what are BT like as an ISP?

GeX

GeX

GeX

Soldato
Joined
17 Dec 2002
Posts
6,982
Location
Manchester
Hiya. After some advice re ISPs :)

I do not have a phone line where I live, there is a socket but no dial tone. This means it's going to cost £122.50 to have one activated.

If i go with BT for broadband (at £24.45 a month, £18.95 first 3 months, 18month contract, total cost: £423.60, ave: £23.53 a month ), then they will waive the connection fee.

I currently have an account with Be from my old home, which I was planning to transfer onto the line here once it was installed. That costs £17.50 a month, but I'd have to pay the connection fee. Keeping it all in terms of an 18month contract, this works out at £6.81 a month. Making a total of, £24.31 a month.

I think the BT one comes with a voip phone (not interested), and unlimited openzone use.

What are BT like as an ISP. Why do they advertise 20mb instead of 24mb. What technology do they use. What is the 'home hub' like?

My exchange is; http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/SLSF and i'm aprox 800m from it.

I download a lot. I don't play many online games. Do BT traffic shape?
 
BT absolutely love to "not throttle you, honest guv"... I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Plus they use the IP profile system. Stick to LLU. If memory serves, Sky will activate your line for free if you take Sky Talk, and you can still use the line for 'normal' broadband as they simply resell the BT line and add their talk package on top. Worth checking out maybe?
 
i'm with demon now and looking for a replacement. I called BE up and they look great on paper:

ADSL2 so i can finally get more than 3mb that BT do (as they're still adsl1 in my area)
247 free phone
no limits becuase of a fair usage policy (demon have limited me to 128kb from 9am to 11pm - it's not fun).
free router
and half price for the first 12 months :-)

bloody amazing!
 
If they're available (which they are for you) you should always go with either Sky, or o2/Be (As LLU, not BTW). Sky unfortunatly require that you have their TV service too, but they're just as good as o2/Be (Sky have no FUP at all, so altho Be/o2 don't enforce it atm there's a very small chance that they may need to in future and as it's already there you won't be able to get out of contract, whereas Sky would have to add it so you'd be able to cancel).

If you already have a contract with Be I'd just pay the connection charge tbh and stay with them (or cancel and try to get Be/o2/Sky to pay/lower it :p).
 
I was in the same position last year. I asked Sky and they said they couldn't help as I didn't have a BT line.

Here is what you do, call BT and ask them about the offer they have where they connect you for free but you have an 18 month contract with them. They won't just tell you about this, you will have to point them to it. The connection might have been free or £30, I can't remember now.

When the paperwork came through it said something about making so many calls a month but I hardly use my phone and they haven't said anything.

Edit - It's free, info here

Also forgot to say stick with BE/O2 for your broadband. :)
 
Last edited:
mr_x_plosion said:
I was in the same position last year. I asked Sky and they said they couldn't help as I didn't have a BT line.

Here is what you do, call BT and ask them about the offer they have where they connect you for free but you have an 18 month contract with them. They won't just tell you about this, you will have to point them to it. The connection might have been free or £30, I can't remember now.

When the paperwork came through it said something about making so many calls a month but I hardly use my phone and they haven't said anything.
Click to expand...

Exactly what we had to do here when we moved to Sky BB. We barely use the phone either & not had a problem :)
 
tolien said:
In so far as you have to send it back if you leave or they'll charge you. It's a Thomson and pretty rubbish too.
Click to expand...

BT haven't asked for my home hub, powerline ethernet adapters or BT vision box, but all 3 are have been replaced by updated versions now. They did sting me for £45 for breaching my broadband contract, but they still owe me £55 after that anyway. BT seem to think that they can charge you random amounts in advance, so I was over £150 in credit by the time I ditched them.
 
mr_x_plosion said:
I was in the same position last year. I asked Sky and they said they couldn't help as I didn't have a BT line.

Here is what you do, call BT and ask them about the offer they have where they connect you for free but you have an 18 month contract with them. They won't just tell you about this, you will have to point them to it. The connection might have been free or £30, I can't remember now.

When the paperwork came through it said something about making so many calls a month but I hardly use my phone and they haven't said anything.

Edit - It's free, info here

Also forgot to say stick with BE/O2 for your broadband. :)
Click to expand...

That makes it a no brainer. Cheers. Will stick with BE
 
rudeboymcc said:
i'm with demon now and looking for a replacement. I called BE up and they look great on paper:

ADSL2 so i can finally get more than 3mb that BT do (as they're still adsl1 in my area)
247 free phone
no limits becuase of a fair usage policy (demon have limited me to 128kb from 9am to 11pm - it's not fun).
free router
and half price for the first 12 months :-)

bloody amazing!
Click to expand...

Where is info on the half price, I can only see that for the 8mb service on the site. If I can get unlimited for half price then il get a new contract.
 
I ordered a line from them on 23rd November, and they still haven't even sent a letter saying when it will be activated. they want £117.50 to connect. had enough, they can kiss my bottom
 
GeX said:
Where is info on the half price, I can only see that for the 8mb service on the site. If I can get unlimited for half price then il get a new contract.
Click to expand...

Sorry I only asked for 8mb service, and he said half price for 12 months. But all their services are unlimited.
 
HazardO said:
BT haven't asked for my home hub, powerline ethernet adapters or BT vision box, but all 3 are have been replaced by updated versions now. They did sting me for £45 for breaching my broadband contract, but they still owe me £55 after that anyway. BT seem to think that they can charge you random amounts in advance, so I was over £150 in credit by the time I ditched them.
Click to expand...

I wasn't talking about BT though. The part of the post I quoted was referring to Be.
 
well that's the phone line ordered.

When I rang the post office, just short of a month ago - they couldnt tell me when the line would be active. BT told me there and then over the phone, it should be active 5th Jan.

I will NEVER deal with the post office telecom service again, they're a joke. Process was so much simpler with BT.
 
DO...NOT...GO...WITH...BT...!!! :O

Throttle and lie about it, terrible customer service, expensive, just don't do it!

Homehub is also a pile of steaming ****
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom