Time to switch? So had a look at the Black Friday deals and well BT are just having a laugh, they want around £35 a month for the 150 FTTP connection I currently...

[kev2021]

So had a look at the Black Friday deals and well BT are just having a laugh, they want around £35 a month for the 150 FTTP connection I currently have so looked at PlusNet and they want approx. £27 a month for 145 FTTP plus a £50 reward card to use anywhere I choose (which I’m guessing offsets the first price rise?) So considering my options, my contract runs out in April 2024 and my line rental in May 2024 so I’ve been onto BT and they have advised it would cost me £48.50 to terminate contract and I would also get a refund on the line rental but they can’t guarantee how much but they suspect it will be more than the exit fee so I’m considering changing now. Also means I can drop landline so BT wont keep sending me new routers for there digital voice and I can send back all the old ones :)

I’ve also enquired and unfortunately I would be hit by the price increase in March? next year and according to Which? posted in Oct this year, they have said they expect the price increase to be 8.4% which on top of the £27 a month, puts me still under there usual price when non Black Friday so I’m definitely considering switching as overall it will be cheaper than I pay now, albeit I’ve already paid some of the bill each month.

What do you guys think, worth switching as I expect prices will be higher after the 8.4% increases predicted so the non black Friday price will go up anyway so could save a small amount by doing it now, would get it activated in Dec as need to give 30 days notice on contract and also need to make sure I’m around to get the router they send but I believe I may be able to say no to the router?

Thanks

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

Any other ISP like sky that are in your area for FTTP etc.

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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[kev2021]

I can get Sky but they want more than PlusNet.  Sky want approx. £29 and it does say prices can go up so I suspect they will go up next year too so at the moment, looks like PlusNet might be best option so far.  Bonus is they don’t need to visit property, will just make the change over and done.  I just need to enter in new login details to router like I did for parents.  If I wanted Sky Puck which i was thinking of having, they want £38 a month which is a bit steep price wise, want to keep it under £30 total for as long as possible and I think by choose PlusNet 145 at £27, hopefully price rise wont push it over the £30 a month, I’ve estimated just over £29 based on 8.4% increase so fingers crossed.  Plus I’ll get £50 reward card so that’s effectively giving me £2 a month back over the 2 year plan

It’s a 24month plan and so far PlusNet seem to be best price and they have said they will handle all the switch over from BT and cancel my phone line so from that aspect all sounds very good.  I am planning to pull the tricker in about a week as that will tie in for when I can ensure someone is there to receive the router (if they send one) and also be there to update the router with login details on day of the switch.

Was considering the 300 FTTP for £29.99 a month but then with price rise, that will likely push it up to around £32 a month and then up again following year so decided to be sensible and go for the 145 FTTP as that’s fast enough for my usage, would of been a bonus with faster upload and download but no major issue.  I suspect the 145 FTTP is going to be more like 150 or so anyway.  Parents signed up to 300 FTTP and they are getting around 330 so bit quicker than expected so bonus there. It all depends how far from the exchange you are.

I cannot get cable so places like virgin are out etc so its only a few suppliers.  The one I was going to go with which was a bit more local, I’ve read they being taken over and they are effectively passing customers off to someone else to handle so unclear how that will work so staying clear for now, plus they are the same price that plus net is offering atm.  Would of been no price rise whilst in contract but as someone new is taking over they could easily change that or service could go own hill so sticking with a main stream supplier for now and will re-view when PlusNet contract ends as the price goes up a fair but at the end so will be looking to move then, unless everywhere goes up to the similar price then i got no choice but hopefully not.  Plus side is no more line rental :)

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

Plusnet is looking like the better deal and there customer service is good which is something many do not consider important until they need it  

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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[David23]

I’ve not done the maths but I’m pretty sure the BT black friday deals are worse than the prices they have year round. 3 months free but the price is jacked up.

I’m still waiting to see what the actual black friday deals are e.g. vodafone have black friday deals on right now but:

Conveniently it ends the day before actual black friday. If nothing really tempting I think I’m just gonna stick it out till April to avoid the price increase (and recommend others do the same). The monthly price has to be like £4 cheaper than standard prices to make buying now worth it over the contract length.

