MSE News: TalkTalk to take over Tesco broadband and home phone customers

cw18

As a Talk Talk customer on their most basic package (no TV as I don't have a licence, and no included calls as I don't rack up £5 in call charges over a year!) I'm a little worried about the number of new accounts they're gaining between the Virgin Media and Tesco acquisitions.

I have a niggling feeling that they may no longer have any need of those of us on this type of account, and will push us back onto a higher priced contract (I only downgraded a year ago) by whatever means they can - such as regular increases in costs until it's the same as the next one up (which I think is still an extra £5/month)

I'm expecting them to start trying to hard sell me extras via regular phone calls from next month. When I dropped the level of my contract I had to sign up for a minimum of 12 months - and that's up around the middle of February. I've previously had fortnightly calls from them when I've not been tied in, and had they not always been the cheapest option for me I'd have told them to stop phoning unless they wanted to lose me as a customer (a threat I don't suppose would work anyway with all these new accounts rolling in!). I got very good at cutting them short as soon as they introduced themselves

Spidernick

My sympathies to any Tesco broadband/phone customers out there. I cannot begin to tell you just how appalling Talk Talk is as soon as anything goes wrong. They are absolutely shocking and I wouldn't go back with them if their service was free!

archery

Spidernick wrote: »

My sympathies to any Tesco broadband/phone customers out there. I cannot begin to tell you just how appalling Talk Talk is as soon as anything goes wrong. They are absolutely shocking and I wouldn't go back with them if their service was free!

Totally agree, was with talk talk about two years ago. Never again. Glad I am already moving from tesco to plusnet.

Collabora

cw18 wrote: »

Not sure who Tesco would sell their mobile network out to though, given they piggy-back on O2?

If they do i don't think it will be o2 as Three are after taking over o2 as Telefonica are trying to sell off the remaining part of o2.

Humbug40

I am a Tesco broadband customer I left TalkTalk 12 months ago but I moved house recently so restarted a new contract I don't want to go to TalkTalk��

brewerdave

The thing I can't understand about TalkTalk gaining all these new customers is that about 12 months ago, their Chief Exec. was talking about them getting rid of their non LLU customers themselves !!!

cw18

probably showing my ignorance here - LLU?

EDIT: Have just had a flash on inspiration.

Land Line Users? As in those who don't have fibre for their internet?

Some of us don't have a choice.

We were told fibre would be available last April, but it didn't happen. A new junction box appeared at the start of the summer, but it remained taped up until late September. But there must be problems at the exchange, as having gone to 'accepting orders' at one point, it's back at 'coming soon, no orders yet being taken' status. Doing checks around providers confirms we can't yet get from anyone, and TT don't have a clue (or won't tell me) when it may be available.

Personally I don't want it (can't justify the extra cost for what I use it for), but DS1 does a lot of gaming and nags about it regularly. He's been told that if I upgrade, then the difference in the montly bill is getting added to his charge for keep

molerat

Local Loop Unbundling - not using the BT infrastructure to the exchange but their own cables. From the exchange to home is generally via BT though.

cw18

Wouldn't have a clue whose infrastructure I'm on. Is there any way of telling?
But I'm guessing that's something else I have absolutely no control over?

EDIT: OH pointed me to a website that can find out - it appears I am LLU, so one less thing to worry about

Humbug40

I just called Tesco again to try and establish why my original terms were not carried over to my new address. I was just told that they can offer customers new contracts and this should have been explained at the time. I don't remember if they did because I thought my original terms were being carried over. They think it's going to be September before they start migrating customers but they can't tell me yet if they are going to charge customers who don't want to go to TalkTalk early termination fees. I don't see what they would have to gain by that.