ISP Reviews by Sledgehammer

I have been with Talk Talk since August 2006. Had to call tech support twice, in both cases the problem was sorted with just the one call, very pleased. Through a node failing we lost connection on one occasion, NO FAULT OF TALK TALK.

Overall a good solid connection of 6.5/7.0Mbps throughout. My original Talk 3 International package cost £9.99 plus line rental. No complaints over price or the broardband for free.

Not being able to post a separate review of Talk Talk 24 Meg service I am forced to add it to present review.

On 29th October I rang TT to ask for a speed boost, then my problems really started. Speed boost done on Friday, my speed dropped to 5.5/6.0 Mbps, very unhappy and fuming. The increase in speed ? caused something in the old modem to give up the ghost no lights on modem. Without BB for 8 days waiting for new router from TT .When it arrived and set it up NOTHING.
No internet connection. In the end rang Tech support and suddenly I was connected.

I am 1130 MTRS from my local exchange and will not get anything like 24mbps. My speed had gone up to 10.5/11.0 Mbps. Not much of an improvement. For this increase in speed I had to agree to a new 18 month contract and pay an extra £4. To stay on the equivalent phone package as before I now have to pay £6.45 + £4 anytime calls + £2 anytime International calls. I have canceled the speed boost so I will now be paying £2.46 for the same service I had prior to 29th October. BIG MISTAKE.

Anyone thinking of going on to ABSL2+ Think again. NOT JUST WITH TALKTALK BUT ANY ISP.

The further away you are from your local exchange the greater will be the loss of speed, more so than the 8 Meg service.

Value = 5, Speed = 3, Support = 7 and Service = 7.
My intention is to move to a new phone provider some 18 months hence, and maybe a new ISP if I still want to stay connected to the internet.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, have just escaped from Talktalk. I was informed by Sky's sales member (after some test) that they could install my phone and broardband on the same day. After that day the phone was transfered OK but not the broardband. Phoned Sky the next day only to be informed that I would have to wait 2 weeks before the broardband will be enabled. So much for a seemless change over.

My ratings for Sky after this is ZERO ON ALL COUNTS. I know it will show 1 in the 4 columns but I think there should be 0 to 9 not 1 to 10.

To anyone thinking of joining Sky you WILL BE WITHOUT BROARDBAND FOR 2 WEEKS AFTER YOUR PHONE HAS BEEN CHANGED OVER.

To sum up my time with Sky will be only for 12 months. How a company like Sky can be so inept (at best) in providing this service is truely amazing. I never had the courtesy of a phone call to say they had done the phone change over, just NO dial tone for 2/3 hours.

Update

Well Sky have finally connected me to the internet. I now have another 10 days of purgatory waiting for my speed to be increased. Currently struggling with 3.5 meg D/L and 0.43 U/L. Which makes a mockery of trying to load web pages ( continually getting error reports about buffering).Used to get 13.5/14 meg D/L and 0.85 U/L with talktalk.

To give Sky its final epitaph PATHETIC.

Finally

With Talktalk my D/L speed was 13.5/14 meg U/L 0.85. Now with Sky D/L 11.47 U/L 0.79. I think that just proves that as far as speed is concerned Talktalk were better.

Joined IDnet on the 16th of April and do not regret a single moment I have been with them. I have found the staff very helpful in explaining questions I have asked and their advice.

My ping times have dropped, compared to previous ISP's, speed is what my line will support 13.97 d/l 0.87 u/l and I am happy with the price as well.