Telephone / Broadband Provider

[Hedgehog Toys]

My current provider of telephone and broadband services is doing my head in and i would like to change to another service, anyone give me any pointers on who is reliable, doesn't cock up the bills, doesn't own call centres in Baghdad and can install fairly quickly. ???

[DavidHorn]

My brother has just gone to Wanadoo for a wireless set up in his home - and they provide phone calls. He said set up was a snap. I use them for broadband and think they're just fine.

Moneysavingexpert.com offered this link this week though - super cheap broadband. Not sure if they do phones as well:

http://www.madasafish.com/cheaper/

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Hedgehog,

About 6 months ago I went through exactly the same process.

Heres what I did...

I had a BT line and signed up for www.18866.co.uk for cheap calls

Then for broadband I went to www.plus.net

I now consider myself very well set up - with the BT phone line and plusnet broadband.

AND Plusnet are upgrading me to 8Mb FREE in April :)

I pay £10 to BT for line rental, around £20 to 18866.co.uk for calls made and £21.99 for the plusnet broadband. (Actually I pay around £20 for the broadband as I referred a couple of people and they kock 50p a month off your bill for each referral)

The broadband IS more expensive than some, but I guess you've just tried cheap ;)

Hope this helps a bit,

Rob

[Coding Monkey]

I too am with Plus.net. Can't complain one bit. Superb service.

[cjd]

There's an independant guide for all UK ADSL ISPS here:

www.adslguide.org

I use BT which has been utterly reliable for 6 years or so - but they are far too expensive.

For telephony if you just make cheap calls, one of the prefix services is your best option.

But if you're thinking of pbx type services it's worth looking at VoIP providers while you're playing with your network.

[Jayne]

Use any, except AOL :D

Jayne

[Rob Holmes]

Use any, except AOL :D

Jayne

No, don't use any there are some almost as bad (as I have found) AO Hell

Rob

[Stationery-Direct]

Have to second Wanadoo, no problems with them.

[autolycus]

I use www.zen.co.uk for broadband. They are always in the top three for speed, service, etc on ADSL Guide (as referred to in above post).

I don't think Zen do any voice services though. If you really want to combine the two, you could try Pipex. I have no direct experience of their service but they also rate well on ADSL Guide usually.

Dave.

[jmds]

I have used Force9, who I hear are now plus.net and I am currently with BT, I only changed to BT when I moved because F9 wanted £80 to move the connection to the new house and BT installed it for nothing and keep upgrading me for free.

I would recommend both to anyone.

[Stationery-Direct]

I take it back:

Read here http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/ftopic9218.php

[annethedonn]

I rent BT and use call18866.co.uk, but actually call1899.co.uk is cheaper but oversubscribed at the moment.

I use Metronet.co.uk for my broadband for about £11/m PAYG no contracts.

[james.hill]

I work three days a week for Zen Internet, and if you want *quality* there is no-one better. Of course, this quality comes with a higher price tag...

It boils down to how important your network connection is to you and how much cash you have to remove the hassles of dealing with your usual suspects.

[10 Yetis]

James,

Is that this zen; http://www.zen.co.uk/?
If so... well, best I don't say anything.

Suffice to say, we are a current customer of Zen who is frantically trying to leave. There are only so many times you can ring a technical help line to be told, "we don't support that", before you look elswhere.

If anyone is thinking of using them please feel free to send me a PM and I will tell you about our customer experience.

p.s. if the 10 Yetis site is gone tomorrow, we all know what happened there then :D

[cjd]

It's worth remembering that, apart from the cable companies, everybody uses BT lines and equipment.

[james.hill]

Andy,

Yes, this is the Zen I speak of. I'm sorry to hear that your having a rotten time with them! I'd certainly like to hear what your gripes are so I can look at getting them fixed, for future customers if your mind has already been made.

Zens corporate aim is to be "The best business ISP", so I guess somethings gone wrong somewhere!

Please PM me with details so I can talk to the relevant managers. If there's anything you specifically would like doing, I can see what I can do although I have no direct management sway.

Cheers,

James

[peter@CDN]

I can help. Check out our website at www.cd-networks.co.uk
We are fast flexible and reliable. send an e-mail to sales@cd-networks.co.uk