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Virgin phone line can I use other braod band provider?

8 replies

seaofyou · 10/12/2012 20:10

Can I do Talk Talk or something else cheaper than Virgin Broadband on my Virgin telephone line?

I don't think I can go back to BT as when they installed Virgin the installer cut a wire outside my front door. When I ask why he did that, he said I would not be needing it! So I think it was the BT line? I could never afford the re connection but can't afford Broadband and TV channels no more...just have the phone. But still want Broadband with cheaper fees and free channels on my digital box.

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ivykaty44 · 10/12/2012 21:31

you can use whichever broad band provider you like - it will not matter which telephone line you use

NetworkGuy · 11/12/2012 02:19

Sorry, but I think it could well depend on whether the line is still operational (and in particular, whether there's wire from outside to the BT "Master Socket").

From time to time there are deals from BT Retail where they will do free installation but in return you have to pay their monthly fee (around 15 quid a month, whereas some others charge under 9 pounds) and to make a number of calls each month (but you can do so on the weekend when calls are free!)

After 18 months you'd have paid them (at 15 quid/month) 270 pounds just for the phone line (and free weekend calls). At present there's a deal on where they will provide a line (normal cost 130 pounds) if you take a broadband and calls package.

The broadband is 9 pounds for 3 months and then 18 pounds a month, and you'd still have to pay line rental of 15.45 a month. They will let you pay 129 pounds for 12 months rental in advance (making the monthly equivalend 10.75 [but it is non-refundable payment, to stop people switching to TalkTalk or Sky]

I would have mentioned PlusNet as they had a deal on, but they have a 49.99 line connection fee (and while regular line rental is 13.99, it only comes down to 10.49 if you pay for the full year in advance).

Unfortunately, it really depends what you can afford as to what's the best option, and also to some extent, what you want to use the internet for - at the cheapest prices there may be limits on how much you can download.

NetworkGuy · 11/12/2012 02:39

I did a bit of searching and found that Primus has a deal which might help - it's their phone line and broadband package (and they will get an Openreach engineer to install a phone line free) - see Primus Saver bundle

Their cheaper bundle costs 13.99/month (£1.20 for broadband and £12.79 line rental) but only has a 20 GB allowance (so do you have any idea how much data you transfer on your internet connection at present?). Their second bundle with 'unlimited' data it costs a total of 22.98 a month. There is no charge for the line installation.

I am using Primus for line rental and have no complaints (but make most calls on my mobile anyway, or using 1899.com on the landline - 1899 charges 5p no matter how long the call for landlines with 01/02/03 numbers). I have never used Primus for broadband so cannot comment on speed or reliability.

TalkTalk has their half price deal of 3.25 a month for unlimited broadband for first 9 months (PLUS 15.xx for line rental) but I think that deal closes in a day or two. They have a 50 pound charge for installation, but it gets refunded. Do note that TalkTalk has been top of the OFCOM list for complaints for years but it is probably the cheapest deal for 'unlimited' broadband use.

NetworkGuy · 11/12/2012 02:43

www.homephonechoices.co.uk/ has a link to Primus for the broadband and phone line/calls bundle, but the cheapest offered that way is 13.99 line rental + 2.99 for broadband this time with 40 GB of data allowance.

So it costs 3 pounds more than the bundle shown on the PrimusSaver.co.uk site but has double the data allowance. Still has free line installation.

seaofyou · 11/12/2012 09:52

Network.guy thank you so much for all the info...is 40GB a lot? DS 8 is usually on uTube and games centre online a lot I just use it for MN and amazon shopping and google. Would 40 GB be a enough?

I am paying £45 pounds a month for virgin package and telephone calls local are £40 month. I am broke from it.

Thank you so much for 1899.com too.

Will research these links!

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NetworkGuy · 11/12/2012 14:42

40 GB sounds a lot but will depend on lots of things - ever use BBC iPlayer for example... Wonder if there's a statistics page that Virgin provides to show your level of usage ? Will look into that (or maybe someone else on Virgin can tell us). Can see why you want to lower your monthly charges.

1899 prefix might be blocked (it isn't blocked on Primus but if you make lots of short calls then some package with 'anytime' calls may prove cheaper. Have sent you a private message too.

craftynclothy · 11/12/2012 14:53

Have you tried haggling with Virgin? I phoned them and said I was thinking of switching to Sky and they did a deal (they reduced the amount we were paying and threw in Anytime Calls too).

seaofyou · 11/12/2012 19:33

Yeah did that craft and they said the bundle was only £2 dearer than without faster BB and lots of extra channels

I'll PM you NetworkGuy thanks for your help

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