Our new Broadband Haggling guide - please share your feedback

brewerdave

gavinbaxter said:

I wish BT would differentiate between their two flavours of BT Sports app in a more transparent manner. Had to cancel an EE mobile contract after a day when the app supplied as a deal add-on was the mobile-only version rather than the Chromecast-able full fat one. This despite assurances to the contrary by the in-person EE sales rep. 

The difference is just about made clearish in BT's/EE's own sales puff but once it's been reworked by the resellers then good luck.

Just for info - using the EE log in on an Android TV box gives me HD BT Sport on the big TV !!

flaneurs_lobster

brewerdave said:

gavinbaxter said:

I wish BT would differentiate between their two flavours of BT Sports app in a more transparent manner. Had to cancel an EE mobile contract after a day when the app supplied as a deal add-on was the mobile-only version rather than the Chromecast-able full fat one. This despite assurances to the contrary by the in-person EE sales rep. 

The difference is just about made clearish in BT's/EE's own sales puff but once it's been reworked by the resellers then good luck.

Just for info - using the EE log in on an Android TV box gives me HD BT Sport on the big TV !!

That's interesting, it was my understanding that the £5/mth BT Sport app would only function on a device that had a BT/EE sim in it with the BT/EE account add-on activated. Are you sure you don't have the full-on BT app (costs £25/mth standalone, bit less if part of a package) that'll run on anything running Android? 

brewerdave

gavinbaxter said:

brewerdave said:

gavinbaxter said:

I wish BT would differentiate between their two flavours of BT Sports app in a more transparent manner. Had to cancel an EE mobile contract after a day when the app supplied as a deal add-on was the mobile-only version rather than the Chromecast-able full fat one. This despite assurances to the contrary by the in-person EE sales rep. 

The difference is just about made clearish in BT's/EE's own sales puff but once it's been reworked by the resellers then good luck.

Just for info - using the EE log in on an Android TV box gives me HD BT Sport on the big TV !!

That's interesting, it was my understanding that the £5/mth BT Sport app would only function on a device that had a BT/EE sim in it with the BT/EE account add-on activated. Are you sure you don't have the full-on BT app (costs £25/mth standalone, bit less if part of a package) that'll run on anything running Android? 

Nope -I'm actually using my son in law's log in !! He can only use BT Sport on his EE contract phone!

atlantis187

will this work on the chromecast with google tv 

fruit_scone

I’ve been in touch with Virgin Media today & have managed to get a saving of £348 on the coming year’s bill. Was surprised that they were prepared to negotiate - this year’s bills started a couple of months ago. 

Chrisbjornward

Hey guys, just managed to get a very good deal on my Virgin BB.

was on M100 for £34 a month, was offered the standard £4/month to continue.

Rang up 3 days before end of contract, wanted better speed as our house has a poor signal and need faster speed coming into the house so asked for M350.

was first offered £42 then was put through to ‘cancellations’ who offered £40. I continued with cancelling the contract & was phoned the next day and offered M350 for £30/month and threw a free virgin stream box in with the deal.

good luck hagglers!

chuckie8857

Hi folks. Just managed to get a decent deal for broadband with Shell Energy. I wasn't aware they would haggle but thought it was worth a go anyway. What's to lose ....


I'm an existing customer whose 12 month deal was due to expire and had received notification (about 3 weeks ago) of a price rise to £22 pm for their Superfast BB package (38MB download). I did look at other bb deals and decided to switch so I called Shell to give cancellation notice. After a few false starts, they eventually put me through to Retentions who initially offered nothing except the basic package price of £20 with no other incentives (discounts, vouchers, etc). 

When I said I wasn't interested and I could find better deals elsewhere, they offered the same package as I had now but for £16pm for 18 months. I was happy with that and agreed the deal. I might have got slightly improved price or got the faster package but I'm happy.

