An alternative to BT for Telephone and Internet?

BML

Like many people of my age I am a member of BT by habit and I have put up with the normal BT foibles. Twice now I've opened what I thought was a genuine communication from BT regarding my BT account and both times as a result of attempting to sign in I lost my Email communications which cost me an experts visit to recover. My first thought was to change to paper bills I then found there's a £3 charge for BT Broadband customers who get a paper bill to cover costs such as printing and postage who have to pay the fee each time you get a bill through the post. I can understand that but reject it.

I have been with BT all my life but inconvenient though it might be I will dump BT and seek alternative Internet and Land Line Telephone.

I normally find that if one posts a question that might embarrass BT on the BT forum an answer speeds on its way but as my venture into what I thought was BT land cost me my BT password that was out. When I eventually got through to BT it had to be by telephone which was hell to me as I’m very hard of hearing and eventually they told me they would send me a password by post, not text but post.

Yes, I know it was me that opened the false BT message but it looked remarkably genuine and now I’m miffed enough to do what I should have done years ago and that is to change service providers of which there are many. That is why I am asking the experts if they have a favourite reliable supplier for Telephone and Internet for which I currently pay around £60.00 a month.  

Oh, by the way I will not receive a reminder by Email untill BT get my new password to me but I will be able to fiollow this Forum.  

Neil49

I'm going to take a guess here and assume that you aren't using your Internet connection for online gaming or intensive data downloads which requires a high speed line. Please tell me I'm wrong because if you only use the Internet for general browsing, sending emails etc and use the phone for calls within the UK then £60 a month is extortionate.

If you want to move from BT then first of all make sure you are out of contract otherwise you will incur a charge for early termination of your contract. 

There are numerous providers out there but in an attempt to keep it simple for you I suggest that you consider switching to Plusnet. They are owned by BT but provide a cheaper alternative and I had been with them for many years until recently and had no problems.

https://www.plus.net/broadband/ 

There will be plenty more advice coming to you but the above link will help. 

Browntoa

You can take your phone number with you , the only thing you will lose is your BT email address.

Set up a new free email address with Gmail and use that as your main email address

Neil_Jones

There is nothing to stop you printing your own bills out, just get them by email and print them out yourself.  Assuming you have a printer of course.

If you're paying £60 a month you're well over the odds.

Before you shift away from BT check if you're eligible for BT Basic - you need to be receiving certain benefits, and if you can get this you'll get the best deal across the market for line rental and internet - being a social tariff nobody else can touch it price wise and you can only get it through BT.

bill888

Beware if you do choose to leave BT, you will lose the BT email after 60 days.
https://www.bt.com/help/email/what-happens-to-my-email-address-when-my-bt-broadband-service-st#

A lot of internet providers do not provide free email service.   Most people use free email from global companies like Google, Yahoo, Outlook (Microsoft) which is independent of internet service provider.

If you are not aware, BT own budget subsidiary Plusnet.  If you currently have a BT 'smart hub', this will work on Plusnet if BT do not ask you to return  the one you are using.  The wifi hub provided by Plusnet is a former BT model for superfast fibre and it has issues.    Billing errors can be an issue with Plusnet.  Several friends, relatives and myself have Plusnet.

Plusnet aren't the cheapest though.  If calls are important, I think NOW (budget subsidiary of SKY) currently offer line rental, superfast fibre and Unlimited calls inc mobiles (free for for first 12 months) for £23 pm at the moment. I only know of one relative who switched from expensive but reliable BT superfast fibre, to NOW Fab fibre last June and is happy with the service and lower cost.

Once BT learn you are serious about leaving (when they receive a request from another supply to port your phone number), they may phone you to persuade you to stay.   eg. £22 for line rental and superfast fibre, and £7 for 700 minutes of calls per month but you have to commit to a 24 month contract.  Don't quote me though.

As mentioned by Neil_Jones, very few companies offer paper billing.  If you wish to check your bill, log into the website and view it in detail online.  I know Plusnet send me an email every month telling me how much they will be direct debiting me, and that my detailed bill is available to view online.

BML

Many many thanks for your most useful information which I will have a better look at in the morning especially checking what BT rate I'm paying.

macman

Don't open your BT account (or indeed any accounts) by clicking on email links. Always access them only by bookmarking them in your web browser.
Line rental, fibre broadband and anytime calls should cost you £30 as an absolute maximum: £60 is just absurdly expensive. Look at the cheaper broadband page on the main site, there are always offers open. Plusnet and Now are generally competitive.

Farway

As all above, I've used both Plusnet & Now and found them fault free for my minimal non gaming needs.

Currently & just renewed Now BB, LL & Anytime calls for £21.99 pm 12 month contract

OP, you may care to check John Lewis, it is  re badged Plusnet but has JL customer services not PN, also comes with a JL cash voucher which may be handy if you're a W8rsoe shopper

JJ_Egan

OP negotiate with BT retentions .

I have landline + 700 free min calls per month + 80/20 BB  + Max TV + BT Sport HD/ UHD  for £40 pm .

macman

Farway said:

As all above, I've used both Plusnet & Now and found them fault free for my minimal non gaming needs.

Currently & just renewed Now BB, LL & Anytime calls for £21.99 pm 12 month contract

OP, you may care to check John Lewis, it is  re badged Plusnet but has JL customer services not PN, also comes with a JL cash voucher which may be handy if you're a W8rsoe shopper

Can I ask if that is fibre BB, and if that was offered, or you negotiated it? My contract is coming up for renewal, am currently paying £30 for line, fibre BB and Anytime calls. They've very kindly offered me a deal at £38 (that's a fiver off the rack rate of £43: I don't think so)!
I have for many years negotiated Sky down annually, but am on first year with Now. Is it the same process basically?

DCFC79

JJ_Egan said:

OP negotiate with BT retentions .

I have landline + 700 free min calls per month + 80/20 BB  + Max TV + BT Sport HD/ UHD  for £40 pm .

How did you find negotiating with retentions ?
Thanks