BS: UK ISP Problems

Subject: UK ISP Problems
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 07:08 PM

I had notice last night that RedHotAnt, my ISP terminates its 24/7 unmetered today 16th January. For more details, check here.

Pretty good as they asked for £130 up front and kept this offer open until Dec 31st last year. Some people will only have had a few days for their money - I got a couple of months.

Whatever RHA are and I believe thier actions are diguting, the root problem is the stranglehold that BT, owning nearly all the UK telephone system have (they were once a nationalised industry, privatised by dearest Maggie T) and they continue to charge ISPs by the minute for ue of thier system.

Until this monopoly is broken, it is unlikely that any ISP in the UK is going to be reliable (unless of course they join BT's over priced surf time) and people like myself will be caught by "fly by night" (possibly - it is hard for them to charge a flat rate when they are metered)companies like RHA when trying to secure a 24/7 deal.

When is Two Faced Tony (Blair) going to meet his promise and really make the internet availible to all in the UK (and on the same terms as say the US has)?

Oh well, I am in a trap at the moment. My phoneline is with WorldOnline and most of the deals require a BT phone line. Im not sure whether to go for AOL who do an any phone deal but I think at least to some degree insist on the use of thier stupid software or whether to go back to BT.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: nutty
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 07:16 PM

Jon - you could put your name down with NTL who provide totally free unlimited access to the net if you have cable or £10 a month if you join their telephone service ( the £10 includes call charges up to that amount) .There is obviously a wait to get connected to this service but I am sure it would be worth it.

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 07:19 PM

I don't think I can in this area Nutty, I will check again but I am pretty sure that I have to join BT and buy some sort of device to use ntl here.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Zebedee
Date: 16 Jan 01 - 07:22 PM

Jon,

I'd go back to BT. One reason for saying this is for the simple reason that BT wont go bust, the government wouldn't let them. Their services are pretty good, and whilst I'm in the midst of a billing arguement with them, I'd still say that they're better than the alternatives.

I'm going to bed soon, but if want to discuss it more, send me a personal message.

However much BT is hated, the alternatives are worse.

Ed

PS BT offers better deals than the average US user has, we currently have about the cheapest 24/7 access in the world

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 06:34 AM

Bad luck Jon. I hope you get it sorted so you don't have to cut down on the time here.

But surely if your phone is World Online it is a BT line? When I signed on with screaming-net/Localtel in order to get free call internet calls, that involved changing my billing arramgements so that they I paid them, but it was still the same line supplied by BT; and later in one of those business contortions they do, it all became World-online. But it's still BT who supply the service, as I understand it, there's just some arangement by which the actual billing is taken over by WorldOnline.

So maybe you should look into that, because it may well be the offers requiring a BT line are in fact available to you anyway.

I've still got a WorldOnline second line, so that we can receive and make phone calls when we are online. but I stopped using them for Internet when instead of unlimited time they cut it to 100 hours oper month, and jacked up the charge to allow you to get that - but 100 hours per momnth for £5 on top of your basic phne bill migt not be a bad option.

We're lucky in Harlow, where ntl run the cable/community aerial we've had bere inn one form or anither for 40 years. So I've got the ntl-telephone-plus-cable deal - £9.75 for the phone line rent, basic cable (BBC1,2, ITV for London and Anglia, Four and Five, plus Parliament and BC News24, and a couple of others), and free internet calls.

Which is a good deal, since it's no more than a BT line alone - though the connection is pretty slow sometimes, both to connect, and when you're online, and they've got a four-minutes-inactive-and-you're-disconnected rule (which you can get round with programmes that keep them ticking over). And a two hour disconnect rule which could be a drag with long downloads, which I don't often go in for.

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 06:49 AM

You can buy a device for NTL, Jon, or go to BT. SurfTime is actualy quite good as you are not restricted to the ISP. I use SurfTime and ConnectFree and the service seems, up to now and apart from a couple of denial of service attacks, excellent.

Word of warning though MAKE SURE you have a SurfTime order number and confirmation before you start using it otherwise you may end up paying for some of the 'free' calls. BTW - my deal is 15 quid a month (6 to BT, 9 to CF) and I get unmetered 6pm-8am and all weekend plus 1p per minute other times. I also get tons of other free stuff from ConectFree (multiple emails, unlimited web space etc.)

Good luck in any case.

