Forum Topic

PHONE/Broadband supplier

Help I've been with TalkTalk almost since they started for UK phone calls and the internet I have a WiFi TT Wireless Router for on-line emails, searching the web, shopping, nothing very adventurous.   Now really exhausted with their appalling lack of service - over 5hrs would you believe trying to have a sensible conversation on their Chat-line.     I am fed up and want out, intend to cancel and change supplier.   WHO should I select and how quickly can it be done?  I am high risk and must always have a phone and email facility.   Current mobile is pay as you go very old Nokia rarwely used, just for emergencies.  It's been suggested that I buy a smart phone and buy a contract with say GiffGaff and use that for all my outgoing calls.   Suppose could keep TT for cheap WiFi Broadband emails etc?     I never watch films on my computer- do need on line shopping, directions, how to videos etc.     All complicated by this Covid lockdown - for the moment am having to manage with NO VISITORS.    Any suggestions?Although my current contract with TT has ended and I will refuse to sign up for this new one they are pushing me to accept - are they allowed to disconnect me before a new supplier has been appointed?  

Jennifer Selig ● 2377d19 Comments

No wider suggestions Jennifer. However, although they might increase your monthly tariff I doubt TalkTalk would disconnect you just because you don't sign up for a new contract. You can chose a new provider any time you like but Talk Talk will be entitled to a month's notice.

John Connelly ● 2377d

Thnks John.

Jennifer Selig ● 2377d

Firstly you wont get an engineer due to covid 19 to set up new equipment. Some even charge you becasue all new contract equipment these days is sent in the post and you set it up yourself as its pretty easy. Well not for allSecondly dont bother with a smart phone if your just making calls. Just get a chaep pay and go deal like Giffgaff. And if need be get yourself a new nokia phone for making calls if your old one is a bit past itThirdly when your contract is over it just keeps rolling over as normal without being in a contract.And lastly,as your no longer in contract you just sign up with a new provider and most will do it for you ( One-stop switch)An example which is £18.99 a month on a 1 year contract and you get £65 cashback in form of a mastercard so it brings you monthly bill down to  £13.57 a month in money terms but still £18.99 a month.https://www.plus.net/deals/unlimited/line-only/2021ad05a0rc65aff/?utm_source=awin&utm_medium=res-affiliate&utm_content=line-only&utm_campaign=2021ad05a0rc65aff&affiliate=awin&WT.mc_id=aff_003

Julian Pavey ● 2377d

Just to add that if you go to £23 a month you can get fibre which will be average 5x faster than the average broadband.Based on    broadband being  10mb download speed            Fibre    being  50mb download speed

Julian Pavey ● 2377d

I have been very happy with the service provided by Plusnet.

Gervase Harson ● 2377d

I ditched Virgin fibre for their constant price rises and shoddy customer service (want something fixed you get an overseas call centre who can't help; want to leave you get a UK-based call centre operator - very cynical). PlusNet have been great and the lower maximum speed vs fibre has no practical impact on our use. They do send the equipment in the post for self installation and if an engineer is needed is unlikely they need to enter your property but might be necessary if you're stuck.

John Hall ● 2377d

just checked  'which' magazine1. utility warehouse2. giffgaff3. asda mobile4.plusnet

Jeremy Beckett ● 2377d

Problem is some of them are a complete rip-off I was curious about Utility warehouse so had a lookMobile 1 GB data,450 minutes,Unlimited texts,£10.00 a monthBroadband standard 11mb £28.99 Not sure what Which were praising,certainly not price

Julian Pavey ● 2377d

They do have ultra fibre 35mb £32.99 63mb £37.99 all supplied through BT BT Fibre 50MB £27.99  £67mb £34.99

Julian Pavey ● 2377d

I recently ended my very long time Talk Talk land line and low speed MBS (due to non fibre connection) broadband deal and swapped to NOW TV without the TV bit. First year deal which includes all calls to land lines (except things like 0345) and mobiles cost me £18 per month. My partner's IPHONE 6 deal with O2 was a total rip off so last week we swapped to a 2GB Data (use WIFI for WhatsApp) SIM only deal with Vodaphone for £6 a month. Both deals fine so far. Customer service (if you can find a phone number!!) is all based overseas - in Vodaphone's case Egypt with an Asian lady whose accent was barely understandable.I suggest you try and buy a second hand 4G phone and a SIM only deal with low DAT use.

