A few questions about switching ISP

elsmandino

Hello.

My provider recently contacted me (Talk Talk) to confirm that my contract ends up on 6/6/19.

This is the first time that I have been aware of my contract coming towards the end of its life - I am so disorganised that I usually only look for a new ISP once the other one has already run out.

1. When should I sign up with a new provider? If I were to sign up with Plusnet now, and they switch over within a week (i.e. before 6/6/19), could Talk Talk then turn round and start charging me for early release or is it possible to ask Plusnet to activate my broad band specifically on 6/6/19?

2. My current ADSL speeds are dreadful - they used to be 5.0mbps but a test, last night, had them as low as 3.1.

In light of this, I am going to have to make the jump to Fibre.

Are there any websites that let you compare guaranteed minimum speeds or would all the ISP providers provide me with approximately the same actual speeds?

wongataa

1. It takes 10-15 days to swap ISPs. Some let you choose a changeover date, some don't. I think Plusnet allow you to pick a date. If you leave before the minimum term is up with the previous ISP then you are liable for exit fees. These should be the cost of the remaining minimum term of your contract. To make sure you avoid them initiate the switch close to the end of the minimum term of after it ends.


2. As long as your new supplier uses Openreach infrastructure then the speeds of the new possible suppliers will be similar as they will all be using the same physical phone lines. When you start the sign up process you will be given a speed estimate for your address. You will get to this stage before actually signing up for an ISP so you can check several to see what they predict. Once you actually sign up for a new ISP you will get a more accurate speed prediction as well as a minimum speed guarantee.

elsmandino

Thanks very much for that.

I am slightly confused as to what the "minimum term" of my contract is.

I signed up for a 12 month contract - is my minimum term 12 months?

JJ_Egan

Yes minimum 12 ( if thats what you agreed to )then moves to a rolling 30 day contract usually at standard price.


If you start a move now its going to be around the end of contract . Or wait until June start switch and may need to pay a couple of quid extra on final bill .


Switching to Fibre may give you better speed .
But a lot depends upon why you are claiming low speed and how measure .
Speed measure not over wifi .

elsmandino

Thank you - for future reference, therefore, I shall try and look into changing when I have around two weeks or less on my contract.

My ADSL speeds are pretty poor - I have found the original contract and I was guaranteed at least 1.9mbps.

With Fibre, Talk Talk are guaranteeing 35mpbs - I always went with the cheaper option to save £5-6 per month, but given that my speeds have now dropped to around 3mbps, guaranteeing 11.5 times this speed seems like money well spent, for the extra cost.

dekaspace

Avoid Talk Talk if you can, some of if not the worst customer service so if something does go wrong expect it not to be sorted,

As are the names like EE. Vodafone etc. Sky is meant to be a good service and if you can get cable try Virgin.

Fallfromgrace

Avoid BT if you are not in a fibre enabled area. As you will get anything between 0.64- 5mbps like we have been getting.

Off to virgin for faster BB as work from home If you can call eBay selling a full time business (and yes I'm registered with the HMRC).

[Deleted User]

Fallfromgrace wrote: »

Avoid BT if you are not in a fibre enabled area. As you will get anything between 0.64- 5mbps like we have been getting.

Off to virgin for faster BB as work from home If you can call eBay selling a full time business (and yes I'm registered with the HMRC).

Sorry but that's nonsense. On ADSL(ADSL2/2+ strictly speaking) you can get up to 24Mbps. Before we moved I used to have a rock solid speed of 19Mbps which dropped to 14Mbps when we'd moved, that was enough to trigger a jump to fibre for 37Mbps in our case.

ADSL speed(barring faults) is based on distance from the local exchange and this affects all suppliers, not just BT.

JJ_Egan

As above .
Poster is not only talking nonsense but running a business over a home service .