Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Internet service providers ... who's best?

29 replies

WigWamBam · 23/03/2006 18:20

Looking to change service providers, dh is thinking about using BT. Anyone use them, and are they any good? Any other recommendations?

First person to say Wanadoo gets a kick up the rear end Wink

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 23/03/2006 18:23

they mostly resell each other's services so they're usually as bad as each other. i think the real choice is between bt and ntl if you can get it.

SenoraPostrophe · 23/03/2006 18:24

wanadoo are crap in spain too Smile

Original poster
WigWamBam · 23/03/2006 18:25

Do they really? I didn't know that - would hate to be sold Wanadoo's services under another name.

I don't know if we could get ntl - I'm clueless about such things!

OP posts:
throckenholt · 23/03/2006 18:26

mum had bt and didn't like it.

We have had plusnet for ages and are very happy with it - and know lots of others who have it too.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 23/03/2006 18:29

Do you know what she was unhappy about with BT, throckenholt?

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 23/03/2006 18:29

well, they don't all resell, but a lot do. don't know about plusnet.

what i mean is, with adsl all connections have to go through the telephone provider's servers - if those are crap you're screwed no matter who the provider is. luckily neither bt nor ntl are that bad for that.

GeorginaA · 23/03/2006 18:30

We're with Nildram who have always been pretty good (we've been with them since we've had broadband - so around 5 years now). Not the cheapest though, unfortunately, but very stable and fairly good customer service (i.e. they actually have some).

GeorginaA · 23/03/2006 18:30

Oh and Nildram dealt with all BT's installation crap on our behalf which was a definite plus :)

foxinsocks · 23/03/2006 18:36

we have bt and it's been good

we've had it for 3 years and only twice have we not been able to get on the net (both were major faults in the area)

it's true about the reselling - BT is really the only one with major infrastructure in the Uk

Original poster
WigWamBam · 23/03/2006 18:49

One of dh's reasons for wanting to use BT is that their customer services calls are at cheaper rates ... having spent several hours on the phone to Wanadoo in the past month at some ridiculous price per minute and still not getting the problem sorted out he doesn't want to be caught like that again! Do you know if their customer services are OK?

OP posts:
jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 23/03/2006 18:52

NTL has been FAB since we swiched from crapadoo in september.

Original poster
WigWamBam · 23/03/2006 18:54

Crapadoo ... just about sums them up Grin

Wanadoo is more like Wanadon't around here ...

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 23/03/2006 19:26

I had to phone their cust service this weekend (was only the 2nd time the internet had failed!). I did have to hang on for a while - they have a free phone number that you can call that tells you if there are any faults in your area. That call said there were none so I called the 0845 number - I did have to hang on for a while (around 15-20mins) but once I was through, they were quite helpful (though I think they are located in India!). Once she had checked everything, she confirmed there had been a major fault in the area - that the 0800 number had been updated to say so and that they would fix it asap.

Ailsa · 23/03/2006 22:23

We use Pipex and have never had a problem since we switched to them about a year ago. \link{http://www.solo.pipex.net\here}

joash · 23/03/2006 22:24

I was gonna say - avoid wanadoo, but I see its not just me Grin

VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/03/2006 22:25

Telewest/Blueyonder.

and for broadband connection - truly is unlimited access. Have just got an internet/tv/telephone bundle for £30 per month.

throckenholt · 24/03/2006 06:45

WWB - she said the customer service was rubbish, and big problem with spam. Granted she is a complete idiot with computers (drives me mad with problems over the phone Grin) - so it may have just been her. But spam was and still is a problem - we made the mistake for forwarding mail to her new account and still can't get rid of the forward now months later - and she gets only spam now and most of it not even addressed to her bt acocunt but to many other bt accounts. It is a nightmare trying to get them to delete her account.

Plusnet on the other hand were very helpful to her when she phoned them, and we have been with them for about 4 years and have never had a problem. I also have lots of friends who are computer savvy and all seem to have chosen plusnet independently and are happy with them (I work in computer support but not pcs so I know little about it personally).

carlk · 24/03/2006 06:54

wwb check out \link{http://www.adslguide.org\this site} where you can do comparisons and check out customer reviews.
given your recent problem its worth trying to find out how much "noise" there is on your line i.e. the strength of signal you gett

tissy · 24/03/2006 06:56

another vote for Pipex

carlk · 24/03/2006 06:57

also have to say the telewest cable Broadband is excellent although they are only surpassed by ntl in their indifference to customers

GeorginaA · 24/03/2006 08:07

(btw, Nildram is owned by Pipex, so technically mine is a vote for Pipex too!)

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 24/03/2006 09:06

WWB - we were with wanadoo - connection was crap, didn't support ds's wireless card, no help at customer service.

Now with BT, connection is way better, no problems with the laptop, some with the desktop but it's the PC (it's ancient) not BT. It was very quick to switch over but the problem we had with the desktop wasn't easily solved over the phone (to an overseas call-centre) - spent about an hour with no joy only for the guy from next door to come and sort it in 5 minutes.

skinnymalinky · 24/03/2006 09:10

we have had numerous problems with homecall and dowloands are suposed to be unlimited but are 'managed'!

podkin · 24/03/2006 09:11

plusnet all the way

cece · 24/03/2006 09:13

We ahd blueyonder in our old house - it was OK.

Now have BT and have had no problems with it, customer services were good and solved the one small problem we had staright away.

Swipe left for the next trending thread