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Possibly joining PlusNet ....... What can I expect?

Hello all, I'm new to the forum,

I've been looking around for what seems like ages now but in fact is only a week, for a new ISP.
I'm currently with Virgin Media Broadband for 40 Gb per month allowance (currently 6.5 -7 Mbs speed) and anytime phone calls. My line rental is with BT (paid on an annual basis).

Up until now, I had a deal where my Broadband and phone package was £22.40 per month, with a customer loyalty rebate of £10, so my actual cost was £12.40 per month, which I was more than happy with, but I had to re-apply for this rebate on a strict 6 month basis.

When I re-applyed for this rebate a while ago, I was told "sorry, this rebate is no longer available to you, so your monthly package cost will now be £22.40". This is when I started looking around for alternative ISPs.

I have been looking at PlusNet but have seen a lot of negative reviews and only a few positive ones ........ Any comments please.

During many calls to Virgin Media to try and re-negotiate a better package price to allow me to stay with them, I was put through to another department (Tel: 08000 9522044) Yes, freephone !!!! And was offered my same old package for £17.04 per month. When asked why I wasn't offered this by the "normal" customer service team, I was told that only this can offer extra discounts and customer service are not always aware of these "special discounts".

So, do I give PlusNet a go, who over a 2 year period, will cost me £492 (including line rental) for a 10Gb monthly allowance, or £645 for unlimited download allownace or stay with Virgin for £699 over a two year period (line rental with BT).

By the way, I calculated over a 2 year period, so I could factor in all the discounts and offers and basically 'smooth out' the total amount.

I'm sorry for the long first post but I am really undecided what to do at the moment and need input from other sources.


Many thanks.
 
If you're choosing on price then go for it. If you want a quality provider then keep looking. PlusNet are ok (not great) when everything is working, but their support is overstretched and average at best. You get what you pay for, and they are cheap.

Some of the problems I have had: High ping times, slow speeds (up and down), long call waiting times (and being bounced around from team to team), calls closed when problem still current, not diagnosing problems correctly. You might find their traffic management policies to be restrictive too.

I've been shopping around and I'm changing from PlusNet to Aquiss.
 
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This article should give you a good idea of both the cheaper and higher quality ISPs.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...ps-for-2013-ispreview-co-uk-editors-pick.html

Generally, so far as the big ISPs go, PlusNet and Sky Broadband are perhaps two of the better options but experiences do vary from person to person and place to place. PlusNet do however have a fair few awards, mostly for customer service, to their name that others don't.

I'd say they're worth a shot but do consider others like Sky too and if you want quality then be prepared to pay more; it's often worth if.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Please also concider that being "middle aged" I don't play online games, download films or watch any catch-up TV channels on line.
All I need is to be able to send and receive e-mails (including an occasional attachment), browse the internet for the odd bargain on Flea Bay, involve myself in a few forum discussions and occasionally download a few You Tube clips.

So you see that I don't really need a wizz-bang connection, just a decent speed and constant internet connection at a fair price.
Will PlusNet provide this very basic service for me?

Many thanks.
 
Last edited:
Well, putting aside my personal prejudices (I left PlusNet many years ago on a matter of principle, not because of any service deficiencies, and now they are part of BT I certainly wouldn't go back to them), I would think that you are unlikely to have any real problems with them.

I'm a little bit like you in terms of what I use my connection for, and if it wasn't for my personal dislike of them as a company, I wouldn't have any worries about using them again if (God forbid!) my present ISP went out of business.

I'd take the view that there's no real point in spending more than you need to when you only need the basics. Obviously, I'm a bit out of touch, but they seem to be generally reckoned as OK for what you and I would regard as "normal" use, and in your position I'd say "Go for it". One thing in their favour is that they do have a decent rep (Bob Pullen) who posts on here regularly - he was around years ago when I was with them and (within the limits of what the rather dodgy management of the time would permit!) was always pretty straightforward and helpful.
 
Well, from what I've received today (many thanks to those concerned) I'm going to give PlusNet a go.
I have read a lot of posts both to and from Bob Pullen (I hope he's following this one) and if I do encounter any problems, he'll be my first point of contact, apart from regular updates on this forum.

Today I found and downloaded a program (thinkbroadband tbbmeter) to monitor my intenet up and download usage, as I'm going for the 10Gb package from PlusNet. So if they do try to charge me for over usage, I'll have my own figures to compare with.

