only use the phone on an occasional basis ie evenings and weekends. I would also like broadband (speed is 7mb), only use the broadband for emails, facebook etc.


BT have said there is a £50 connection charge unless I sign up for a phone and broadband package!


Am I best to stick with BT? any help appreciated, just want the best price for a phone line and broadband package!!


CRT


ps onle last thing is a 7mb broadband very slow, if so are there any other options?

Plusnet will be cheaper and much easier to deal with for phone and broadband.

CRT21

Will I have to connect to BT (pay £50) and then move for the broadband?

matelodave

When we moved a couple of years ago, we had our phone connected with Sky. It was still a BT guy who came round and did it as generally they own all the wiring between the exchanges and customer's premises.
Have you got a working line in the house or has it been totally disconnected.
As said, get onto the SamKnows website to see which companies are available at your exchange and to get a line check if you know what number is on at the house - most will connect you for nothing - BT wanted £120 from us, that's why we went to Sky for our broadband, phone & TV they even gave us £30.
We've now swapped to TalkTalk as they were the first to put their own equipment into our exchange - called LLU. Our speed although not great at 1.5-1.75mbit's is still better than BT/Sky were offering and achieving which was under 1mbit/s (we live a long way from the exchange out in the country)

kwikbreaks

CRT21 wrote: »

Will I have to connect to BT (pay £50) and then move for the broadband?

Get the phone connected by whoever you decide to supply the phone/broadband.

As mentioned Plusnet (owned by BT) will be cheaper than BT themselves but by how much depends upon your exchange.

Sky and TalkTalk are the two remaining big LLU providers but Sky will want to sell you TV and TalkTalk have had a dire reputation in the past.

You can use something like http://www.moneysupermarket.com/broadband/ or http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/ to check on the sort of deals available but once you've decided on who you think may be best for you sign up through TopCashBack or Quidco.

MSE advice - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband

Bigphil1474

I just signed up to another contract with Plusnet and got line rental, unlimited broadband, and anytime calls for £25pm. Pretty good, and much cheaper than BT.

jaybeetoo

matelodave wrote: »

We've now swapped to TalkTalk as they were the first to put their own equipment into our exchange - called LLU. Our speed although not great at 1.5-1.75mbit's is still better than BT/Sky were offering and achieving which was under 1mbit/s (we live a long way from the exchange out in the country)

The speed should be the same whether it is TalkTalk, Sky or BT. They all use the same copper wires from the exchange to your house, the length of which will determine the speed.