RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Topic started by: tofgem on Wednesday 30 November 16 17:48 GMT (UK)
-
I don't think anyone can help, but I need to explode somewhere and rootschatters are good at listening (or rather reading). Having spent hours complaining about Talk Talk, the end of my contract has at last arrived. However, I thought about it and decided that I would continue with them as I could not face a change of email address. I received an email informing me that the cost of my package was to be increased. I was not amused and as I get very cross on the phone I used 'live chat' to complain (hoping for a reduction). After many minutes of typing I was eventually informed that Talk Talk have discontinued their broadband only service (from tomorrow!!). My email did not state this it just said that the cost of my package was to increase. The agent has logged my complaint and someone is to contact me. I have checked the available services in my area and no-one provides a broadband only service. I have line rental from BT. I only use a pay as you go mobile phone for emergencies, I do not watch much television and I only use my landline when I have to so I do not need a package. I use BT 1571 as an answer phone as I have a phobia of phones and only answer it if I am expecting a call. I rely on email for communication. I really feel up the creek without a paddle. If I had been told that my broadband only service was to be discontinued I would have had time to explore my options, rather than throw a panic as I am now.
>:(
-
Try PlusNet ... they are in fact BT owned, but run independantly - have an excellent reputation ...
https://www.plus.net/
-
if you are already paying BT line rental why not check out their charge for adding basic broadband - it looks like it's around £6 extra per month.
Michael.
Edit Sorry about the image size, now smaller.
-
Thanks for your response Lostris. The PlusNet website does offer broadband only. This was not thrown up by the searches I made.
Thanks Michael. I need to check it out.
I have to persuade Talk Talk to keep me connected whilst I explore the possibilities. My problem is that their new contracts begin tomorrow and if they change me over I am locked into an 18 month contract. From the chat line I was told they will not do anything until they contact me after my complaint, which should be within 24 hours. I only contacted them late this afternoon. If their original email had made me aware of the situation I would not be in a panic. I cannot do things in a hurry and if I lose my broadband connection I cannot do anything.
-
Thanks for your response Lostris. The PlusNet website does offer broadband only. This was not thrown up by the searches I made.
Yes it does - see https://www.plus.net/home-broadband/broadband-only/. Not particularly cheap compared to a combined package with phone for new customers.
Up until May (from 2008) I had BB only with PlusNet and Phone with BT but moved the phone across as got better deal.
-
Panic over. I contacted TalkTalk again as I was really throwing a wobbly. This time the agent checked my account correctly (I hope) and apparently I can stay on broadband only, but it is not offered to new customers. The price increase is 2-00, not 7-00 as stated on the email and as my current contract has expired I am on a month to month contract. The email sent did not apply to me although it did have my account number on it.
This gives me time to explore the options carefully. I agree that it is silly (and expensive) to pay BT line rental and TalkTalk for broadband. I know that a month to month contract works both ways, but it gives me time to think.
This just gives me another reason for leaving TalkTalk.
Thank you for letting me rant and for offering suggestions.
-
So nice to hear you now have time to sort things out.
Michael.
-
I recently just left talk talk to go to bt. Best thing I have done
-
You may want to consider a Web based email (Gmail etc) so you are not reliant on ISP's for theirs.
Or, to go one better, Thunderbird, a stand-alone mail program that downloads a copy of all your emails (from every provider) so they are always on your computer.
You could set one up in you own good time, and then gradually migrate all your contacts over to it. There is nothing to say you can't have several email addresses, most people have several.
-
I have BT Basic. My account has been continuously in credit lately so my payments have been stopped until further notice.
-
Hi tofgem - I am in a very similar situation to you. Tesco was my ISP and BT is my landline. Tesco broadband was bought by TalkTalk last year. I decided to stay with TalkTalk and see how things went.
I was long out of contract with Tesco and no new long term contract was entered into with TalkTalk and so far I have no complaints apart from the recent price rise. I phoned them and was told they could do nothing for me in the way of a reduction but that I was free to leave.
As far as I understood the email regarding the price increase the 18 month contract would only apply to me if I took the slightly higher fixed price option, which obviously I didn't!
I know I am paying quite a lot for just the provision of broadband but as you know there is not a great deal of choice, I don't want to go to BT so I will stay where I am unless and until I have reason to be dissatisfield.
I was able to keep my old tesco email address but I have others such as Gmail and am gradually swopping contacts over to them.
Pleased you are settled for the moment anyway and have time to make a decision on what to do.
Best wishes,
Selina
-
Here's another vote for PlusNet. We've been with them for over 2 years now, they are very good and if you have a problem you just ring them up, they are in Yorkshire, and get instant help. We have broadband and landline with them, which is cheaper than broadband only and BT for the landline. As they are an independent company within BT, I'm sure you would still be able to use BT1571 as your answerphone.
-
According to the media both Talktalk and Post Office have been hit with a cyber attack and the internet is down. The attack works by exploiting a weakness in customer routers with malicious viruses able to get through unsecured ports. Due to the attack, the routers were unable to provide connections to their customers.
All the more reason to leave TalkTalk I would think.
-
Being anti BT because of the unregulated price rises for line rental, I have finally got rid of my landline. I am now using MiFi (private WiFi). I have two - £15 a month for 15 Gb from Three and £25 a month for 50Gb a month from Vodafone. I will drop Three when the contract expires.
Personally I would go for Vodafone's MiFi and 2Gb for £11 a month. It is a lot easier to watch your usage on Vodafone than other providers. You can start with a Pay As You Go or30 day contract before switching to a two year commitment.
If you use a tablet or laptop for the internet you will not need anything else. For a desktop you need a USB network adaptor for about £12 from PC World.
Your mobile has a built in answerphone, and you can add whatever you use on landline calls to your mobile budget. It would be best to only allow software updates at the start of the month, especially with a tablet. Or take it around to a friend with a big quota.
Ken
-
I've been using a MyFi PAYG for a few years now.
Deals on the Isle of Man are obviously not as good as in the UK - I pay £20 for a 30-day, 20 GB deal.