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Original poster

Anyone here use AOL?

28 replies

anais · 26/09/2002 22:59

I currently use AOL as my ISP, but have just been told they are restructuring their prices meaning no more flat-rate access. I can have 30 hrs free a month and then pay for the rest. 30 hours!!! Pah!

So I need to switch ISP, and wanted some recommendations please. I am on Eurobell, which rules out the majority of providers and want flat-rate anyime access. Can anyone help????

TIA

OP posts:
Tinker · 27/09/2002 00:23

Aargh! When did you here this? I've not been told.

Tinker · 27/09/2002 00:23

hear even

robinw · 27/09/2002 05:40

message withdrawn

robinw · 27/09/2002 05:43

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Demented · 27/09/2002 08:17

I would recommend Virgin. They do a 24/7 package for £13.99 a month.

Girly · 27/09/2002 10:09

I use aol, have not heard anything from them yet. What a pain.

ks · 27/09/2002 10:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Snugs · 27/09/2002 10:23

Anais - ooh good, saved me from starting this thread.

For anyone who hasn't received the letter but uses AOL - not all subscribers are affected - if you use BT, NTL or Telewest for your access you can still have unlimited AOL.

I was considering switching to Freeserve - but found out I can't have that either without a BT line.

Demented - do you know if Virgin is limited in this way at all? Where can I find out more? Thanks

Girly · 27/09/2002 10:27

Thanks Snugs.

SoupDragon · 27/09/2002 11:44

Hate AOL with a vengeance! Used to use them & pay by credit card. Credit card stolen so changed number and the next thing, AOL put debt collectors onto us because their payment hadn't been received! And why didn't they simply ask for a new CC number...???

Anyway, we switched to Telewest Broadband - superb. Were offering free installation at the time too. Mind you, it means that I do spend 24/7 on the internet now... In fact, now I glance into the living room, DS1 is wearing just underpants and standing onthe arm of the sofa and DS2 is still in his PJs. Maybe I should do something about this...

Demented · 27/09/2002 13:49

Snugs, Virgin doesn't limit you at all, I'm here all the time! Their homepage is virgin.net and I think all the details about signing up are there. They are also bringing out a broadband package, I don't even know what broadband is, never mind signed up for it so I can't say anything about that package.

Original poster
anais · 28/09/2002 21:08

Snugs, just checked out the virgin site and they do require a BT line.

OP posts:
Demented · 29/09/2002 08:40

I see what you mean by limited now Snugs, sorry, should have read the thread more carefully!

Snugs · 29/09/2002 16:11

Rats! I really do not want to get a BT phone line just to be able to get a good internet deal - my phone supplier is (I think) the cheapest and I can't persuade dh to change just to satisfy my mumsnet addiction

Original poster
anais · 29/09/2002 21:09

It's the line rental for me. I use my phone v little (calls usually come to about #2 a month!) so line rental is the biggest part of my bill. Cna anyone confirm how much BT line rental is? Am I right in thinking it's #12 a month (sorry, my pound sign doesn't work)

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 29/09/2002 21:35

from memory anais it's about £30 a quarter for line rental (+ VAT) Will check tomorrow and report back if no-one else does.

Original poster
anais · 30/09/2002 00:10

Thanx www

Snugs, found this: www.telewest.co.uk/athome/blueyondersurfunlimited.html

so far, still looking to see what else I can find...

OP posts:
Original poster
anais · 30/09/2002 00:12

oh, and it appears you can have a freeserve account without a BT line, but it's not so reliable, or something ?

OP posts:
Original poster
anais · 30/09/2002 00:21

Just found another one, has lots of ISP's to compare:

www.uk-isp-directory.co.uk/

OP posts:
Snugs · 30/09/2002 10:03

anais - thanks for those.

Telewest and NTL both no good for me - not in area. Looks increasingly like I am going to have to go with my phone company's own package - trouble is costs £2 p/m more than AOL. I know it isn't a lot but we're on a budget and I already struggle to justify the £15.99 a month I'm paying.

Off to look at the other site you gave.

Snugs · 30/09/2002 10:05

Oh - and as far as I can tell from the website, you do need a BT line for Freeserve, unless I'm missing some small print somewhere

Original poster
anais · 30/09/2002 10:23

Awww Snugs

After spending half the night looking, I think I'm gonna do for the Telewest one - which actually works out cheaper than AOL. I hope you have some luck finding something which won't break the budget. I'll post anything else I find which might be of use

OP posts:
Snugs · 30/09/2002 10:41

anais - think I might have found one. Easynet - they seem to have a comparable package to AOL for only £9.99... and they assure me I don't need a BT line. They are sending me a sign up disc with more info so I will see how it goes. Sounds too good to be true really!

Original poster
anais · 30/09/2002 22:33

Oooh, have you got a URL so I can check them out please?

OP posts:
Snugs · 01/10/2002 11:00

Sure, it's here: easynet

I couldn't find anything about prices until I used the 'sign up online' link - you can cancel it before finishing. And its actually £9.99 + VAT so works out at about £11.74 a month - still cheaper than AOL tho.