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Grab
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 08:00 AM

NTL is recommended - they're pretty crap on customer service, but once you're set up they're cheap and the connection (at least in Cambridge) seems pretty speedy.

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Catrin
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 01:26 PM

MMM - interesting stuff. I'm in the process of changing back from World-online to BT. I think world on line's service is cr*p - have you ever tried getting through to their customer service line???

One thing to consider, even though it has nothing to do with internet access: We had a very disturbing threatening phone call recently, which scared us both silly. We automatically rang BT who put us through to their 'nuisance call' dept. only to be told that it was world on line's responsibility to sort it out. It hasn't happened since, but I do think that BT offer services like that, which other providers don't, but which we take for granted. Just worth bearing in mind.

I agree with Ed. BT ain't perfect, but there really doesn't seem to be much alternative.

My tuppenceworth,

Catrin

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: nutty
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 01:29 PM

I agree about NTL customer service but you should be able to sort most problems Jon. I have a telephone line for calls , one for the internet , free unlimited access to the web , and cheap calls to relatives and friends who are also on NTL ( calls are free on evenings and weekends ) The result is that my monthly phone bill works out at about £15

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 03:04 PM

At present we are on unlimited freeserve which costs us £9.99 a month and gives all internet calls free and offsets any non local calls against the fee. However they are stopping this service in March so we will also have to start considering the alternatives. I gather freeserve will be introducing another unlimited servece at £15 a month but don't remember all the details. Do you need cable for NTL because we don't have cable round here? I shall watch this thread with interest.

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: nutty
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 03:13 PM

No Jane , you don't need cable to get the NTL free service you pay the fee (£10 per month) and use a dialling 'gadget' to make calls - connection to the internet is through an 0800 number. The fee is offset against the cost of telephone calls - so you only start paying for your calls after you have used up the £10 . The downside of not having cable is that you still have to pay your line rental to BT

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Greyeyes
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 04:10 PM

I switched a matter of a few days ago from Supanet, who don't do unmetered and were costing a fortune, to plymouthonline. They are something to do with Plymouth City Council, who are my employers, so I'm assuming they're honest.

It is a BT deal, I'm paying £14.99 pm to BT and £4.99 to the ISP, but that includes BT line rental. It's offpeak only, the 24/7 deal I think is £24.99 all in, including line rental.

The service is definitely superior to supanet, and the 2 occasions I've e-mailed them for advice I've received the info I need pretty promptly.

blicky

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 02:08 AM

Thanks for the advice and comments. I think I know where I am going now. Switching back to BT and trying NTL is looking favourite.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Terry K
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 02:47 AM

I may be missing something but it seems to me that the AOL deal is better than anything I've found. I'm currently on their free offer which will lead to a payment of £15.00 per month, 24/7 access, everything included, full stop.

I've just terminated my ISP (Easynet) and up to now my quarterly phone bill alone has been £175.00 plus ISP charge of £90.00 per year. I can't say I find AOL ideal but I guess it's OK and it really is a luxury to access during peak business hours for as long as I like without having to even consider call charges.

Cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 03:33 AM

AOL insist on credit/debit card payments which counts me out. I need to check up on NTL but if that one fails, I am pretty sure Freeerve allows direct debit payment.

I am also a little unsure of AOL's software policy but I have a feeling they go about things their way (although I believe they now at least allow IE instead of thier browser) and that some of thier setup can make accessing some things impossible.

Ideally, I would like an ISP that simply allows me to manually add their settings to my existing system.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 03:38 AM

Take no notice of what I said about ConnectFree - I got an email yesterday saying they were stopping the service as at Feb 9 and raising a case with oftel against BT!

I will be looking at BT's direct one and NTL's.

Cheers and good luck

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: nutty
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 05:54 AM

I have just been informed that as from February NTL putting their fee up to £15 - all other conditions stay the same

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 09:02 AM

I tried AOL, and found its attempts to make me do it their way annoying - but anyway the last I heard there was a free offer incuding free calls for 100hrs in a month, so it might be worth giving them a trial.

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:20 AM

I've just started the free month with AOL- only 50 hrs though, McGrath. After that it will be £14.99 per month (as mentioned above) unless I cancel. I've applied for the ntl world CD but they say they may take up to 3 months to get me a copy- not as available as AOL!

