Who provides your broadband?

[TooTiredtoGoogle]

And what 'package' do you have?

After many years with BT we've decided we could probably do better and are looking for recommendations.
Have heard that Virgin are the best, but what is their customer service like?
Also wondered if you can get broadband without a landline as we only use the landline for 0800 numbers?

I have had a virgin broadband/tv/phone package for three years or so and have been very happy with it - broadband has been reliable and actually as fast as advertised (I'm on the up to 20mb package and it really is that fast) which I gather is unusual. Customer service (when I have needed to use it - not very often) has been pretty good - they replaced the TV settop box fast with no quibbles etc. Call centres answer reasonably fast and seem to be British.

I've seen a few complaints on here and elsewhere about broadband going offline a lot, but I think I've only had it go down two or three times in the three years (and I'm online a lot ).

But to get the best offer you need to qet quotes from a few providers and then use those to get the best deal from Virgin - try a few online comparison sites, and Sky seems very keen to get new customers at the moment, so they're probably the ones to get Virgin to beat.

I'm with Virgin too..and have been for over 6 years now..I love cable internet and would never go back to BT !
We do have a landline with then but on the cheapest package (I think we pay £10 ish a month and that includes free calls in the evenings!)

Their customer service people are in Scotland and are helpful. Their broadband tech support appear to be in Mombai or similar and I have found then frustrating on the rare occasion I have needed to ring them (I also use a macbook and they are not any good with mac users..seem bewildered that anyone would not use windows!)but have never had any major problems.

Speed is usually close to that advertised (I am upgrading next week to 20MB..can't wait!)

I second exexpat..get a few quotes then ring and see what they can offer:)

Much depends on which exchange you are connected to - if you go to www.SamKnows.com and look at UK broadband, then do a search and enter your phone number it will come back with details about that exchange.

Since you seem able to get Virgin Media cable, you should have competition from Sky, TalkTalk, and O2/Be Unlimited (but some others may also offer service).

Unfortunately, while Virgin can offer broadband without a phone service (not sure they do, but they have the option to do so), you cannot get any ADSL service without paying line rental for the phone line, however little you use it.

Another option (though only recommended for light users) would be Mobile dongle. I have been using Three and get 15 GB allowance for 7.50 a month, but it was a cut price deal at the start and only when it was due for renewal did it go from 5 GB/month to 15 GB/month. Makes some networks charging 10 pounds for 1 GB/month for iPad/iPhone users seem criminal rip-off !!

However, a few firms undercut BT on line rent by a pound or so, and then the broadband package you want depends a lot on how much data you transfer each month, from simple downloads like updating Windows, to whether anyone in the family 'shares' files via peer-to-peer (while music and films are likely to be illegal copies, other things like linux software may be legit), or if there is use of any TV 'catch up' facility - I have just been downloading some of the BBC shows to play with iPlayer and they can chew up a lot of your allowance.

I am using Plusnet (call centre in Sheffield) and their 'Extra' account (which is probably under 12 pounds, depends where you are) offers 60 GB of data transfer during 'peak' hours (08:00 to midnight) and then they don't count your usage during the night (my downloading in the last 3 weeks has gone just over 100 GB, partly because a bug in iPlayer sometimes makes a programme I have just downloaded 'expire' when I first try to play it, so I end up trying some items more than once).

If you use SamKnows and post/email the exchange code I will be happy to point out which firms are worth considering, if only so you can get 2 or 3 quotes to compare with Virgin Media.

I do get a small (25p) commission if someone tells Plusnet I have recommended it, but would not be using them if I didn't feel they are a reasonable ISP, and I have been using them off and on since 2003 ('off' after moving home, for a while).

PS I am in a small village in Wales and my line speed is only 2 Mbps but if you are in a 21CN area, where BT has installed faster kit, and you are close to the exchange, then speeds of 15 to 20 Mbps may be possible without any extra charge.

Their basic account is under 8 pounds offering 10 GB/month, and they have a "Pro" account too. On accounts other than the 'Pro' account, some types of file sharing are slowed down in the evening, so people can browse and use real-time internet games without losing speed or having problems watching YouTube etc.

Some networks don't make it clear how/if they make have any speed limits, and comparison websites will often have a small number of 'reviews' where the majority are those unhappy with something - many more unhappy than happy post comments. However, over the years, PlusNet has picked up a number of awards, and while they may go through patches where some users are unhappy, I think for most of the time, most people are happy. PN is marketing with a "we won't be beat" campaign on TV and radio and I have seen some of their prices shown as ranges such as 15.50 to 17.99 (because another ISP offers an account at 15.50, so they will match it) - however they won't 'match' internet + phone line bundles and probably won't claim to match Virgin Media, as they are not services down the same copper from the local BT exchange.

Thanks for this. Will have a look at SamKnows.