Help Needed - Which ISP

AuntyJean

My friends computer is very old (5GB hard drive - pre 2000) and his kids use it mainly when he has them every other weekend (he is separated).

He recently signed up for what he thought was a package deal from Telewest but it turns out it did not include internet access.

Can anyone recommend a reliable, cheap, PAYG dial-up ISP?

Oddly enough, when looking at the various websites, they all invite you to join online. The point is he cannot get online!!!!!!!!! Not one of them offers a telephone number to ring so if you are recommending, please include a contact telephone number if possible.

Many thanks

Aunty Jean

Edinburghlass_2

This will get shifted across to the Telephone Boards Jean when a BG notices this, but my advice meantime is tell him to go back to Telewest and see what exactly his package is.

If his telephone is now through Telewest he will be more restricted in what ISP he can have. The recent push for Telewest is £30 for telephone, television and internet and that is for broadband access, however I am sure he will find that Telewest will still do him a dial up access.

Does he have a cd player on the pc, as most ISP can be signed up online if you pick up a cd for say AOL, Tesco (instore) Wanadoo etc.

HTH

edited to add: due to the magic wand of the Techie BG, the post is here before I finished typing :rotfl:

mike_paterson

You could try fast4 - their customer service number is 0870 225 1055 and they are unlimited access at £6.99 per month.

AuntyJean

He doesn't want to pay a monthly rental or sign up for a 12 month contract. He was literally looking to Pay as and when he used it at whatever telephone rate the ISP charged.

bbb_uk

As Edinburghlass has pointed out, if the telephone is from telewest then you have very limited choice. AOL did in the past allow non-BT networks to use its ISP I'm not sure if they still do now. Tesco's sign-up page states you have to sign-up on the computer you will be using and on the BT line you will be using, which would seem to indicate that a BT line is required. I believe this is true of most (if not all) PAYG dial-up internet providers.

I think you can use the PAYG dial-up service of Telewest (Blueyonder) and pay 3ppm anytime of the day. I believe there are cheaper options out there but I believe most will require the use of a BT line though.

Edinburghlass_2

You can sign up for AOL when using Telewest, not sure about what they have available for dial up PAYG though.

alared

http://www.free-dialup.net/

Rex_Mundi

If you are only after PAYG dial up access. I can't see what difference it makes having a Telewest phone line. The access is paid for by using an 0845 number to connect. So it would be the same as dialing a phone number starting 0845.

There are many providers out there. If you find that you can only sign up using the internet, this is not a problem. Sign up with your details on another computer, and at the end DO NOT CLICK if it says automatically configure settings. There will be a button for manual settings. This will give you the phone number you need, and your login and password. This is all you need. Print them out if you like.

On your friends computer, goto dialup settings, then create new account. You will be asked for the phone number and login details.

I use a connection like this when for my laptop when I'm out and about. I can use the same access number/details, I just change the phone number of the location I'm in.

THIS is the sort of deal you need. You can create the account on your computer and take all the info to your friends.

bbb_uk

Maybe worth trying the ISP posted by alared (Free-DialUp.Net) as the per minute costs to that ISP (an 0845) from a telewest line are: Daytime 3.95ppm, Evening 1.49ppm & weekend at 1ppm.

With the exception of weekday daytime, then they are cheaper than telewests' own ISP which is 3ppm at all times and as you say its likely to be just for the kids during every other weekend then it'll be 1ppm.

Rex_Mundi

You need to check what Telewest charges for dialing 0845 numbers. This is what you will be charged. They don't charge different amounts for different 0845 numbers. They are all national rates. (

EDIT

If this is what Telewest charge for these calls. It will be the same amount for any provider with an 0845 number.

(Had to edit, didn't read bbbs message properly)

bbb_uk

Rex_Mundi wrote:

If you are only after PAYG dial up access. I can't see what difference it makes having a Telewest phone line. The access is paid for by using an 0845 number to connect. So it would be the same as dialing a phone number starting 0845....

Some ISP's do have a condition that the line be a BT one and some companies use 0844 numbers from 1ppm at all times but these 'cheaper' alternatives generally do require the person having a BT line and some ISPs require the CLI be released as well.

Therefore, having a BT line does increase the choices in which ISP to choose (both dial-up and obviously broadband).