BT or Plusnet?

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Lunazzurra

  • #1
    We'll be relocating our shop in early Jan 2013 (our little shopping mall is being closed down for a redevelopment that may be at least two years away from happening - but that's another matter).

    We've been with BT for the past 5 years and have had absolutely no problems with them whatsoever (yes, it's true). But our move is making us look at other providers such as Plusnet. We would be looking for phone and broadband provision. Rates look about same as BT's. Has anyone out there had any experience of Plusnet either good or bad?

    PLEASE! - no resellers or canvassers to reply to this - just want actual users genuine opinions.
     
    warnie

    warnie

    Free Member
    Sep 24, 2007
    519
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    Wordsley
  • #4
    Lunazzurra said:
    Thanks Faevilangel, I wasn't aware of that. That probably explains why there's virtually no difference in their rates.
    Click to expand...

    We had BT at our old shop with no problems like yourself. We then got them to move our services to our new shop.

    What a nightmare we had and are still having. It seems from googling BT that we are one of many, many businesses that BT have messed around. Our main problems have been tens of false promises made, being tied into an even longer overpriced contract without being told, in fact we were promised we wouldn't be. We had at the start 14 consectutive bills that were wrong, some in excess of 200% above what they should have been. We also continued getting invoiced for the old shop, but our personal favourite was being charged an extra £30 a month for not taking advantage of our 500 minutes free each month!!

    Every week we seemed to be calling BT's indian call centre for thier cock- ups, speaking to different people each time who had no idea what was going on. I whished that I'd logged everything down as we are stuck with paying them for the next 3 years for thier overpriced rubbish service. I'm sure we'd hace a good case to get rid of them but I havn't the time or energy to pursue it.

    Please do not stick with them, get out whilst the going is good!! it's not as if they're even cheap, they're far from it in fact:mad:
     
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    John_Orcus

    Free Member
    Nov 19, 2010
    157
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    Nottingham
  • #5
    Whenever one of our customers opens a new shop, the most common thing that delays the opening is BT not doing what they're supposed to when they're supposed to do it, leaving the store without a landline/broadband.

    The problem stems from the fact that they own and manage all the infrastructure, so even if you go with an alternative supplier, they can't do anything until BT have activated the line etc.

    You should definitely shop around.
     
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    360interactive

    Free Member
    Jul 20, 2008
    1,449
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    UK
  • #6
    15 months ago I moved to a new office and instructed BT to install BB. The date for the engineer to do the work was arranged for about 4 weeks, then on the morning of the engineer visit BT send me a text message telling me that they're too busy to attend and that i'd have to re-arrange with the BT call centre.

    I was absolutely amazed, stunned and fuming. Needless to say I did not proceed with BT. In all the mess I actually never got to speak to anyone in the UK, all were indian who could not understand why I was so angry.

    Since then i've actually been working from home and use SKY as my provider, i've only ever got good service and almost 100% uptime, but I understand that SKY probably can't hep you due to it being for business.
     
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    C

    Chunkford

  • #7
    John_Orcus said:
    The problem stems from the fact that they own and manage all the infrastructure, so even if you go with an alternative supplier, they can't do anything until BT have activated the line etc.
    Click to expand...

    That's unless the exchanges been LLU unbundled - Basically companies such as Sky or TalkTalk place their own hardware in the local exchange.

    Goto the samknows website and look up your exchange. It will list all the details about your exchange and what companies have placed their hardware in there.

    It's true that many ISP/phone companies rent BT's hardware through their wholesale department. The likes of sky connect or plusnet do this. In most cases they are slightly cheaper, but you will be in there hands of their customer service. Some excel, some don't so you need to do a bit of diligence.

    So before you do anything, it's best to look at your exchange for a clearer picture of your options. Going for a LLU provider is normally the cheapest option, but doesn't mean you will get the best customer service.
     
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    bobpullen

    bobpullen

    Free Member
    Nov 15, 2012
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  • #8
    Lunazzurra said:
    Has anyone out there had any experience of Plusnet either good or bad?
    Click to expand...

    Hi there,

    My opinion would be biased of course but I'll happily answer any questions you might have?

    What Faevilangel has said is true in that both ourselves and BT Retail use BT Wholesale's network to provision your service. The differences lie in support, pricing, features and bandwidth provision really.

    We operate independently and both us and BT Retail have our own network beyond BT Wholesale's.

    Best regards
     
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    B

    british steve

  • #9
    bobpullen said:
    Hi there,

    My opinion would be biased of course but I'll happily answer any questions you might have?

    What Faevilangel has said is true in that both ourselves and BT Retail use BT Wholesale's network to provision your service. The differences lie in support, pricing, features and bandwidth provision really.

    We operate independently and both us and BT Retail have our own network beyond BT Wholesale's.

    Best regards
    Click to expand...

    To be fair Plusnet are pretty good, I know a few people who use them and are very happy. BT on the other hand are CRAP and USELESS
     
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    L

    Lunazzurra

  • #13
    Thanks Chunkford for the link - that possibly rates as one of the best links anyone has ever sent me - really useful.

    PlusNet is not listed as being available on my exchange - but a check on their website suggests it is. I will try to speak to both BT & Plusnet over the next couple of days and see if a can wangle a deal one way or the other.

    Checked paperwork - we're well out of any contract time with BT so not tied to them. At least rates for BT & Plusnet are clear and up front on their websites - unlike Virgin Media Business!! Terrible!!

    Thanks to all others for your comments as well. I'll take everything you've said on aboard.

    PS: A fellow trader who is also having to relocate from our shopping mall has today passed me a number of a BT 'agent' actually based in Bristol who may be able to sort out a preferential deal. He is very happy with the arrangement he's been offered so might follow this up by recommendation.
     
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    C

    Chunkford

  • #15
    Lunazzurra said:
    PlusNet is not listed as being available on my exchange - but a check on their website suggests it is.
    Click to expand...

    PlusNet wont be listed as they rent the lines from BT and are not a LLU provider. This means they can offer internet anywhere BT can.

    http://www.eclipse.net.uk/ is another provider that uses BT and are ones I would recommend, albeit on the pricey side, but then you're paying for their customer service. Swings in roundabouts.

    Myself, I'm with plusnet. I Have a few niggly issues but I think that's down to my setup rather than them.
     
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