I'll keep you informed how I get on with the online application tomorrow.
By the way, whilst I complete the online application, I'll also have a PlusNet customer service rep on the phone to assist me with the form filling (that way the process will be recorded if there's any "problems" in the future with possible account anomolies).


Many thanks
Tony
 
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Be aware they are in the process of putting their prices up, and the termination fee and notice period are also going up.

See the ISPR Front Page)
 
Also worth keeping in mind that BT, TalkTalk and Sky have done the same. I wouldn't be surprised if BT announced another hike in the not too distant future too.
 
Hi there,

Well, from what I've received today (many thanks to those concerned) I'm going to give PlusNet a go.
I have read a lot of posts both to and from Bob Pullen (I hope he's following this one)...

I am indeed. Glad to hear you're considering us :)

Today I found and downloaded a program (thinkbroadband tbbmeter) to monitor my intenet up and download usage, as I'm going for the 10Gb package from PlusNet. So if they do try to charge me for over usage, I'll have my own figures to compare with.

Another download monitor you might want to look at is Networx (that's what I use).

If you've any questions about the service Tony, or have any problems with the ordering/provisioning journey then feel free to give me a nudge.

Be aware they are in the process of putting their prices up, and the termination fee and notice period are also going up.

The monthly subscription for a new customer today is the same as it will be after the price changes (which mainly affect a subset of existing customers).

The cessation fee is increasing from £25-£30 but that's only applicable where you outright cancel. It isn't charged if you migrte to another ISP.

The notice period is increasing to 14 days from 10.

Well, putting aside my personal prejudices (I left PlusNet many years ago on a matter of principle, not because of any service deficiencies, and now they are part of BT I certainly wouldn't go back to them), I would think that you are unlikely to have any real problems with them.

So you left because we became part of BT, or am I misinterpreting you? We operate fairly independently of our 'parents' and still have our own network/support teams etc.

I'm a little bit like you in terms of what I use my connection for, and if it wasn't for my personal dislike of them as a company, I wouldn't have any worries about using them again if (God forbid!) my present ISP went out of business.

Anything I can do to turn that opinion around?

One thing in their favour is that they do have a decent rep (Bob Pullen) who posts on here regularly - he was around years ago when I was with them and (within the limits of what the rather dodgy management of the time would permit!) was always pretty straightforward and helpful.

Thanks. The traffic management is much less of a headache these days now that we offer a truly unlimited service.

Best regards,
 
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Hi Bob

I left in 2005, during the "move the goalposts first, tell the customer afterwards" period. Although not personally affected, many of my friends were. I felt that they were treated unfairly, and that whatever the legal situation might be the company was morally wrong, eventually had enough of the intransigent attitude of those in charge, so went to pastures new. My mention of "the rather dodgy management of the time" referred to the management of the company, not the traffic management.

I was then unintentionally back with PlusNet later in the year, because "pastures new" was MetroNet, who PlusNet took over towards the end of 2005. Knowing that I'd be moving home in a few months, I stayed until then to avoid double moving costs, finally saying "Goodbye" in May 2006 and joining NDO/Namesco.

When I said "now they are part of BT I certainly wouldn't go back to them", what I meant was that the BT takeover in 2007 was the final nail in the coffin. I had no performance problems with PlusNet, and had the company not become part of BT I might have given you another chance in 2010 when Namesco shifted broadband support overseas, something I strongly disapprove of, and I left them in disgust. Again, it was a matter of principle rather than because of poor performance.

I appreciate that there's still a fair degree of independence, but a BT subsidiary is still a BT subsidiary however you dress it up, and I have a long-standing deep hatred of BT (not improved by the Phorm fiasco!) so there is no way I'd put any more money into their pot than I have to. Obviously, using an ordinary phone line and a BT Wholesale based ISP, some of what I pay them (ICUK) for line rental and broadband ends up in BT's pocket, but I certainly have no wish to add to it.

So, while I wish you well personally, I'm afraid that there is nothing that would persuade me to rejoin, and in the unfortunate event of ICUK being bought out or going bust I would not be looking at PlusNet as a replacement - sorry!
 
I understand; I have a similar hatred for BT, if I could ditch the landline entirely I would - just to avoid them getting ANY revenue from me.
 
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