AOL v`s O2 broadband

KylieFan24

Hi,

I have been with AOL for a few years and recently requested my mac code to see if they would offer me anything worthwhile to stay with them. They offered me 3 free months and £9.99 after that on 18 month contract which is a fair deal to me. The trouble is if I need to contact AOL via the phone I cannot stand it and it drives me nuts!

I have been looking at o2 broadband which looks all good PLUS UK call centres which is a bonus, I just wondered if anyone has had any bad experience`s with o2 broadband before I make the big switch and regret it!?

sparky61

I've requested my MAC code, they offered me 6 months at £9.99 on an 18 month contract, I told them to stuff it.

This thread is a mine of information and helped me to decide to go with 02
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=567409&page=10

del1001

sparky61 wrote: »

I've requested my MAC code, they offered me 6 months at £9.99 on an 18 month contract, I told them to stuff it.

Fair play to you, I'll be doing likewise in June when O2 go live on my exchange, I've had enough trouble with AOL in the last couple of months to last me a lifetime.

valleymatt

I have been with AOL for over 9 years and never had any trouble with them. They answer emails quickly, sort out connection faults (which are very infrequent) and have provided a very good service overall. However, I have been paying £24.99 a month for unlimited access for about 4 years now and contacted them this morning to cancel my subscription. I'd seen the O2 offer of £7.50 a month for the same package.

Naturally, AOL made me some counter-offers and I have now agreed to stay with them. My 8mps unlimited package remains the same, but they have now added free phone calls for life (to 01 and 02 numbers, plus some mobiles of my choice) and a free wireless router. The monthly fee has also been reduced to just £9.99 a month. As I have not had any issues with the service, I have decided to stick with them. It was only the monthly charge that I was going to change for, but the extra freebies are an added incentive.

I was prepared to give O2 a try, but have since discovered that there is a 10gb download limit, plus you have to pay an extra £5 per month anti-virus charge and there is little feedback from customers on the service and reliability.

If you choose to switch, then I wish you luck and hope the service proves to be efficient enough to warrant a 12 or 18 month contract.

VM

espresso

valleymatt wrote: »

I was prepared to give O2 a try, but have since discovered that there is a 10gb download limit, plus you have to pay an extra £5 per month anti-virus charge and there is little feedback from customers on the service and reliability.

Can you provide a link to this download limit?

What limit have you got on AOL?

valleymatt

I don't have a link I'm afraid, but it is what was quoted to me over the phone when I enquired. Their website mentions a 'fair usage policy' but I couldn't say if this is the same thing or not. Either way, I wish you luck!

VM

valleymatt

I originally thought my AOL account was unlimited, but have since discovered that it is 40gb per month. I did not think this was enough for my usage but have been informed that the most I've ever used is just over 30gb in a month, so it should be sufficient.

VM

espresso

valleymatt wrote: »

I don't have a link I'm afraid, but it is what was quoted to me over the phone when I enquired. Their website mentions a 'fair usage policy' but I couldn't say if this is the same thing or not. Either way, I wish you luck!

VM

You do realise that you have accepted AOL's new Fair use Policy don't you? i.e. it is not unlimited now!

Fair Use Policy for AOL Broadband
If you subscribe to any of our broadband services, the Fair Use Policy applies to you.

Why does AOL Broadband have a Fair Use Policy?
We're passionate about providing all our Members with a fast, reliable and high quality service. To achieve this, we implemented a Fair Use Policy as part of the terms and conditions governing the AOL Broadband Service in January 2007.

Excessive bandwidth usage, exceeding what we deem to be reasonable levels for a residential broadband product, slows down our service and affects the online experience of all other AOL Broadband Members.

Who is affected by the Fair Use Policy?
The Fair Use Policy applies to all Members. Most users however will not be affected as their usage is well within what we would expect from a residential broadband user.

What happens when the Fair Use Policy is applied?
If a Member's usage exceeds what AOL Broadband deems fair and reasonable for a residential broadband service, speed-limiting restrictions may be applied during peak hours (typically evenings) in the first instance. We'll also be in contact with Members whose usage is deemed excessive with advice and recommendations of how to reduce usage.

If usage continues to be very high, we may reluctantly give a Member notice that their account will be terminated.

valleymatt

I did ask about that and was told that my usage is not deemed excessive so I shoud be ok, but thanks for the notice.

VM

DatabaseError

valleymatt wrote: »

I don't have a link I'm afraid, but it is what was quoted to me over the phone when I enquired. Their website mentions a 'fair usage policy' but I couldn't say if this is the same thing or not. Either way, I wish you luck!

VM

they lied to you! O2 does have a FUP, but, to date, i'm not aware or anybody being warned for going over limits, and there are many reports of 500Gb/month, and a few of 1Tb+/month.

So you could have saved money, had faster speed, no known limit, and a shorter contract, but.......
AOL were, without doubt, a good ISP (disclaimer - their software has always been carp) but that time passed a few years go, and you now have 18 months to get unbundled onto the crapphonewarehouse LLU kit making it even harder to move when the opportunity arises in another year and a half, but at least you got a free router!
as to the only using 30Gb/month, with a 40Gb limit, doesn't leave a lot of headroom..

valleymatt

Basically, I was mainly looking to lower my £24.99 price plan. This has now gone down to £9.99 a month, I have a free phone call package and a free wireless router (which I was also looking for). As a happy AOL customer, I have no problems in staying with them and continuing my current contract. It would be different if I had connectivity problems, contact issues or any poor service, but to date, this has not happened.

To change ISP would not have given me a faster download speed, my line has been tested for it's limit and I'm over it's range already, and I see no reason to change if I'm happy with what my current provider can offer me. I'm not saying that AOL are the best ISP, far from it, but in my experince, they have not done anything to warrant a complaint, something which I found hard to say about the providers I used previous to AOL. Each to their own, I suppose!?!?