Updated Find the cheapest broadband discussion thread

doveman

Thanks, that got me a bit further but now when I enter my postcode and choose my address, or enter my postcode and phone number, it says it's "unable to check if Sky Broadband and Talk is available" so I can't add it to my basket and proceed!

I know it is available as I had it a couple of years ago before I switched back to BT.

[Deleted User]

Maybe a couple of other things to try:

1. Go to another ISP site and see if you can check if you can have their broadband (to see if it's a Sky issue or a database issue affecting your address)

2. Install and try another browser, or try on a phone or tablet (not necessarily to buy, but as a test).

doveman

OK, they seem to have fixed it now and I've been able to add it to my basket. I just need to check with them that the transfer won't go ahead before my contract with BT ends on 26 October, as I imagine BT could hit me with some sort of fee if I end the contract early.

Lungboy

My Plusnet deal ends at the beginning of November, and the new Sky deal is very tempting. For my Plusnet, I paid for the full year upfront to get a special offer, so will there be any charges if I switch now, a month or so ahead of the end of my contract? I can't find much on the Plusnet website.

[Deleted User]

Lungboy wrote: »

My Plusnet deal ends at the beginning of November, and the new Sky deal is very tempting. For my Plusnet, I paid for the full year upfront to get a special offer, so will there be any charges if I switch now, a month or so ahead of the end of my contract? I can't find much on the Plusnet website.

I think you'll pay a penalty for the outstanding broadband term (even if it's currently free) and the standard £30 for cessation or moving to an LLU ISP (like Sky or TalkTalk).

Lungboy

As I paid the full year upfront, is there an outstanding term?

[Deleted User]

Lungboy wrote: »

As I paid the full year upfront, is there an outstanding term?

I think I read somewhere that there is for free broadband (but not line rental as you paid explicitly for that). I can't find it at the moment but think it was on the MSE or Plusnet forums.

doveman

Damn, after all that Sky have told me I only left them on 27 October 2015 so I'm not eligible for this offer

Guess I'll be switching to Plusnet, as that's the next best deal. After the cashback and vouchers from BT I was effectively paying £8/month for line rental and 52MB Fibre, which will go up to £42 once the first 12 months is up. I phoned them but the best they could offer was to give me 72MB Fibre and line rental for £33/month, which is still a large increase and almost twice what Plusnet will cost me (albeit for a slower service but I'll have to live with that).

doveman

And the next day I get another e-mail from Sky, signed by the same person as the previous one, saying that I can get Sky Broadband at my address (well I knew that) and giving me another offer code, which allowed me to put the order through.

Now I've got an e-mail from BT saying that the transfer will happen on the 12 October and I'll have to pay:

£65.00 for broadband equipment charges.
£3.85 for TV equipment charges.

I have no idea what that's meant to be for, as the only broadband equipment they've given me is the router, which BT (and other ISPs) always want back when you leave and the Youview box I thought I'd already paid £15 for.

So unless Sky can change my transfer date to after 27 October, when my BT contract ends, I'll have to cancel my order.

doveman

So I phoned Sky to try and change the date and they said they'd have to cancel and re-order to do that but then explained that they'd cover any early termination costs up to £100 so I agreed to keep my order.

However, reading the details at http://www.sky.com/shop/offers/broadbandswitchers/v1/?DCMP=dmc-skycom:na_switch_credit I see it says that to take advantage of this offer "you must place your Sky Broadband and/or Talk order with one of our advisors over the phone" which I haven't done, so I'll have to phone them back again and cancel and re-order, assuming they'll honour the half-price offer for a phone order!