Need a short-term (i.e. no contract) ISP

peanutismint · 28 Mar 2013 at 17:03

We're hoping to get VirginMedia broadband installed to our property but it could take a couple of months. Think the previous tenants were with Sky, so in the meantime we're looking for a short-term (i.e. no contract) ISP with somebody who's ideally not going to charge us £100s for suspicious installation/'setup' fees (given that we can probably source our own cheap modem/router).

Any suggestions? Have looked at PlusNet's no-contract deal so far (strange mentions of 'installation fees' on top of connection fees, even though we already have a phone line installed...) and O2 who promise a free router etc but seem to only offer the no-contract deals capped.......??

KIA · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:23

Mobile broadband if it's going to take a few months. BT line rental minimum contract is 12 months.

peanutismint · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:34

Oh snap. No way, not doing that! Don't even want a landline, would only get one to get the broadband. Thanks for the heads-up!

So mobile broadband - what are we talking? I'm already tethering through my phone on 3G. Signal is....okay I guess...... Would I be able to get a better speed if I bought a dongle? Any chance of 4G?

woppy101 · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:37

Zen,idnet,aaisp all offer one month contracts

peanutismint · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:38

Fantastic, thanks!

Rroff · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:40

Will still need line rental to use those - and its possible depending on the state the last resident left it in you might need to be "reconnected" by BT with a fee slapped on that.

woppy101 · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:40

I would point you in the direction of idnet I was with them for over a year customer service was outstanding

peanutismint · 28 Mar 2013 at 18:42

I just googled them but they don't seem to do the mobile broadband service that we're actually talking about here.... but thanks anyway.

KIA · 28 Mar 2013 at 19:17

He's referring to ADSL, you'll still need to pay for 12 months of line rental.

A mobile broadband dongle might be better than tethering to your phone. Have a look at the coverage.

http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Coverage
https://explore.ee.co.uk/coverage-checker
http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker

peanutismint · 28 Mar 2013 at 20:04

Cool thanks, will look into this.

Judgeneo · 2 Sep 2013 at 16:25

I'm currently in the same boat, I'll only need 3 months internet before I'm moving address again.

Plusnet want £150 total for that period :mad:

We're quite heavy users too, lots of netflix...

KIA · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:22

Judgeneo said:
I'm currently in the same boat, I'll only need 3 months internet before I'm moving address again.

Plusnet want £150 total for that period

We're quite heavy users too, lots of netflix...

Three.co.uk unlimited tethering.

Hyburnate · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:26

KIA said:
Three.co.uk unlimited tethering.

This is the best way to do it.

Hammy · 2 Sep 2013 at 18:50

call on ur next door neighbour and offer them a few ££ to use their wireless for the next 12 weeks

spike2011 · 2 Sep 2013 at 23:51

Hammy said:
call on ur next door neighbour and offer them a few ££ to use their wireless for the next 12 weeks

Not bad idea that's if you get on with your neighbours could work something out

spike2011 · 2 Sep 2013 at 23:57

peanutismint said:
We're hoping to get VirginMedia broadband installed to our property but it could take a couple of months. Think the previous tenants were with Sky, so in the meantime we're looking for a short-term (i.e. no contract) ISP with somebody who's ideally not going to charge us £100s for suspicious installation/'setup' fees (given that we can probably source our own cheap modem/router).

Any suggestions? Have looked at PlusNet's no-contract deal so far (strange mentions of 'installation fees' on top of connection fees, even though we already have a phone line installed...) and O2 who promise a free router etc but seem to only offer the no-contract deals capped.......??

Would never use Virgin for broadband they are hopeless in my area Plymouth.
Really really slow downloads constant speed drops because virgin cant cope with demand at peak times.

Judgeneo · 3 Sep 2013 at 09:50

Cheers, that three deal seems like a possibility, I'll speak to the neighbours when I move in

peanutismint · 3 Sep 2013 at 13:02

Here's another idea - I don't know what 4G mobile signal is like in your area but recently when our internet went out for a couple of weeks I signed up for a mobile 4G dongle with EE. They had a 30 day trial offer with a money-back guarantee, so I signed up for the most expensive one (it was still only like 8GB a month but enough for email and general browsing etc...) then cancelled after about 3 weeks and got all my money back. Bit of a moral grey area, perhaps, but if they want to offer a money-back trial then I'm going to use it!