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:33 AM

BT internet is now looking good - TBA some time this month. 15 quid unlimited access any time. First refusals to existing BT customers. I guess BT will find it difficult to 'pull the plug' as some others have done?

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: GUEST,Nynia (at Uni)
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:48 AM

I've found BT to be brill over the last two months. The only downside is the cut off/re-connect every two hours, a bit anoying if you're singing or doing admin in Paltalk.


Nynia


:-)

-)

)

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: okthen
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:50 AM

I'm doing the AOL 24/7 and £14.99, my phone line goes through cable and wireless ( who are now NTL)and still pay BT line rental.I too will be watching this thread to see if I can get it done cheaper.

Noreen, they quote 3 months for NTL disc, but it comes through a lot quicker, at least mine did.Still got (I think) if you want it ?

Cheers

bill

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: GUEST,Nynia (at Uni)
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:54 AM

I've found BT to be brill over the last two months. The only downside is the cut off/re-connect every two hours, a bit anoying if you're singing or doing admin in Paltalk.


Nynia


:-)

-)

)

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 11:09 AM

Thanks bill for the offer, but if ntl are going to be £15 per month, the same as AOL and also the same as BT, all for 24/7 access, doesn't seem worth the hassle? Or am I missing something?

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 03:07 PM

B.T. Surftime using freeserve as ISP. This gives me 1800 till 0800 weekdays and 0800 Fri till 0800 Monday (all weekend). Cost is £15 per month which includes the phone line rental from BT making a net cost of £5.25 PM (after phone rental which I would have to pay either way.

I only need off peak use so it suits me....

poSt....

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: nutty
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 03:22 PM

The £15 charge made by NTL is offset against any telephone calls you make - so in effect you pay the £15 and get that amount of free calls each month
You still pay the BT line rental though

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 05:09 PM

well if you are prepared to move to Hull Karoo offer £9.99 for free access 6pm to 8am and my internet bill has dropped by 75%. (Don't have none of your BT rubbish up here and we even have white phoneboxes!)

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 08:09 PM

I'm currently on Which Online but they haven't signed up to BT Surftime which we wanted to use, so I have to change my ISP. WOL is Netscape-based, the others all seem to be Internet Explorer, so when I try to register for ant other ISP the computer goes into a complete "hang" and I have to reset the whole thing, run Scandisk,etc,etc. So do I have to delete the whole of WOL first before anything else will run or what?

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Grab
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 08:05 AM

Bill, I think disks for NTL are specific to the person. You get the CD and some key-number on it IIRC, and the rumour round this way is that the CD and key have to match your phone number. Don't know if it's different for ppl using normal BT phone lines instead of NTL lines though.

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: UK ISP Problems
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:32 PM

You don't need a gadget to use the ntl service. All it does is prefix your calls with 1263, which you can do yourself, or configure your modem to do. Once you're registered (no delay for me, Nutty) you are able to route calls via ntl using that prefix, and your calls (national and local alike) are charged at 3p peak time, 2p evenings and 1p weekends, which on balance is significantly better than BT. And you get an 0800 number for the internet.

A good reason for not using the gadget is that local evening calls are cheaper with BT - so it makes sense to go with BT for those, unless you are going to fall short of the £15 a month that ntl will bill you anyway.

Having been accustomed to a top-ranking paid service with a co-operative called Poptel (lo-call access plus £10 a month) ntl is a big step down in flexibility - eg I'm stuggling to establish if I can transfer my registered domain name to ntl's ISP, or alias an email address using that name to my ntl account. Also remote access looks like being a pain to set up.

Phone help is £1 a minute, needless to say, so the only realistic help on offer is via their slowish email service.

Jon, if you're concerned about software issues, avoid AOL like the plague. You do have to run a CD for ntl, but it's nothing like as invasive as AOL. If you don't have either of ie5 or netscape 4.7 you will have to load one of them from the disk (you've got to use one of these for registering, and they can't give technical support for any others). But of course you can uninstall it after registering, restore your settings and access ntlworld from any platform and browser you like. But if you've got older versions of both ie and netscape, one of them is going to get upgraded whether you like it or not. (I opted to load ie5, to be sure my netscape would be left alone!)

Noreen, if BT is going to offer an 0800 number, that's obviously worth considering. Call charges are a significant factor for me (£100-plus a month) so ntl is likely to remain the best package in my case.