Should I swap from Zen?

.temp · 17 Aug 2013 at 23:26

Hi all

Currently I'm with Zen for my internet connection. However, this is proving to be pretty costly and the download cap is not the best thing in the world for me.

I don't get the best speeds where I live (sub 5mb/s down, 0.35mb/s up), so I've always been one to say that it's the quality we pay for (i.e. the customer service). I know Zen are rated highly by Which? and other, and I've no complaints with the service....but the download cap and the price are starting to grind.

I've checked SamKnows and my local exhange and the results are:

I'm just wondering if I could be getting a similar service, with unlimited download at a cheaper price?

Any thoughts on what I should do or who I should look to?

living in South Wales sucks at times

stephenb · 17 Aug 2013 at 23:59

Not just Which? that rates them, they've won the PC Pro award for best ISP 9 years running! http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/376897/pc-pro-excellence-awards-2012-broadband One of the reasons I switched to them a while back now. BE seem to be highly rated although I don't know what the situation is now they have been taken over by Sky.

.temp · 18 Aug 2013 at 00:45

i think the only thing that's annoying for me is the download cap to be honest. currently on 100GB and if there's a good sale on Steam or something similar (like the current Humble Bundle) then I can rinse that!

I do like the fact the customer service is always top notch, if I ever have faults (which is very rare) I get through to someone right away who can always help.

Rozzy85 · 18 Aug 2013 at 01:05

Just don't choose TalkTalk unless you enjoy connection drops, web page timeouts and slow speed during the day.

I can only dream on being able to download lots of games from Steam.

ChrisD. · 18 Aug 2013 at 09:53

Plusnet.

Probably the best ISP I have been with, and I have been with Zen before. The increased cost is a joke if you ask me, I have had the same level of CS from Plusnet as I ever did with Zen.

KIA · 18 Aug 2013 at 10:52

Sky.

You won't get the same level of CS from any of the cheap providers.

.temp · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:04

don't worry, i'll NEVER go back to Talk Talk. We had them for a period and it was TERRIBLE!

I thought Sky owned PlusNet?.

We have Sky in the house already...could be an option...don't know if I trust them though, i heard they used to be really really bad

KIA · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:10

.temp said:
I thought Sky owned PlusNet?.

On 30 January 2007 Plusnet was acquired by BT Group,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plusnet

.temp said:
i heard they used to be really really bad

Far from it. They were one of the first to introduce truly unlimited broadband without FUP.

.temp · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:13

Oh really?!

Making it very tempting to switch to Sky now....do PlusNet offer truly unlimited downloads too?

As we already have Sky...we may be able to get a sweet deal

Speed is something i've had to deal with so I don't expect more than 5mb/s where I live

Parent's pay the bill, just trying to get them a cheaper option. Always said that we pay for the quality of the CS but we hardly ever phone them (maybe once a year?) so....

Mana · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:14

They are expensive but before I got fibre I was with Fast.co.uk.

Very very good customer service and 450gb download cap. They are pricey though.

.temp · 18 Aug 2013 at 14:21

Looking at it with Sky...we could get a lot more for our money...

ChrisD. · 18 Aug 2013 at 15:48

Yes Plusnet is unlimited, but it has different levels of management. What attracted me to them was UK call center as well as a much better users area on the website. The ticketing system is pretty good and like I said their CS has been superb for me.

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/speed_guide/traffic_management.shtml

You can pay £5 to have an upgraded service, and you can have a static IP for a one off payment as well if that interests you. Plus, if you want to use your own router, just do it, there's no faffing about unlike Sky.

However in saying that, I am not knocking Sky, their ADSL is brilliant, just listing the reasons why I favoured PN.