Updated Find the cheapest broadband discussion thread

Money_Saving_Dude

Monthly payments:
SimplyBroadband and phone FREE
First 12 months FREE then £7.50 a month thereafter
Line rental Included for 12 months with Value line rental
Contract length 18 months
Monthly total (incl VAT) FREE
Monthly total after 12 months £7.50 (if you renew your Value line rental)
Monthly total after 12 months £25.20 (if you don't renew your Value line rental)
One-off charges on your 1st bill:
Super Router Included
New Line Connection Fee £50.00 FREE
Router Delivery Charge £6.75
One-off total on your 1st bill £6.75
Upfront payment:
Value line rental £191.16
That's equivalent to £15.93 a month

I thought the broadband was free for 18 months, and the line rental as £17.70 a month for 18 months. The above says:

Monthly total after 12 months £7.50 (if you renew your Value line rental)
Monthly total after 12 months £25.20 (if you don't renew your Value line rental)

I've no idea why I need a BT engineer to come round and install a new BT line when I already have a BT line, but that's what they said, numpties. Sounds stupid to me. But alas we are talking telecoms companies, so stupidity is their middle name. :-(

Money_Saving_Dude

ok, this seems to becoming really crap, and I only started 2 hours ago. :-(

I've just noticed that they also seem to want to change my landline number. As I said, numpties. All I want to do is keep the same physical phone line and number, and just get my broadband paid to someone else, as my 12 months EE deal is coming to an end.

I do not want to pay full price for my Internet connection, I just want an Internet pipe at a reasonable price (and I consider £15-20 pm reasonable; I do not consider £30-50 pm reasonable).

Why does something so simple have to be so complicated?

(Oh yes, I know, because they want to screw me for as much as they can. Bar stewards.)

[Deleted User]

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

ok, this seems to becoming really crap, and I only started 2 hours ago. :-(

I've just noticed that they also seem to want to change my landline number. As I said, numpties. All I want to do is keep the same physical phone line and number, and just get my broadband paid to someone else, as my 12 months EE deal is coming to an end.

I do not want to pay full price for my Internet connection, I just want an Internet pipe at a reasonable price (and I consider £15-20 pm reasonable; I do not consider £30-50 pm reasonable).

Why does something so simple have to be so complicated?

(Oh yes, I know, because they want to screw me for as much as they can. Bar stewards.)

I would consider cancelling and going elsewhere. I imagine you're still in the cooling off period. I had no end of problems with TalkTalk customer service not implementing what they'd said on the phone. At least Plusnet send an email straight afterwards confirming what's been discussed. Never had a problem with Sky broadband either - I know others will have had problems with Plusnet and Sky but you only need to look at the ratings on MSE to see which you're most likely to have problems with.

Money_Saving_Dude

Thanks anactuary.

Indeed I have cancelled. The conversation was along these lines:

Question: What happens at the end of 12 months? Your email says (and I quote) Monthly total after 12 months £7.50 (if you renew your Value line rental), and Monthly total after 12 months £25.20 (if you don't renew your Value line rental)

Ah sir, that means you pay £7.50 from month 13, and £17.70, which totals £25.20.

Very clear from their email response!!

My next question: Why are you sending a BT guy round? I do NOT want my land line number changing.

Ah sir, you have requested a new line.

No I haven't -- I just completed the details on line. You asked for my post code and phone number.

Further discussion: Well, we can internally change this to a migration, not a new line.

But what about my £100 love2shop voucher?

Well you can't have that because it is now being done by phone.

!!!!!! ---- grrrrrrr!!!!

I have to cancel and then re-apply on line.

Let me put you through to our cancellation department...

Hello sir, I hear you want to cancel...

Some time later, after a stupid protracted discussion, I have cancelled. I said I would retry, but having walked away from the phone, had a coffee, and done one or two other things to take my attention away from this for a while, I've decided I will leave it there.

I'm not yet a proper customer and they are p1ssing me off! What will it be like when I sign up properly?

Muppets.

PS. On a side note, I do feel sorry for the people at the other end of the phone. They are told to tie their hands behind their backs and just read the crap on the screen. You cannot enter into a discussion with them, and sooner or later machines will replace them, too. The future's is looking very bleak. :-(

Doc_N

Had you considered BT, using this deal:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/bt-38mb-fibre-broadband-12-month-contract-only-10-a-month-125-sainsbury-vouchers-2292395

[Deleted User]

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

I'm not yet a proper customer and they are p1ssing me off! What will it be like when I sign up properly?

Much much worse (for me anyway).

If I was looking now, I'd probably go with Sky - free broadband for 12m on a 12m contract, £100 M&S voucher (or Deezer subscription) and £55 potential quidco.

Money_Saving_Dude

Thanks for that.

That's fibre. I don't need fibre so have not been looking at them. £27 pm before calls is pushing this into my expensive category.

I get 10-15Mbps from my copper connection. That's ok for my needs.

Thanks again for your reply.

Doc_N

Money_Saving_Dude wrote: »

Thanks for that.

That's fibre. I don't need fibre so have not been looking at them. £27 pm before calls is pushing this into my expensive category.

I get 10-15Mbps from my copper connection. That's ok for my needs.

Thanks again for your reply.

I'd absolutely agree with you. My copper connection would give 3Mbps without fibre!

The deal only makes sense anyway with the cashback and the Sainsbury voucher, which take the £27 pm down to a more reasonable £6 pm.

joe134

Doc_N wrote: »

I'd absolutely agree with you. My copper connection would give 3Mbps without fibre!

The deal only makes sense anyway with the cashback and the Sainsbury voucher, which take the £27 pm down to a more reasonable £6 pm.

It's a minefield trying to find a straight forward package, copper, without going via cashback sites, which I never use.They have just muddied the waters.
KISS;
Keep it short and simple.

Doc_N

joe134 wrote: »

It's a minefield trying to find a straight forward package, copper, without going via cashback sites, which I never use.They have just muddied the waters.
KISS;
Keep it short and simple.

You'll be missing out on a lot of cash if you don't use cashback sites - over the last 7 years we've had approaching £5000 from Quidco and Topcashback between them.