Changing to a new broadband provider

cts_casemod

Hi,

My current broadband deal is coming to an end on the 8th of September. I'm now looking to switch. Few questions...

Am I right in assuming I can switch without penalty during the 30 days prior to this or do I have to wait until the last day?

Does the new provider take care of cancelling the existing service and porting the phone number? If not what do I need to do?

I would like to switch to an ADSL service, but from what I heard throughput varies widely depending on area. I normally stream full HD (Prime, Netflix, Youtube...), so I'm guessing I will be needing at least 4Mbit/s, perhaps 6 ideally.

I haven't been able to find any website that can provide an average throughput in my area, unless i have a phone line with BT already. Do I have a period, after installation to make sure the service is OK or once it is installed I'm stuck for a year?

Many Thanks

wongataa

cts_casemod wrote: »

Hi,
Am I right in assuming I can switch without penalty during the 30 days prior to this or do I have to wait until the last day?

You'll have to pay your current supplier for those full 30 days.

cts_casemod wrote: »

Does the new provider take care of cancelling the existing service and porting the phone number? If not what do I need to do?

The new supplier will arrange the cancel and transfer. All you need to do is pick a new supplier and sign up.

cts_casemod wrote: »

I would like to switch to an ADSL service, but from what I heard throughput varies widely depending on area. I normally stream full HD (Prime, Netflix, Youtube...), so I'm guessing I will be needing at least 4Mbit/s, perhaps 6 ideally.

Are you on ADSL now? You probably are. If so then the new provider speed will be about the same as the speed is largely dictated by the physical wiring to your house.

cts_casemod wrote: »

I haven't been able to find any website that can provide an average throughput in my area, unless i have a phone line with BT already. Do I have a period, after installation to make sure the service is OK or once it is installed I'm stuck for a year?

Broadband providers will give an estimate of the speed you could expect based on your address/phone number. That will most likely be in the ball park of what you can expect. Have a look and see what they say. Again, if you are on ADSL and moving to a new ADSL service the speed won't really change from what you get now.

cts_casemod

I'm on a 50M line at the moment, hence the concern.

Last year I got a relatively good deal, but prices have nearly doubled, making it hard to justify a £200 increase.

ADSL services are quite tempting and *should* suffice but without a line the best I am given is "up to 17Mb".
Should I take this as an accurate real life estimate (ie the throughput my router can achieve on the line up to the central, not accounting any congestion, etc) or is this just a vague 'up to' as this is the maximum their equipment can put on the ADSL line?

Thanks

Smodlet

It is a vague up to as only 10% of customers have to actually get the advertised speed in order for a provider to be allowed to advertise speeds up to e.g. 17mb.

Have you tried this? https://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker?address=true

I have just tried it without a phone number as we are not with BT and it returned the results just fine.

AndyPK

Most people have under 10mbps I guess.

Use the checker though

iniltous

If you originally said you were with Virgin Media your post would have been easier follow, if considering a broadband service delivered over Openreach's network (BT , Sky Talk Talk being the mass market providers) then entering your postcode into the speed estimate part of their web sites will give you an idea of the speed to expect, anything over 4to 6 Mb will be fine to stream VOD , the distance you are fron the BT exchange is far and away the biggest factor on the speed you will get ( the greater the distance the lower the speed)
You obviously would need to get a 'BT' type line installed to get ADSL, or perhaps Fibre To The Cab is available, but a 'line' and therefore line rental are required, although VM sell broadband on it's own (without line rental) it's no cheaper than a line and broadband

Smodlet

If you are with V1rgin, about to reach contract end date and concerned about costs, why don't you call them and negotiate? You probably do not need 50mb so ask them for options for lower speeds and tell them you will have to leave if the price is not lower than you already pay. Worked for me, back when we lived in V1rgin territory. We went from 20mb to 10mb and noticed no difference whatsoever.

cts_casemod

Smodlet wrote: »

It is a vague up to as only 10% of customers have to actually get the advertised speed in order for a provider to be allowed to advertise speeds up to e.g. 17mb.

:rotfl: :beer:

Smodlet wrote: »

Have you tried this? https://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker?address=true

Thanks, no haven't tried that. It gives me a 4.5Mb/s or more estimate. I'm guessing that should mostly do it.

iniltous wrote: »

You obviously would need to get a 'BT' type line installed to get ADSL, or perhaps Fibre To The Cab is available, but a 'line' and therefore line rental are required, although VM sell broadband on it's own (without line rental) it's no cheaper than a line and broadband

There are dedicated lines (Cable/Virgin Phone/BT Line), assuming it is like virgin they only need to connect on the street and off we go. Yes, I am factoring the line rental cost on the total price. I already paid that with virgin (Its actually more expensive to do it without the line using virgin anyway).

Smodlet

I really don't know why you find this so amusing, this fact is from the official part of this forum.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband#speed

Have fun.

cts_casemod

Smodlet wrote: »

I really don't know why you find this so amusing, this fact is from the official part of this forum.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/cheap-broadband#speed

Have fun.

Exactly for being official. Its amazing that ofcom allows advertising like that in this day and age.

Smodlet

You asked if it were a vague "up to" speed. You received an answer. Whatever your opinion of Ofcom rules, it is the correct answer until or unless they change the rules.