ANYONE ELSE FINDING MSE's BROADBAND CHECKER NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE

RRatchet

I have used MSE's checker in the very distant past and it did come up with deals that I could access. However in the recentish past I've found it next to useless. Despite me putting in my full postcode and selecting standard broadband + line, the results are 99% for fibre deals & do not include many for standard broadband. It's not that I do not want fibre, I wouldn't mind it it's that at my "full post code" area non of the properties can get it. The cabinet is fibre but we are copper and a long one at that. What is the point of asking for a full post code and then ignoring it? Is the checker broken or not fit for purpose? If it can't cope with properties that are still limited to standard broadband, shouldn't there be a disclaimer saying something to that effect?

I also tried to find a deal via looking at MSE's Best Buy Standard Broadband deals and again drew a blank.


A while ago I did message MSE re this problem with their checker and got a very annoying reply which didn't address the issues. I wish I could find the Q&A to show folks. The replier seemed to have not read the message and basically blew me off.  It would seem things have not improved.

I've come to the conclusion that as the majority of people/households are now able to access fibre the MSE Checker caters for them and excludes the minority ie those at the margins. 

I am currently with Plusnet coming to the end of a 18mth deal and prior to that I was with John Lewis (no longer a provider but used Plusnet in any case). It looks like I'll have to stay with Plusnet either on their exorbitant default package or take out another 18mth deal for £19.99pm (broadband & line only no calls included). Not much/any choice at this end of the market.

For various reasons we need a landline & this is why we are keeping a phone and broadband package; it just needs to be the cheapest available.  The speed is 1-3 MPS but that isn't a problem as we have signed up to fixed wireless broadband that is pretty good, if expensive. Mobile broadband and satellite are not so good for our needs as they are even more expensive, have high ping and are unstable.

Anyway moan over.

Neil_Jones

All the comparison sites and all the providers use the same data.

Assuming you're talking about ADSL this is being phased out as part  of the copper switch over, so you'll have to have fibre at some point and probably Digital Voice or another VoIP solution (Plusnet do not and have no plans to do Digital Voice) as you won't have phone lines either.

littleboo

Are you keeping the Plusnet package just for the landline, whilst using the wireless service for broadband? If so, you could look to port the landline number to VOIP and run it over the wireless broadband.

Justdontwasteit

Seems so. I just tried to use it and got odd info. Sent this query to mse online site contact and just had a bounce back reply saying don’t expect a response. 
Hi, I am currently with Vodafone in a BS16 area, out of contract, and get c60mb. I’m moving to a DT6 postcode and Vodafone tell me their only offer there is fibre 1, c17mb, so I’ve cancelled wef move day.
Looking on your site for best new deal they come up as offering 67mb for my new postcode.
Please advise how this can be, are your results reliable?

JSmithy45AD

I've just used it to take up the Virgin 125Mb deal and it seems to report everything fine.

RRatchet

I know the checker is the same as the comparison sites, but I thought MSE was supposed to be on the side of the consumer and offering that little bit extra, maybe it was until Martin sold out to one of them. I think my point is that if the MSE checker (or any other) asks for your postcode then the findings should be personal to that group of addresses. All of the 5 properties in my rural postcode have the same prospects as far as landline/broadband is concerned ie no prospect of fibre this century! Well not unless you are prepared to pay BT £140,000 to run fibre to the premises (I kid you not, this is a quote received by a neighbour in a neighbouring postcode when he made a request under the USO). Yet these checkers totally ignore that and It's when you go to the providers recommended by them enter the same info ie your postcode you get told no. The checkers especially MSE's should/could put you out of your misery sooner. Those of us in marginal areas which are not necessarily remote or rural will eventually (probably already are) be trapped in a relationship with our current provider by our long copper lines because there will be no one to change to.

RRatchet

Neil_Jones said:

All the comparison sites and all the providers use the same data.

Assuming you're talking about ADSL this is being phased out as part  of the copper switch over, so you'll have to have fibre at some point and probably Digital Voice or another VoIP solution (Plusnet do not and have no plans to do Digital Voice) as you won't have phone lines either.

I know that, but the line supplying our postcode will still be a 3 mile plus copper cable, with the associated constraints on speed. It's not that I want to resist fibre it's just that it's not going to happen for us and going digital will happen regardless of whether we can get fibre or not. The problem is that afaik there are virtually no companies prepared to supply us, only  BT and their subsidiary PlusNet and I'm pretty sure that PN are only grudgingly supplying us because we are an existing customer. 

Our current line speed is perfectly adequate for a "landline replacement service" where the broadband is only supplied for the express purpose of telephone service. I've only been able to find one company that offers it but I haven't asked if they would supply us; knowing our luck we're probably in the 1% they don't. There's then the risk that we're also in the cohort that they can't fetch our number over.

What has happened is that I've signed up to another 18 month contract with PN as that was the only practicable option at the moment. By then hopefully there will be more solutions and choice and we'll have a few months before the switch off date (end of Dec 2025) to find something more suitable. It is highly likely, if possible, that I will port my number to a Voip provider and then junk the landline altogether.  In any case  the broadband checkers will probably still be useless for people at the margins.

J_B

RRatchet said:

I have used MSE's checker in the very distant past and it did come up with deals that I could access. However in the recentish past I've found it next to useless.

I just tested it with our postcode - "yes you can get 65 Mbps from Onesteram/Now/Vodafone"

Followed the link through and each said 'sorry guv, no can do'

uvarvu

Mobiles and Internet are two areas where you should do the exact opposite to what MSE says depending on your needs.

Mobile.   Got an iPhone?  Want to use all of its features?   Go with EE (assuming the signal in your area is good).
Reason:  https://support.apple.com/en-gb/108048#europe

Broadband.   ALWAYS check bidb and then work from there.   The rule is that anything served over Openreach or even worse, Virgin is a last resort - try to sign up to an alt-net if you can.   If alt-nets are showing as planned in your area contact them to see if you can get a date.  https://bidb.uk/
Reason:  I’m a YourFibre subscriber.  My broadband service is FTTP 1gig up and down.  £27.99 a month locked for two years