Bulldog

I'mcomingbackasaman

I'd have a close look at your contract with them. Get some proof that you've signed up to broadband anytime. Photocopy the document and send a covering letter to Bull[strike]!!!![/strike]dog.
Tell them you signed up for broadband anytime, your fed up of being messed about by them and you want to end your contract asap. Tell them your going to see trading standards about the bad service provided to scare them into making you happy.

This MSE page has best broadband providers have a look there to see what suits you. If you have sky you can get broadband free try that. I've had no problems so far ...
My worst nightmare was with AOL aka. Oh Hell. but I'm 'recovered' from them now. (lol).

opportunity_cost

greeneggsandham wrote: »

Anybody reckon I've gota leg to stand on re the fact that they slapped a pathetic download limit on me without telling me, when I was supposed to be on an unlimited deal, and the first I know about it is when I go over the (secret) limit and get charged for it? Anybody got any experience with this??

It really depends on what the Terms & Conditions were at the time you signed up and whether Bulldog gave you notice of any changes in the T&Cs to your broadband package.

If you're positive that the contract you agreed to made no mention of any usage limits and that Bulldog never told you of any changes to your package, then send Bulldog a letter challenging the charges. If Bulldog did indeed slam your line, then that puts you in a stronger negotiation position if it goes to adjudication or if ISPA/Ofcom get involved, so make sure you complain as much about the slamming as about the broadband usage charges.

If Bulldog's complaint channels get you nowhere, escalate your complaint to ISPA (Internet Services Providers' Association):
http://www.ispa.org.uk/cgi-bin/complaints.cgi

and Ofcom (I don't usually bother recommending Ofcom 'cos they usually do nothing while ISPA resolves issues time and time again, but Ofcom may just be interested in the slamming in this case).

Sample letter here.

HTH.

deklan99

del1001 wrote: »

Has anyone seen a list of ISP's that are 100% LLU?, I believe TalkTalk & Tiscali would also be on such a list, whereas Sky, Be/O2, AOL and Pipex would not as they do not have compulsory phone deals as part of their contracts.

It's not that simple really. Providers that aren't full LLU can still offer phone line rental as part of a package, they just buy the product from BT and resell it. Also those that are full LLU still can offer traditional adsl over BTs' network if they haven't unbundled your exchange.
Rule of thumb would be if it's free or extremely cheap then it's the providers own product and therefore not part of BTs' network and tricky to migrate from.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/165879/broadband-users-scared-to-switch.html

greeneggsandham

Either I never had a contract or I don't have a copy of it now, either way all I have are a couple of old bills that I printed out (the one disadvantage of paperless billing). These bills are itemised for "1 Mb unlimited broadband", which makes it pretty clear that I was on an unlimited package, and I'm very certain that they never sent me any warning of an impending change of deal or new download limits. I have emailed them today to ask them what my download limits actually are. Interestingly, their security certificate has been revoked and its impossible to log into my account on the bulldog website.

darkhorse01

I decided to move on from Bulldog last Thursday as 40 quid for phone and 8meg is not good value - my 20 quid for 6 months special offer had recently expired. Never had any connection problems with them over nearly 3 years. Spoke to someone in cancellations and gave my 30 days notice - no attempt whatsoever to keep me as a customer. On the Friday my phone stopped working. Called them up and whoever processed my cancellation had apparently pushed the 'terminate now' button, which the guy in faults thought was impossible. Luckily my internet is still working and I am no longer being billed for anything. Was told the C&W engineers will be disconnecting that at some unknown point in the future. Am now in the process of returning my phone line to BT them will go for O2 I think, at all up less than half of what bulldog were charging.

greeneggsandham

darkhorse01 wrote: »

I decided to move on from Bulldog last Thursday as 40 quid for phone and 8meg is not good value - my 20 quid for 6 months special offer had recently expired. Never had any connection problems with them over nearly 3 years. Spoke to someone in cancellations and gave my 30 days notice - no attempt whatsoever to keep me as a customer. On the Friday my phone stopped working. Called them up and whoever processed my cancellation had apparently pushed the 'terminate now' button, which the guy in faults thought was impossible. Luckily my internet is still working and I am no longer being billed for anything. Was told the C&W engineers will be disconnecting that at some unknown point in the future. Am now in the process of returning my phone line to BT them will go for O2 I think, at all up less than half of what bulldog were charging.

So if I've understood correctly, right now you have no phone, but you do have internet, although you don't know how long for, and then once you switch over to BT you will have phone but no internet until you can get up and running with O2?? What a pain! Still at least you're escaping the bull-hog. How much down time do you think you will have? Maybe more importantly....how much is it costing to go back to BT? Do you have to commit to a 12 month contract with BT for your landline?

I've booked Virgin to come and hook me up to cable on 24th, but I'm hesitating to sign and return the contract; don't like to sell my soul again to another company that will then do whatever they like once they have me by the you-know-what.

darkhorse01

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my current straight forward situation. The technical chap I spoke to on the phone said I could keep getting free internet for up to 60 days. All depends how efficient the guys who pull the wires out at the exchange are. I should really postpone the move of the phone line to BT to maximise the free internet time. I instigated the return to BT via their website whch gave no indication that there would be a cost. Had a quick look at the small print for their cheapest phone package (£10.50) and think the min term only kicks in if you have the more expensive packages that include free calls. All I have from BT is currently a reference number so should really contact them to see how that is progressing and if any costs are involved.

No so sure about Virgin, would rather keep more control of the phone line and therefore broadband options.

darkhorse01

darkhorse01 wrote: »

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my current straight forward situation. The technical chap I spoke to on the phone said I could keep getting free internet for up to 60 days. ..... All I have from BT is currently a reference number so should really contact them to see how that is progressing and if any costs are involved.

Well so much for the 30 to 60 days. Internet stopped working this morning. Called up BT to check on the progress of my 'return', but the online ordering system appears to have failed. End result is I have to pay a reconnection fee to BT of £62.50 which was half price. Will do my best to get that back in compensation from Bulldog as would have been nothing if they had not cut me off immediately upon giving them 30 days notice.

TERMIN8TOR

I am on full LLU on Bulldog. Tried to get a MAC code off them today to be told as above. Can anyone who has tried to get back to BT managed to take also the same Bulldog tel number? Thanks

maniac886

TERMIN8TOR wrote: »

I am on full LLU on Bulldog. Tried to get a MAC code off them today to be told as above. Can anyone who has tried to get back to BT managed to take also the same Bulldog tel number? Thanks

Hi,

If you need to leave Bulldog and you have both your internet and phone with them and want to go back to BT do the following:

1. Ring BT and speak with their customer options team. Request a Return to Donor back to BT.
2. They will provide you with a date that the line is switched back to BT(usually 11 working days).
3. DO NOT RING BULLDOG UNTIL AFTER THE SWITCH DATE. This is important as you may affect the RTD process. BT will contact Bulldog to say that you are leaving. Bulldog should send you a letter saying that someone is taking over your line and your account has been cancelled.
4. After the switch date you can ring bulldog to check your account is closed.
5. Once your line is back with BT you are free to join another provider. Check samknows for available providers in your area.