Amaretto68smile

I researched alternatives to the Virgin package I had, Big Bundle at £33pm, soon to go up to £56pm.  The best and closest to what I have was Talk Talk Fibre 65.  I phoned Virgin to haggle.  To be honest there was no haggling!  I was put on hold for a while after I gave the details of the Talk Talk package I was looking at (didn't mention any cons e.g. would need to buy a 32GB USB stick in order to record TV, average price £6.50, and be prepared for prices going up in April - inflation plus 3.7%).  I was offered a further 18 month contract at the same price and same package which I said was ok.  She then offered to double the broadband to 100mb for an extra £1pm. I don't really need that speed but you never know!  So, my new contract starts today at £34pm.  

johnbhoy70

Currently on Fibre with Halo 1 till and BT Sport till 30th November. Pay £25.43 for broadband and £17.12 so £42.55 per month.
Nearly forgot we've got digital voice on there too and unlimited weekend calls but like a lot of people don'y really use our landline these days.
Get garbage speeds as unfortunately miles away from exchange and also a good distance from local box too and our minimum guaranteed speed is only 16meg.

Gave them a call today to see what they could do going forward as contract nearly up and cable also now laid for FTTP.

I've been offered their Entertainment package which includes Netflix and NOW TV at £15 per month. It's actually on their site at £6 per month but it's an extra £9 to get multiscreen for both in HD. 

Broadband they can do Full Fibre 100 with speeds up to 150 and guarantee of 100 meg for £29.99 per month. 

Guy said they could do TV side with first 6 months free and broadband with first month free. He said, of course, it was a take it now or leave it deal and i may not get offer later. Fair enough.

So monthly cost over the 24 month contract would be £39.99 for Fibre 100 with BT TV which includes multiscreen for Netflix and NOW TV. 

I'm quite happy to drop BT Sport as i can get it elsewhere but wondering what people thought of above offer?

The main con i can see is that i'm losing the flexibility of Netflix and NOW TV contracts and tying myself in for 24 months. I'm aware that the price will go up next April but personally i've always found that a crazy argument as most providers will hit you with an inflation + 3.9% rise then.

JohnReese

johnbhoy70 said:

Currently on Fibre with Halo 1 till and BT Sport till 30th November. Pay £25.43 for broadband and £17.12 so £42.55 per month.
Nearly forgot we've got digital voice on there too and unlimited weekend calls but like a lot of people don'y really use our landline these days.
Get garbage speeds as unfortunately miles away from exchange and also a good distance from local box too and our minimum guaranteed speed is only 16meg.

Gave them a call today to see what they could do going forward as contract nearly up and cable also now laid for FTTP.

I've been offered their Entertainment package which includes Netflix and NOW TV at £15 per month. It's actually on their site at £6 per month but it's an extra £9 to get multiscreen for both in HD. 

Broadband they can do Full Fibre 100 with speeds up to 150 and guarantee of 100 meg for £29.99 per month. 

Guy said they could do TV side with first 6 months free and broadband with first month free. He said, of course, it was a take it now or leave it deal and i may not get offer later. Fair enough.

So monthly cost over the 24 month contract would be £39.99 for Fibre 100 with BT TV which includes multiscreen for Netflix and NOW TV. 

I'm quite happy to drop BT Sport as i can get it elsewhere but wondering what people thought of above offer?

The main con i can see is that i'm losing the flexibility of Netflix and NOW TV contracts and tying myself in for 24 months. I'm aware that the price will go up next April but personally i've always found that a crazy argument as most providers will hit you with an inflation + 3.9% rise then.

Firstly, definitely go for Full Fibre whoever you go with. It's going to give you a much more reliable line with consistent speeds of what you pay for.

I think the only thing is you'd need to consider:
1. 24 months is a long time which means less flexibility which you mentioned.
2. When you factor in the inflation increases, then the cost goes up quite a bit. And that is going to happen twice with the second increase based on a higher price (since the £39.99 would have already increased to a higher price).
3. You might actually potentially be better off subscribing to NOW TV and Netflix separately. Some have mentioned here that NOW sometimes do various offers and retention deals. Netflix you could subscribe on a rolling basis.
4. There are more and more Full Fibre (FTTP) broadband providers offering FIXED prices for the entire contract length. And shorter contract lengths (e.g. 30 day rolling, 12 months, 18 months). 

Thus:

When you take into account Factor number (2), then opting for a Fixed Price broadband provider and subscribing to NOW TV and Netflix separately, might work out more cost effective and certainly give you more flexibility. The Broadband providers would be using the same Openreach FTTP lines. 

The only thing is BT TV gives you the advantage of having NOW on your TV guide and recording capability. And from what I understand, Freeview channels can be received via the Internet now instead of the Aerial.