Derek Hill ● 2376d

PlusNet have a good reputation. Personally I have been with BT for over 20 years. I have found them to be expensive but during that time I have only had 3 problems - all quickly resolved. Maybe I've just been lucky. As a point PlusNet are owned by BT. Being a long term subscriber I do get decent discounts from BT. My line speed with them is around 60Mb using fibre. You may wish to get both broadband and mobile from the same operation but if you don't have a look at Smarty for mobile. Their tariffs start at £7.50 pcm (£5 for unlimited calls + £2.50 for data and you get a refund for unused data monthly.

Jeffrey Cope ● 2376d

I think you need to tell us what you pay for your TalkTalk broadband jenifer and what you pay for your pay and go sim each month.That way we know what your spending now and what you can get for around the same price or a little more.You have posted many times about being on the phone with TlkTalk so your obviously having issues,so its best to get away from them.I personally would get the best fibre deal if you can get fibre and then get the best sim deal. Or say with BT get best fibre deal and then you get £5 off any sim deal as a customer. But many ways to do all this but its a good idea to know what your paying noew and for what. And possibly what your willing to pay a month for both

Julian Pavey ● 2376d

Jennifer, look at the Martin Lewis website. He was recently  recommending Shell energy a utility supplier. SSE do a good deal too.

John Todd ● 2376d

I have been out of contract with TT for over 10 years and they have never pressured me to sign up to anything else. They have put up the premiums very little in that time (around £23.00 pm for business rates).  Like my mortgage - out of contract for several years but there is a guarantee that it will never go above 2% of base rate so for what is effectively a lifetime tracker on a low mortgage quite good value.  Being out of contract is not always bad.

Claire Moran ● 2376d

Thanks everyone.  Claire - very sensible never to try and discuss anything with TT.  Anyway finally they have offered an 18month deal £20.95pm which includes boosts for UK landline calls and discounted rates for Max International Calls.  However, they have added a £60 joining up fee which is the first I've heard of it.  No one has ever mentioned that so tomorrow back onto that awful Chatline to get that removed or at least reduced - I really don't need or want Faster Fibre!  Hope not worn everyone out.  Thanks again.

Jennifer Selig ● 2376d

Sounds like I’m being ripped off then. I’m with TalkTalk and I pay £23.95/month for what they call Fast Broadband ( not fibre) and £12/month for Unlimited Uk Call Boost so £35.95/month. It’s a minefield out there.

Michael David Rowe ● 2376d

Michael.That's the same deal I had with Talk Talk - see my earlier contribution. I now pay £18 per month for the same broadband and calls deal (for 12 months) with NOW TV without the TV connection. I intend to find another deal at the end of my 12 months contract. The way prices are going down there should be plenty on offer. There were when I searched a couple of months ago.

Derek Hill ● 2376d

I recently changed to John Lewis after a very similar experience with TalkTalk.  It proved impossible to have a meaningful conversation with their call centre staff and in the end, I'd just had enough.  I chose JL because I've always been pleased with their customer servce and so far haven't been disappointed.  Worth checking out whether its possible to access a further discount through the TopCashback site when considering the various packages on offer.

Alison Foy ● 2375d

I was going to recommend the 02 Classic payg sim card for mobile phones.Only to find its no longer available to new subscribers. Calls are 3p a minute. Texts are 2p. Data is 1p a MB. Calls to customer service are free of charge Calls to Voicemail are 3p a call. But I have found this company, 1p mobile https://www.1pmobile.com/I have know idea how good they are but there prices are 1p a minute, 1p a text, 1p a MBNo contract. No hassle. No monthly fee.

Bernard Allen ● 2375d