Updated Find the cheapest broadband discussion thread

lemon80

hmm, thanks kwikbreaks. I actually did have a look at the Cashback options mentioned in the article here. For some reason the article only mentions cashback available with the pro speed 02 broadband. This is clearly not the case, as the Top Cashback site states Cashback available for all the packages, albeit different amounts.

The thing with the 4months free option is you don't get the refund until 60 days later or something. It works out as a refund of £29.40
The Cashback for the "Standard broadband" on topcashback website says £50.
As I've never used these cashback sites before, maybe I won't get that back instantly either. Also the following statement from this website concerns me:

"It's possible to earn £100 cashback on O2's premium broadband by going via Quidco or TopCashback"

Possible? Why's it only "possible"? You either get it or you don't, don't you?
Wht's the thing with cashback? If it's not fairly straightforward, then by not bothering with it am I really "throwing my money away" or simply "not wasting my life"?

Looking at the cashback options available, if I decided to go for 02 Premium broadband, as an 02 customer that'd cost me £9.79 per month, that's £117.48 for 12 months.
If I definitely get £75 cashback as stated on topcashback website, then I've gotten 20mbps broadband for about £3.50 a month!

Getting the standard broadband with £50 cashback, works out as 8mbps broadband for £3.20 a month over twelve months (I will check it is 12 months!).
So anyway, I might as well go for the Premium 20mbps, even if I don't always get that top speed. We have a fast exchange near us so it'd be worth it.

Well I am going on a bit about this, but I think it's necessary that one doesn't get into the lazy habit of assuming "bargains" are always "bargains". For words are just words, anyone can use them. Are they really what they claim to be, that is always the question.

The cashback offers seem so high as to raise my suspicions. Perhaps they are that good, and if so, thanks a lot for bringing it to my attention.

Quote from the topcashback website:

"Please do not make purchase decisions based on expected cashback as it is not guaranteed."

I'm not a gambling man. I'd rather make a straightforward decent "guaranteed" direct saving than a "not guaranteed" , more signing up to middle men extra sites, not at all straightforward, slightly extra savings.

You see I'd rather "throw away" the "possibility" of saving a little extra than blindly giving up my ability to make my own conscious decisions based on what I know is guaranteed. That's non-negotiable.

Thanks anyway!

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"Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so" ~ Bertrand Russell

niccyh

hi i wonder if anyone can help me? i just moved to horsforth from manchester and i need reliable internet asap for my work. does anyone know the best deal in leeds/horsforth? sorry if someone has already said but this is my first question on this site and i can find owt! its brilliant though - just confusing!! niccy:o

harryhound

Hi niccyh,
Welcome to MSE.

First step is to go to the web site SamKnows to see what is available.

Then read up other peoples thoughts on here. It is a balance between cost, features, speed, your usage (gaming? TV?), and reliability.

In my opinion reliability and customer service is the most important and the most difficult to evaluate in advance !

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=26265117&highlight=samknows#post26265117

james_p1

Just signed up to O2 and they are currently offering the first two months free until the end of the month. If you include the cashback and you have an O2 mobile. Their broadband is effectively free!:j

Standard Package = 12 x £7.50 = £90 + 2 months free + £75 cashback = £0 cost!
Premium Package = 12 x £10 = £120 + 2 months free + £100 cashback = £0 cost!
Pro Package = 12 x £17.50 = £210 + 2 months free + £125 cashback = £50 cost!
nicked from quidco

bobox

i was in the digitalspy forums the other day and noticed one of their team was helping a pn customer with cancellation charges through there.

TiVoMD

I moved to o2 last year under similar offer. £100 off IIRC.

I'm quite happy with the o2 service, although the DNS service is absolutely rubbish.

I'm now thinking of cancelling for a month so I can return to o2 and take advantage of this cash back offer.

However, does anyone know:-
1. When the expiry date is (last year it lasted for a longer period)?
2. If this is allowed?
3. Has anyone tried this already?

Thanks

simplerisbetter

I am looking for a broadband services and went to Virgin website. They said my house is in a fibre optics cable area so I can get up to 50Mb. Using BT checking services, they said I can get 5MB now and 6 to 20MB later.

Does BT or Virgin need to lay any more cable into my house?
Does Bt use optic fibre cable?
If I go with Virgin 20MB broadband, will I only get 5MB in reality?
Is the constraint on what my house connection can receive or what the supplier can provide?

Thanks for any advice.

jem16

simplerisbetter wrote: »

Does BT or Virgin need to lay any more cable into my house?

Is there already a connection from BT or Virgin in the house? If no to both then yes you need cable/wire into house.

If BT is already in the home then no - BB comes down your phone line and is enabled.

Does Bt use optic fibre cable?

Not currently. Virgin apparently only use fibre optic cable to the cabinet and not to your house.

If I go with Virgin 20MB broadband, will I only get 5MB in reality?

Depends on the area and time of day in some areas. Virgin will try to sell you their BB by telling you that with ADSL it's "up to" and with Virgin the speed you take is what you will get at all times. Don't let them fool you with that one! I had Virgin 20Mb BB and got less than 5Mb most evenings. I currently have 10Mb BB with Virgin and get 10Mb during the day which drops to less than 2Mb in the evnings. That said my son gets 20Mb on his 20Mb connection all the time.

I have also got O2 LLU BB - I get around 5.5Mb al all times of the day.

Is the constraint on what my house connection can receive or what the supplier can provide?

With ADSL it's what the connection can receive. With Virgin it's supposed to be what they can provide but reality may be different.

simplerisbetter

jem16 wrote: »

Is there already a connection from BT or Virgin in the house? If no to both then yes you need cable/wire into house.

If BT is already in the home then no - BB comes down your phone line and is enabled.



Not currently. Virgin apparently only use fibre optic cable to the cabinet and not to your house.





Depends on the area and time of day in some areas. Virgin will try to sell you their BB by telling you that with ADSL it's "up to" and with Virgin the speed you take is what you will get at all times. Don't let them fool you with that one! I had Virgin 20Mb BB and got less than 5Mb most evenings. I currently have 10Mb BB with Virgin and get 10Mb during the day which drops to less than 2Mb in the evnings. That said my son gets 20Mb on his 20Mb connection all the time.

I have also got O2 LLU BB - I get around 5.5Mb al all times of the day.



With ADSL it's what the connection can receive. With Virgin it's supposed to be what they can provide but reality may be different.

Thanks for the useful information. Are you and your son in different places?

jem16

simplerisbetter wrote: »

Thanks for the useful information. Are you and your son in different places?

We are 5 minutes away from each other and on the same UBR - however we appear to be on different cabinets.

I seem to be on a congested ex-NTL cabinet and he presumably is not.

Virgin - 10Mb connection



O2 5.7Mb connection