recommend me some interwebs

[Wideboy]

Hopefully moving next week and as so we've cancelled our tv, phone and web sky package at the current place that runs out Friday. We've been with sky for about 2 and a bit years and in that time it's been relatively ok but my only problem with them is there complete lack of customer service, off the top of my head we didn't get our viewing card for about to weeks at the start and we've lost Internet about 5 times. Every time you ring them they make you do the stupid engineers test on the wall socket and then send you out some crappie little microfilter, but generally they couldn't give a toss. So we cancelled just to see whats about.

We were paying about 53 quid a month for basic telly (had hd box but not the package), phone, Internet and line rental. Our area didn't have fibre optic so our speed was about 450-550kpbs download which was ok but annoyed be as price didn't reflect the speed. I don't mind going back with sky as I'll get a faster speed and chances are I'll get some vouchers for somewhere for signing up (we had 250 quids worth of m&s vouchers, not they lasted long in that toff shop).

Telly wise I'm not fussed as I don't watch much telly, the misses watches the entertainment channels and other than freeview all I'm interested in is the documentary section. Not really interested in HD either. I've thought about splitting it all up and going with plusnet as they have the best rating for the area but by the time it's all added up I end up paying more than I do now.

Any recommendations?

Unfortunately I think poor customer service is par for the course with most internets people. It took us two months to get telewest cable installed at uni, with them even sending out guys to do it three times, asking for paperwork we'd never heard of, then it taking us 3 days to speak to telewest to find out about the paperwork.

My parents are with Virgin Media and they are generally happy, but being in london the service doesn't go down very often. We HAVE to use Virgin at the flat, and I think as a result of this lack of competition we get the bottom rung service, and we are constantly having to reset our router. Especially if we both want to use the internet.

Oh and I used O2 broadband over a BT line when I lived in Bristol. Didn't have any problems with it at all. They reactivated the BT line and hooked me up in about 3 days. Was pretty cheap. no idea what the problem handling customer service is like, cos I didn't have a problem. I was there about 2 years.

I wouldn't use O2 now. They (And bethere) were bought by sky. Since that happened, their service has been pants. So bad i'm moving away from them.
Plusnet (fibre) is going to be my choice now i'd expect. It's the only fibre isp i can get no download cap on, and a static ip.

Considered just getting a dish and using freesat? That sorts all your tv issues in one go. I prefer to keep my internet for just that. Internet.

[PyroUK]

This is a bias opinion:

If you can get virgin cable go for that. I have m+ tv which is freeview with a few extra channels like discovery and hd channels with a TiVo box, whatever basic phone package you have to have and 120mb Internet. £57 all in incl line rental.

You could prob get the same or better as a new customer with one of the packages, I pay slightly more as I have added things over the years.

Also and this shouldn't be just virgin, you can save money on the line rental and pay for it in one hit. Can't remember but I think paying monthly it's c£156 a year but a one off is c£120.

Customer service wise, you get the usual Indian call centre. I have never really had any problems but when I did have a very annoying issue (turned out I had accidentally filtered my macs IP address) I got out through to the proper tech support guys in Scotland who were really good and very helpful. Even after I told him what a knob I had been and fixed it myself he talked me through setting up the block I needed.

Other than that I have had 3 years with no probs.

Other provider wise, my uncle who is big on customer service and very loyal, used to be with O2 and when sky bought them the service just vanished. Think he is with plusnet now.

My parents are with utilities warehouse, dirt cheap but not great speeds and may have a cap.

[dirtydog]

Not sure what BT is like now but if you get bt broadband you get the btsports channels for free and they're the only channel showing the motogp races this year

[Tomor]

If you can I would go for Virgin. We have had it since they took over NTL and have been awesome. if there are any problems, they get an engineer out within 2 days and they knock some money off your bill We have the all singing and all dancing package (as my dad is convinced we need it) and it is awesome. You also get the BT sport channels so you can watch the MotoGP this year

[Ch00]

I am with Virgin. Main plus is they own the box so they come and fix/replace the box unlike sky who charge.

[Kenzie]

Virgin are pretty good. Never have much trouble. Get throttled on the download from time to time. Paying for up to 30mb and hit 50mb every so often.

Another vote for Virgin cable service from me. Really good service (TV/phone/Interweb). Paying for 60MB internet and getting it (and more) even over a wifi connection in another room.