Which BB ISP (help needed)

TBirdUK · 5 Jun 2006 at 16:24

To all,

I am away at the moment so cancelled my pipex account to save a bit of money. When I get back I will need the following:

BB ISP for 7 weeks (upto 1MB), then I move and need it at another location for 6 weeks (1MB), then I move again to a new house so as much as possible with no download limit) Which is the best BB ISP that will allow me to do this without incurring massive charges? I will also need to do all the setup by email to get it ready for my return.

I would do all the searching myself but I am on a 28k dialup connection where I am at the moment and am finding it v v frustrating.

Cheers for any help

tolien · 5 Jun 2006 at 17:48

You're going to get stuck for the activation fee whoever you go with.

TBirdUK · 5 Jun 2006 at 19:32

Dont mind an activation fee - if its only once - some you can move for free. Any suggestions?

tolien · 5 Jun 2006 at 20:34

Most won't let you move more than once a year for free though...

Zen, Plusnet, Nildram, Eclipse all offer monthly contracts at "up to 8Mbps". no one really offers 1Mbps tiers now.
As ever, ADSLguide is your friend.

cavemanoc · 5 Jun 2006 at 23:54

https://client.virgin.net/productpicker/register?buspart=27

Short term I think they're your guys - then look at Bulldog once you've settle in flat-land! Plenty of options from monthly to pay-as-you-go. (You've got all the equipment so the setup shouldn't be too extortionate)

tolien · 5 Jun 2006 at 23:58

Virgin are only decent if you're a tad deranged.
Before you take the "Free activation and no 12 month contract" too literally, there's this little gem:

In addition, while we don't tie you into a 12 month contact (unlike most broadband providers), we do reserve the right to apply a £50 cancellation charge if your service is cancelled within 12 months of activation.

So in other words, it's free if you stay for 12 months.

cavemanoc · 6 Jun 2006 at 17:47

Still cheaper than the whole 12months if he's moving after 6 weeks, then again, then again.

Worth having a chat to them and see what they say - explain the situation and your line of work - they might be sympathetic.

Edit: Had a look at the link - what's the problem?

tolien · 6 Jun 2006 at 17:55

cavemanoc said:
Edit: Had a look at the link - what's the problem?

The ratings for speed, customer service, reliability, all significantly lower than most other decent ISPs?

Still cheaper than the whole 12months if he's moving after 6 weeks, then again, then again.

Paying to cancel (then paying an activation fee again) versus a free move the first time?

cavemanoc · 6 Jun 2006 at 18:22

Again - he 'should' be able to move them on with him - they have to be able to provide the service to charge him after all. Best bet is to speak directly to them and see what they have to offer - as to how 'significantly' below the other ISP's it faired - meh - for such a short period I'd accept slightly lower service - still all above average.

tolien · 6 Jun 2006 at 20:18

cavemanoc said:
Again - he 'should' be able to move them on with him - they have to be able to provide the service to charge him after all.

Again, that doesn't affect the fact they'll want an activation fee (or a "cancellation fee") every time he moves, versus at least getting the first move free (but you've already paid an activation fee, so where's the huge saving you're implying?), and no ISP's going to give £150 of activations for free...
If they're going to give you any kind of deal, they'll definitely involve some kind of 12 month tie-in, so a below-average service becomes even more of a big deal.

I'd have said 15-24% was pretty significant, but why let the facts get in the way...

cavemanoc · 7 Jun 2006 at 09:30

tolien said:
I'd have said 15-24% was pretty significant, but why let the facts get in the way...

???

I've just looked at the link you posted again and I just don't see what you're getting at - all of Virgin's scores are 'slightly' above the defined average - now they don't say whether that 'average' is user perception or across the survey of all companies but even so, for reliability and Customer service (speed really isn't an issue at this stage) they may not be as good as the product leaders, but they're clearly not in the 'NTL' zone - they don't have to be the best - they just need to be adequate, and fit for purpose - this is only a temporary fix for T-Bird, after the 2nd move he'll be going for a proper provider.

tolien · 7 Jun 2006 at 10:27

???

What is there not to understand? :confused:

cavemanoc said:
I've just looked at the link you posted again and I just don't see what you're getting at - all of Virgin's scores are 'slightly' above the defined average - now they don't say whether that 'average' is user perception or across the survey of all companies but even so, for reliability and Customer service (speed really isn't an issue at this stage) they may not be as good as the product leaders, but they're clearly not in the 'NTL' zone - they don't have to be the best - they just need to be adequate, and fit for purpose - this is only a temporary fix for T-Bird, after the 2nd move he'll be going for a proper provider.

Average = 50%, it's not a stastical point, not that 50% is a good thing (Tiscali are even at 50% for speed).
They're below all the ISPs on the page I linked to for starters (except Plusnet for speed), and it's hardly important that it's temporary when it's no cheaper than the better ISPs...

They more or less match NTL, except for customer service too, which isn't exactly a shock, given they more or less are NTL. They exhibit a lot of the same issues NTL do (dodgy DNS for starters), and their forum isn't exactly a pit of joy.

So I'll be sticking by "Virgin are good if you're deranged", ta.