Something like £22 for 150 Mbps or £27 for 500 Mbps are my biting points. Vodafone had 500 for £28 2 weeks ago so I’m maybe hoping they go to £27 plus vouchers.

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[kev2021]

Understand @David23 BT are showing black Friday deals for me at £35 for 150 FTTP – I’m only paying what was originally £29.99 a month but its gone up and I also pay line rental up front but now I don’t need the line rental as I’ve moved to VOIP phone with a independent provider.

PlusNet BF deals are on also offering 26.99 a month for 145 FTTP – which is cheapest I have seen and I’m factoring in a couple of quid for increase next year so would make it £29.xx per month so no more than the non-BF deals.  They are also giving a £50 reward card so that basically works out to £2 a month over the 24 months contract so effectively paying for the initial monthly increase is how I’m looking at it.  Plus by exiting now, I’ll get back around £100 according to there calculations on chat – the £48.50 exit fee so effectively call it £50 back in my pocket :)  Plus I don’t have to deal with BT sending me new routers cos they ant to enable digital voice which I don’t want and I don’t use there router so I think they keep thinking there is a problem and sending me new routers lol I’ve had 2 so far lol each time they want the other one sent back – they not got the message yet as new one goes back totally unopened :)

Tempted to tell PlusNet not to send a router as I wont use it but it may help in the unlikely event my one breaks/has a issue etc so might get it as it is effectively free when I sign up.

I get the feeling BT have realised people dropping the line rental so now they hiking Broadband prices to make up for line rental loses as people now don’t want to pay for the line effectively.

I would of gone with a more local ISP as much cheaper but not a viable one in my area ATM so hopefully in couple of years more options will be available.

Vodafone is available in my area but I’ve seen lots of reports or outages and connection issues etc so I’m staying clear of them, they only been in my area for about maybe a year tops so looks like some teething issues to iron out.

Kev

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[kev2021]

So been looking and BT are still wanting much more than PlusNet so I’ve decided to pull the trigger and switch to PlusNet. Going to do this tomorrow and also confirm if I need to let BT know etc and try and get my new activation date all setup.

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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[kev2021]

Hi all,

Have signed up to PlusNet and they will handle everything so just waiting for confirmation of my activation date to confirm if it will be the date I chose.

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

Is that the £26.99 a month for 145 FTTP offer ?

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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[kev2021]

Yes, that’s the one I sent for as its only slightly less than the speed I have atm and if its like my parents, they are actually getting a bit faster than the speed advertised L)

Kev

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[kev2021]

Apparently, it looks like they also do 74mb fttp for 24.99 but went for the same I have now as only £2 more a month and not sure 74mb would be sufficient if was streaming movie and doing a download etc.

Price quoted after this contract is bit high so will re-evaluate then. Not heard from BT yet, Looks like I got activation date on day I said so hopefully existing one stays up, should do s 30 days notice required. BT just want too much.

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

74mb fttp is FTTC (DSL) Speeds, I forget, are you using their supplied kit or plugging in your own router to the ONT ?

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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[kev2021]

Well I thought 74mb was FTTC BUT they advertise it as full fibre (see attached)..

 

Kev

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1. 

   plusnet74mb.png
   

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[kev2021]

I am using the RT-AX86S Router and ONT on the wall from Openreach.  They are sending me there router as I wasn’t going to take it but figured might as well as its free and IF mine goes wrong (As it did once before completely locked up and had to physically power it on and off but thankfully not done that since), I can at least config there router and get it up and running temporarily until I can fix/replace mine.

I’m just hoping they don’t send it too early so I can hopefully be there when it arrives as I’ll be at work etc.  They have advised it will go through the letter box but last time BT just left it outside next to the door so not idea.  Fortunately it was still there when I got back but if it wasn’t would be of been difficult to convince BT I never got it and they would likely try charge me for it.

Parents are doing the same using effectively – using the RT-AX86U with ONT and I think all it needed was the username/pswd changed on router and that was it, not even a reboot if I recall correctly.

Kev

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