Virgin Or Bt

[riptide]

I’ve been with BT for years but let my contract run out last year and now my router is playing up and I really need a new one which is not covered unless I renew my contract. Never had any problems and I have the the basic phone and bt contract with unlimited useage, free weekend calls and nuisance call blockage. If I was still in contract they would send an instant replacement within 24 hours, also always UK call centres. Is it worth considering Virgin, only want basic package, not interested in tv packages. Anyone on here pleased with them, I do not necessarily have to have a phone line, although I believe it is not much cheaper without one. Are there call centres in the UK, I sometimes have problems understanding the overseas ones.

[barry1010]

I've been with Virgin ever since they took over from Telewest over 20 years ago. I don't have a BT line so I have no choice but I've had no real problems at all with them.
The contract is only 12 months so give them a go if the price is right.

[margarettom]

I think you will find BT are UK call centres.

[KJN]

I recently bought a new BT Home Hub 6 off the internet for £15, it's a good hub never have problems with it. One other thing you may need to think about is IF you have a BT email address you will loose this or pay them a monthly fee to keep it.

[drmorgans]

Have you thought of an alternative provider? I have been with PlusNet (owned by BT but operating independently) for years. They are generally rated quite high in support and service reviews. They are based in Sheffield with a local call centre.

[barry1010]

If you are paying for BT services whether they like it or not you have a rolling contract and they must provide the service you are paying for.
If their equipment is not working as they should they MUST replace it without binding you to another lengthy contract. It's their router, not yours and they must fix or replace it.

[barry1010]

BT: "“There are no warranties for the equipment,” the company said. “We will simply provide a free replacement if the equipment is faulty and this applies the lifetime the customer is with us.”
https://bigtechquestion.com/2020/01/07/broadband/who-owns-your-bt-broadband-hub-bt-does-now-and-youll-be-fined-you-if-you-dont-give-it-back/

[riptide]

I have to buy the router as I am out of contract, spoke with them this morning. Nothing wrong with my broadband but the router has been cutting out, not regularly but on occasions several times a day. Last night it cut out for two hours so I turned it off. This morning about 5 times, although seems okay at the moment.

[davebro]

Consider other options. I'm with talktalk & find them OK on service & price. Yes the (Indian?) call centre can be a bit difficult to understand so if I need to I use the on-line messaging facility. (Unless the problem is that you can't get on-line of course!)

[netherfield]

Are you sure it's your router that's the problem, I was having problems with flickering lights on the router. Borrowed another router from my son in law, turned out not the router, with Plusnet so ended up with openreach coming. Kept saying it's your internal wiring, three engineers said the same each time, FTTC was available in the area so went to that, took a fortnight to get installed, new router from Plusnet and all works well. Strangely it's still using the same internal wiring without problems.

[ubasses]

I you are out of contract you are probably paying them over the odds. Ring them up and tell them you are looking at moving to Virgin but want to see what sort of deal they will offer you.
We do that at the end of every contract and always get a good savings, you will also get the new router.

[barry1010]

Riptide, you pay them monthly so you have a monthly rolling contract. Phone again and tell them if they do not sort it out you will report them to the ombudsman. As a paying customer you have rights

[riptide]

Thanks for all your comments, I am going to look around and will be talking again to BT about this. They have checked my phone line and broadband and it is fine so it is the router. It must be about 7 or 8 years old so is quite old. If i can get a good deal with them I might stay as I really do not want to be without broadband and if I have to wait for another provider to set it all up and the router stops working I will be fed up with no Netflix or prime tv. I will have to have a think as to whether I really need a phone line as never use it and the rental fee alone is extortionate. If I decide not will go with Virgin, my cousin has been with them all her life and never had problems. Your help is always appreciated.

[alavahalf]

Had the same problem with the internet droppong out
I phoned Sky and they were adamant that the problem was my internal wiring. They did their line test and confirmed it was my fault. I did a line test myself using the master socket and could find no fault.
My landline/phone is on BT. Doing another online test using BT's test facility I found that the intermittent fault was outside the property.
At one point I had
a fleet of Openreach vans outside my house and a team of groundworkers digging all the footpaths up.
Do the online test with BT.