Broad band provider?

Discussion in 'Computer Corner' started by burnie, Jul 4, 2025.

  1. burnie

    burnie Total Gardener

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    I am full fibre 500 mb BT Halo3 at the moment and due to renew my contract, but this seems to be twice the price of their competitors. Now is this a case of you get what you pay, or is it profiteering by BT/EE?
    Does anyone have any recommendations, or warnings to offer from personal experience please?
     
  2. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    New customers always get the good deals, there's no benefit to remaining loyal so I suggest looking at alternate providers
     
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    • burnie

      burnie Total Gardener

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      Most seem to offer deals that are the same these days, indeed one guarantees that you pay no more than new contracts, it's reliability as much as cost saving, I don't want cheap and poor, just value for money really.
       
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      • Bluejayway

        Bluejayway Plantaholic

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        We are also with BT and have full fibre. It does seem expensive I admit but I am reluctant to change in case it sets off a load of problems.
         
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        • Jiffy

          Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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          Haggle the price, BT sometime come down, we rattled the cage last time we renew and got it cheaper because we now have another broadband company pushing :biggrin: get a price from someone else and see if they match it and if not say i'll be moving,
          We're not on full/part fibre yet but will allways ask for a better price because we are getting slow speeds (max 4mbs) but if we lose internet BT will send a wifi dongle to keep you going
           
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            I recently renewed with Virgin, they quoted me a £19 increase in the e mail they sent.

            After I called them I got an increased speed and £2 less than I've been paying, not sure how that works, but you do need to talk to your supplier, they just expect you to call.
             
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            • ricky101

              ricky101 Total Gardener

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              Worth checking if you need the speed of that 500Mb Halo service in your household or would a much cheaper package be suitable ?
              Halo seems to be aimed at busy homes with lots of users and wifi etc.

              Also check what other providers operate on the BT line, you can use sites like this to find out what others are offering to your home.
              https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/compare-broadband-deals/

              If nothing else, then do haggle, often ( do not know how BT call centers work ) you may get an overseas call center, but we find them very hard work, so go to uk retention folk who usually offer a worthwhile saving in the end.

              Usually you do not have to renew your contact, just carry on paying the same each month, though they may bombard you saying you need to, but take your time and get the best deal for you.
               
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              • waterbut

                waterbut Gardener

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                We changed from BT to EE package.
                 
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                • Sheal

                  Sheal Total Gardener

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                  Burnie be wary of Highland Broadband if it's available in your area. I don't know about cost but we've come across a number of people that have said it's unreliable. Our neighbour changed to them earlier in the year and has already had them back twice.
                   
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                  • burnie

                    burnie Total Gardener

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                    Thanks for all the replies, I have a couple of months before my contract ends, so getting some research in before "D Day"
                     
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                    • ricky101

                      ricky101 Total Gardener

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                      Hi,

                      Been using Vodafone / City Fibre 100mb service for the last few years and its generally been reliable, but the other month the Broadband went down, but to our surprise our Mobile phone was also knocked out, calls and mobile network, as the phone provider also uses the Vodafone network.

                      Was rather a strange feeling being totally cut off, so decided to change either mobile networks or broadband provider as can see the problems it could cause if such an outage lasted for days !

                      Have seen TOOB which, though smallish, do seem to have a good reputation, and is offering a 900mb service ( the only one from them via City Fibre) for less that what we currently pay Vodafone !

                      Has anyone had experience of TOOBs broadband service and can recommend ? or not !
                       
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                      • Logan

                        Logan Total Gardener

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                        Hubby has VM when he's due to renew his contract he says that he's leaving because like people have said new customers get a better deal. Then he gets a better deal but we only have broadband not phone or TV.
                         
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                        • Retired

                          Retired Some people are so poor all they have is money

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                          Hi,

                          After 33 loyal years with NTL/Virgin Media enough was enough and I'll never ever have anything at all to do with VM again; I absolutely detest them. When I tried to close the VM acount they made it almost impossible and simply cancelling the standing order then puts you at risk regarding credit score; it took ages of frustration and I spent hours on their chatline and phone; I ended up on the VM social media website where I thoroughly expressed my disgust with VM and I also wrote to VM cancelling the account; they didn't reply to the letter but instead set up a new account for me without even being asked to do so. VM service was terrible with buffering and total loss of signal but they wanted to increase the cost a great deal.

                          Try to contact VM; it's quicker joining hands to contact the dead.

                          VM treated my late wife and I terribly; loyalty means absolutely nothing to them; we joined BT with absolutely no fuss and for about half price with free Netflix in the bundle on a two year contract.

                          Recently I experienced lots of hassle whilst renewing the bundle; now it's EE and on one occasion was on their chatline from 5:30pm until 10:50pm being messed around; BT had been top class so eventually a new two year contract was agreed with EE and now EE is excellent with no issues.

                          I bought a new mobile phone and wanted a SIM only deal with EE but it was such a nightmare I gave up in total disgust. Browsing the web I went with iD. EE wanted £14.50 per month for unlimited calls/texts at 25GB; on a 12 month contract. iD wanted £5 per month for the first three months then £10 per month again on a 12 month contract but also with unlimited call/texts and 100GB. No problems so far with iD but I seldom use my mobile.

                          Good luck @burnie it's a minefield.

                          Kind regards, Col.
                           
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                          • ricky101

                            ricky101 Total Gardener

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                            Leaving VM can be a nightnare, as we know as we were with them for 16 years but got a few tips from the VM User Forum on how to deal with leaving them, which worked out ok. :)

                            However today there should be no more such problems as you now have -

                            One Touch Switch (OTS), a new industry-wide process that simplifies switching broadband providers by requiring you to contact only your new provider.

                            @Retired your Sim card deal still sounds expensive if you are a light user.
                            ID mobile and several other providers have various Monthly rolling contracts that have unlimited Calls and Texts and a decent 3gb to 6gb for about £5-£6.
                            Might be better moving to one of them when you are out of contract.

                            002634.jpg

                             
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                            • Retired

                              Retired Some people are so poor all they have is money

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                              Hi,

                              Many thanks @ricky101 for taking the time to add the iD information which I appreciate. For what I'm paying to iD I'm happy with and all being well when the contract ends I'll remain with iD; I'm set up for a year with iD so can forget about payments. I'm aware a few quid can make a huge difference to those struggling with their finances but what I spend Rachel Reeves can't get her hands on it. I will have a look at iD deals when the contract is about to expire.

                              When we broke free of VM it was an absolute nightmare but as you say things have now changed. VM were terrible stabbing long term loyal customers in the back. I'll never ever deal with them again.

                              Kind regards, Col.
                               
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