Broadband & Phone Options

[Pixie*Porsche]

I'm currently with BT for my broadband and phone and want to stay with them and sign another contract but everyone else (Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk etc.) and half price for unlimited calls and broadband. Has anyone had any luck getting some money off the monthly price with BT?

I have been a loyal customer for a number of years now, always signing an 18month contract.

[owainsutton]

If there's much better prices elsewhere, why feel the need to stick with BT? They're just one private company out of many, nowadays!

For a broadband & phone combination, I've in the past found that the Post Office Homephone packages are particularly competitive. (Fairly rubbish customer service, though...)

[Swell Box]

I think you'll find that all of these services are provided by BT, which they sell wholesale to other 'providers'. So you'll be using BT whoever you pay the bill to. (This is why BT vans have now been rebranded 'Openreach' as they service all providers' customers.)

I an fairly IT savvy, but on the odd occasions that I have had problems BT have been very prompt and helpful. I cannot speak for other providers.

SB

[sbhoa]

I think you'll find that all of these services are provided by BT, which they sell wholesale to other 'providers'. So you'll be using BT whoever you pay the bill to. (This is why BT vans have now been rebranded 'Openreach' as they service all providers' customers.)

I an fairly IT savvy, but on the odd occasions that I have had problems BT have been very prompt and helpful. I cannot speak for other providers.

SB

We only phone with BT and though they may be prompt an helpful that's only after you've had an awful job actually getting in touch with the right department (or anyone at all). I recall going around in ever decreasing circles the last time I tried to report a problem through their web site.

[Swell Box]

I think you'll find that all of these services are provided by BT, which they sell wholesale to other 'providers'. So you'll be using BT whoever you pay the bill to. (This is why BT vans have now been rebranded 'Openreach' as they service all providers' customers.)

I an fairly IT savvy, but on the odd occasions that I have had problems BT have been very prompt and helpful. I cannot speak for other providers.

SB

We only phone with BT and though they may be prompt an helpful that's only after you've had an awful job actually getting in touch with the right department (or anyone at all). I recall going around in ever decreasing circles the last time I tried to report a problem through their web site.

I know what you mean. I have a business account with them which helps, but I usually find that once I have made contact with a human being it gets a lot easier.

SB

[owainsutton]

I think you'll find that all of these services are provided by BT, which they sell wholesale to other 'providers'. So you'll be using BT whoever you pay the bill to. (This is why BT vans have now been rebranded 'Openreach' as they service all providers' customers.)

I an fairly IT savvy, but on the odd occasions that I have had problems BT have been very prompt and helpful. I cannot speak for other providers.

SB

To clarify, although the line still belongs to BT Wholesale, you don't have to pay anything to BT Retail if you switch provider. (Openreach is the part of BT Wholesale which deals with the last-mile connections from exchanges to properties.)

Some companies (Sky being one) may take over the line entirely. I discovered this on moving into one house, that I had to pay a full connection fee to get it transferred back to BT Wholesale. Clever move by Sky, creating an incentive for the new occupier to just buy their package instead...

[oldnotes]

Success - yes. I had exactly the same problem, being with BT for phone & broadband. I suddenly realised, via uswitch, that Plusnet would be 30% cheaper for the same package. I made the decision to switch and needed to ring BT in order to get an essential code number in order to switch. The very helpful girl I spoke to asked me if I needed the code number in order to swith away from them. I said yes and, having been asked the reason, told her I could get the same service 30% cheaper. She asked if I would stay with them if they could match the Plusnet price, I said yes and, after keeping me waiting only a short time, agreed to match the price, provided I agreed to a 12 month contract. This was about a year ago and I'm still happy with BT's service.
Best of luck. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Pixie*Porsche]

Called BT last night and got unlimited broadband, unlimited uk calls & line rental for a price that matched the others. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Very happy about this now, especially as we use our landline loads!

[fsharpminor]

Yes thanks for that, I will try the same. When I was working the company paid half my bill so I didnt worry too much about it, but now Im paying the lot, and I am sure I can get a better deal

[Tixylix]

I left BT for Sky because I had no end of trouble with them, the icing on the cake when I moved house and they had promised me a transfer on X day with the same number and what I actually got was a transfer 3 weeks later with a new number. I'd have left immediately if I hadn't had to agree to a new 12 month contract so I could move it, and at that point Sky didn't do their own line rental. Everything is now with Sky and they are lovely - BT wouldn't match the price because Sky do very nice incentives for their TV customers to get other services so my (actually) unlimited broadband is 7.50 a month.

I had Virgin Media in my student place because the bill was in someone else's name and he refused to get a phone line installed so we had to have Virgin, who I wouldn't touch again with a long wooden implement onto which someone had relieved themselves. Non-existent customer service and less than half the advertised speed even with a cable connection, with a very cheap initial price which quadrupled after 3 months (said daft housemate didn't read the fine print) and a 75% throttle at peak times after a rather conservative download limit which was hit regularly with 4 people using the connection. It seems their policies have changed quite a bit over the past few years but it would take quite a convincing deal to lure me back, especially as I like my obscure factual and cartoon TV channels - and I would be in a lot of trouble with my girlfriend if we lost the Crime & Investigation Network!