Cost Cutting - Which ISP / Package?

why couldnt you take the main deal at plusnet? new customers only? it would seem daft they keep it for new customers only and not allow current customers to re-sign for it IF they are going to leave? Talk Talk allowed current customers 'new customer' deals, they had a special phone number set up for it.

it seems you are paying £5 month for that 50Gb online storage, as the same deal without that is £16 month - im sure your aware of that but thought I would point it out just in case.

did you pay upfront for line rental at BT..?

edit: ahh I see, so your exchange doesnt have WBC?
 
something not right here?

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/THCP


says your exchange is WBC 21CN Enabled - this means Plusnet can provide there service in your area at the cheaper rates? - i will get my friend to ask on their forums as he just become a member, theres no Plusnet LLu - they work through BT's system - you got 18Mb speeds with plusnet which further indicates that your on WBC 21CN - otherwise you would have only got upto 8Mbps if there were no WBC 21CN

sounds to me like the rep got it wrong or was telling fibs!
 
When I spoke to Plusnet, they only gave the excuse that my exchange was 'Market 1' and only BT as the provider so couldn't offer the main deals for that reason :confused:

The extra £5 also gives you evening calls in addition to the weekend calls. That is the reason for opting for the higher price. But thanks for pointing that out - not unheard of for me to overlook the obvious!

Yes - paid line rental upfront with BT.

Samknows shows 21CN WBC as enabled. What would that mean? I would hold out for FTTP which was due over a year ago but looks like getting delayed yet again and not sure if it would open up any better deals...

Edit: the risk of overlapping posts!!!
 
you wont get FTTP any quicker with BT - Plusnet operates over BT's system,

this is what Iam getting at (and ive sent someone on the case too plusnet reps on their forums, I will ask on ThinkBroadband as there are reps on there)

when there is WBC 21CN it means BT have installed equipment that allows ADSL2+ (upto 16Mbps but really 24Mbps, they had to lower the qouted speed to an 'average' instead of highest speed as most people did not get this) - whereas if no WBC 21CN existed you would only get upto 8Mbps 'IPstream' services.

as you got 18Mbps on Plusnet it meant you were already connected to Plusnet through WBC 21CN, I think when an exchange has WBC then Plusnet can offer the cheaper service...but I may be wrong and need to clarify this.... when most ISP's offer cheaper packages its because they have a presence in your exchange, this is known as LLu or Local Loop Unbundling (a la Talk Talk in yours) - but Plusnet dont do LLu.. so I am at a loss how they can claim what exchanges they can and can not offer cheaper deals in?? - I assume WBC because my friend has no LLu (no Plusnet LLu thats for sure) and is 'Market 1' and has just signed up for Plusnet.

I will try too find out more about it on TBB and report back, be good if we could get you that unlimited plusnet as you could just cancel the BT one
 
well I started a good discussion about it over on Think broadband hehe even the manager/owner of TBB is involved

anyway, ive learned something new: (just as a side note: BT Wholesale ISPs are those that cant afford an LLu presence in an exchange so pay to use BT's system, this is why I dont like BT as a broaband ISP as your on that system with loads of other ISPs, I would imagine nowadays BT have made it better for their customers but few years back and beyond BT was terrible and always scored at the bottom of ISP charts)

The reason they charge more in MARKET 1 exchanges is because OFCOM said BT could be less competitive with its Wholesale pricing in MARKET 2/3/4 exchanges where there are multiple LLu operators with decent prices, so BT brings wholesale prices down in MARKET 2/3/4 exchanges so ISPs who cant get LLu can compete with the LLu operators who are in that exchange (Talk Talk, Sky, Orange, Tiscali, Zen etc etc) - but in MARKET 1 exchanges where it may just be BT Wholesale on its own OR with 1 LLu operator, OFCOM said it didnt have to be competitive and therefore BTw charges the likes of Plusnet MORE for services in that exchange... ive been told that where Plusnet get charged less in MARKET 2/3/4 exchanges they pass on the savings too the customer, but most other ISPs charge the same regardless of exchange...depends on what they are charging as to whether thats good or bad I suppose

so there you have it hehe - you can follow the debate on the link in my previous post

Sorry I couldnt help get you cheaper broadband...I tried... but I learned something new from it anyway
 
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snadge said:
something not right here?

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/THCP


says your exchange is WBC 21CN Enabled - this means Plusnet can provide there service in your area at the cheaper rates? - i will get my friend to ask on their forums as he just become a member, theres no Plusnet LLu - they work through BT's system - you got 18Mb speeds with plusnet which further indicates that your on WBC 21CN - otherwise you would have only got upto 8Mbps if there were no WBC 21CN

sounds to me like the rep got it wrong or was telling fibs!
Click to expand...

No. Look at the bottom-right. Market 1 exchange.
 
@ KIA - thanks but yeah I know, if you read my post above yours it explains.. all to do with BTw charging higher to resellers in MK1 exchanges
 
Thanks again Snadge :cool: - I have read the TBB thread with interest just a shame I can't currently access the better deals, maybe in time...

I'll post back when I eventually get switched over to BT. I've looked up how to enable transport encryption following your advice, hopefully this will do enough to make peak time bit-torrent feasible. ;)
 
Well, I've now been with BT for about a month after switching from Plusnet and have to say all has gone well. :D

In terms of P2P speeds, I have not had any issues with transport encryption enabled.

We now have FTTP available which I may decide to updgrade to depending on options with BT once the initial 6 month free period is over on the current 18month contract. I won't be able to warrant the £35 a month for the 160mb option, though it is tempting! :eek:

Thanks again for everyone's input... :cool:
 
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