Virgin Media Failed Install. Now no Broadband. What are my Options?

Adamc

VM came to install BB today but said they couldn't pull the cable from the pole due to an adjacent power line.  This is despite them attending to do a site survey previously. 

They now plan to do another site survey tomorrow when my current provider (Vodaphone) contract expires. I had to cancel the contract manually as the switch service would not work. 

VM have offered me £75 credit towards my bill, if services ever get up and running. 

I don't hold out any hope of things being sorted any time soon. 

Do I go back to my current provider which had terrible speeds? Or find a new provider (other fibre providers are listed online who I'd imagine also couldn't provide services). Or do I wait out VM and try to get some kind of temporary sim / dongle broadband? 

If I was to get a temporary sim-based BB - what should I look for, if a casual contract with them is a thing?

iniltous

Pull the cable from the pole ? , odd way to express the issue , are you fed overhead and they can’t install the fibre overhead optical dropwire due to adjacent overhead power , or there is a duct from the pole and they can’t pull the cable through the duct ….power shouldn’t be an issue if ducted so it’s probably overhead , perhaps you can confirm.
If Virgin are providing service via telegraph poles , presumably this is via Nexfibre network as they leech onto other network providers assets, the only ISP available on that network currently is Virgin ( VM and Nexfibre they are effectively the same organisation ) , so on that network it’s VM only , your alternatives are  to stick with what you have , or change ISP but using your existing network provider which presumably is Openreach if you give up on VM

Adamc

Overhead yes. 

QrizB

This advice is too late for you, but if changing network (eg. OpenReach to Virgin, as you are) you don't need to cancel your old service until you're happy with the new one. Yes you end up paying for two simultaneous connections for a short period, but you're covered in case the switch runs into problems.

Adamc said:

Do I go back to my current provider which had terrible speeds?

There's no harm in seeing if they'll extend your service for a few days or weeks.

Switching to a different provider on OpenReach's network is likely to take time.

Adamc said:

 Or do I wait out VM and try to get some kind of temporary sim / dongle broadband?
If I was to get a temporary sim-based BB - what should I look for, if a casual contract with them is a thing?

Exactly how much of a data service do you need, as a fallback option? Do you have a mobile phone you can tether to for a day or two?
For longer, could you get by with a USB 4/5G dongle for a single computer or are you looking for a whole house router with WiFi?

uvarvu

What does bidb.uk say?  Any altnets in your area?