A Diary of Reinventing Ourselves

getmore4less

Take a look a bt.com/sale just looking in the Sun paper big spread on deal. Loads of t&cs
(someone left the paper in the pub)

ScotinLondon

Evening - re plusnet - I didn't have to pay an activation fee...yes we had to pay for the router. If you advise that you want to move from another provider, then they will sort it out for you. Make sure you get a MAC (or is it PAC?) code too for moving broadband providers.

Re BT - they are a law unto themselves, but if you try again and go through to retentions or something similar they will do something for you.

When I changed from BT quarterly to annual, the also offered a much cheaper rate for the broadband to what I have got now, but as i am still in contract, can't change. Try again - there is no harm.

If you don't ask - you never know what you will get...!

ScotinLondon

On another note - please don't feel guilty..you are doing everything you are doing now for the good of your family and your family's future.

That in my books is more important than work, but it is swings and roundabouts...

tryhard_2

Well done on all your money saving attempts so far. Here is the broadband comparison site http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/compare/broadband_and_home_phone/

Forward_thinking

Great site try hard - thank you!!

My house has fallen apart today - I have spent hours on this. Time to put the music on and get cracking.

DawnW

Forward_thinking wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Spent TWO HOURS on the phone to fuel suppliers!!!!! Had no lunch, baby not fed and now have to rush out door for school run!!!!!!

Good news is we are swapping suppliers and will be paying £130 for gas and electricity instead of £200. So that's good. Plus they were so friendly (OVO as opposed to British Gas).

Hope not every change is not going to be this time consuming and painful!!!! It's taking up so much time.

Ovo are brilliant, a really good web site that lets you submit monthly meter readings and control payments, and good customer service if you need to speak to someone. I have been with them for well over a year, and it would have to be a really, really good deal to get me to move!

Happier_Me

For anything you are switching it's always worth checking Quidco or topcashback sites for cashback deals. This can really mount up.

In terms of your internet, we have 50mb and it works absolutely fine for a family of heavy internet users, it handles lots of streaming from multiple devices at the same time. I would consider going to 40mb but unfortunately Virgin are the only suppliers that offer anythng over 4mb in our area.

mangle101

I signed up previously to Annual Credit Report, free for 30 days then have to cancel, I chose the free basic report & i receive an initial credit report & then an update once per year. Can be found here https://www.annualcreditreport.co.uk/

lynnejk

Forward_thinking wrote: »

Thanks. Yes, it's a bundle which works well as we are always using the phone and I don't have a mobile phone (well, not for calls anyway). I rang Plusnet - they are stating £22.49 with a £50 activation charge and £13 exit charge. Also £7 for the initial router. So that's not a goer. We could reduce speed from 63mb to 40mb but OH needs it for work and with multiple users it's not a sensible move.

Hiya FT.
I would definitely have a look at Talk-Talk.


They have some fantastic deals atm and you can pay yearly to save another 10%. They do a super-level fibre broadband as well - think about 78. You can do a sort of pick-and-mix as to what you want, starting with a basic package and then adding what you want, such as anytime calls or a mobile sim etc.


However, if you go on their site in the day time there is a on-line chat-line, which I certainly prefer to hours on the telephone, and you could see what kind of deal you can get. I have basic broadband and phone, with free anytime calls, and it costs us the equivalent of £19.95 a month (pay line rental yearly).


I have been with them for five years and found their Freephone techies really helpful, and as I'm not techie, they go at my speed and use ordinary words


Well done on the savings so far. It does take time and effort but look at the savings for the year when counting time taken - so you spent two hours and will save £840 in just twelve months. Keep going and it's all money in your bank instead of their bank.
Lx

patchwork_cat

Don't ring everyone use www.uswitch.com , be a bit anonymous and then check on top cashback for any cashback for switching , eg BT are offering £105 cashback for broadband and calls + £125 prepaid card at the moment for new customers.I use the same postcode, but different house number, throw away email address and my initals. It is advisable to clear cookies, but I have never had a problem with not doing so with topcashback only Quidco. We moved from BT to Sky for internet and phone yesterday for £30 a month cheaper and that is fibreoptic and unlimited calls. However when I factored in the cashback this time last year BT came out cheaper, but now the year is up, off we go! Cashback site is www.topcashback.co.uk.