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[Help] Sky/BT Sports & Broadband Haggle







LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
46,873
SHOREHAM BY SEA
Unlike all the savvy NSC’ers who are often on the case of Virgin or Sky, I make that call to Virgin about every 5 years. Paying more that you lot.

But last week Virgin emailed me, after my contract ended.

Our fast fibre and landline is with another ISP, so it’s just cable TV.

I was paying £86 for BT Sports, all Sky Sports channels and the remaining bundle without Sky Cinema.

Now reduced to £70 with Sky Cinema. Satisfied with that, now I’ll forget about it.

Next discussion with Virgin will be years away
Just out of curiosity why maintain them separately
 


Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
64,321
Withdean area
Just out of curiosity why maintain them separately

Years ago, going by Which?, I moved ISP to Zen (a Manchester based business) who use existing BT landline hardware. They’re still rated highly now.

Reasons - dirt cheap and brilliant customer service ... which really helped me once or twice when BT screwed up at a local roadside box exchange but denied it.

We pay more to Zen now, voluntarily, to have fast fibre for huge competing usage here .... online gaming, downloading movies on laptops, my business, online school lessons during lockdown, youtube. Plus those Danish and Thai websites you recommended.
 


LamieRobertson

Not awoke
Feb 3, 2008
46,873
SHOREHAM BY SEA
Years ago, going by Which?, I moved ISP to Zen (a Manchester based business) who use existing BT landline hardware. They’re still rated highly now.

Reasons - dirt cheap and brilliant customer service ... which really helped me once or twice when BT screwed up at a local roadside box exchange but denied it.

We pay more to Zen now, voluntarily, to have fast fibre for huge competing usage here .... online gaming, downloading movies on laptops, my business, online school lessons during lockdown, youtube. Plus those Danish and Thai websites you recommended.

Lol...so you weren’t keen on the German S&M :)

All makes sense....I imagine customer service is even more important when you are for it as a business

VM collapsed at home last week...just on the day that my son was scheduled for online training....I think he’s used this months data allowance on his mobile (Linked to his laptop) to try and get through the day ....VM customer service were a tad difficult to get hold of......
 






portslade seagull

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2003
17,652
portslade
Our sky bill was £120 but wifeykins went on the attack and got the same packages fixed for £79 for the next 18 months
 










Hiney

Super Moderator
Helpful Moderator
Jul 5, 2003
19,396
Penrose, Cornwall
Been with Sky for years and if you're patient with them they'll come round to your way of thinking.

We've got Sky Q with sport/cinema/Netflix but not kids channels, sky super fast fibre (it is) and sky talk(phone) for around £90 pm. Have to say Sky have always been reasonable to deal with and have resolved any issues quickly and effectively.

My experiences of dealing with BT, particularly after my Father died (he had broadband & phone with them) convince me that I'd rather have my bollocks boiled in oil than deal with them ever again.

Absolutely this.
 


Fungus

Well-known member
NSC Patron
May 21, 2004
7,049
Truro
Years ago, going by Which?, I moved ISP to Zen (a Manchester based business) who use existing BT landline hardware. They’re still rated highly now.

Reasons - dirt cheap and brilliant customer service ... which really helped me once or twice when BT screwed up at a local roadside box exchange but denied it.

We pay more to Zen now, voluntarily, to have fast fibre for huge competing usage here .... online gaming, downloading movies on laptops, my business, online school lessons during lockdown, youtube. Plus those Danish and Thai websites you recommended.

I see Zen recently won the PC Pro award for Best ISP for something like the 17th year in a row. We've had FTTP from BT for 7 years now, and they still can't find us on their systems if we call with an account query. We shall definitely pay the extra for Zen when our contract expires next year. Had a hosting account with Zen for many years.
 




Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
64,321
Withdean area
I see Zen recently won the PC Pro award for Best ISP for something like the 17th year in a row. We've had FTTP from BT for 7 years now, and they still can't find us on their systems if we call with an account query. We shall definitely pay the extra for Zen when our contract expires next year. Had a hosting account with Zen for many years.

Hi. Zen's actual monthly charges to us, including VAT are:
Unlimited fast fibre £18
+ Landline rental needed for the fast fibre £24 (in effect they use BT's hardware; they obviously pay BT and apply a mark-up).
= £42.

I gather the £24 includes an optional fee for us having caller ID shown on incoming landline calls.
 


Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
23,944
GOSBTS
Zen are good guys, they are big - but still 100% owned by the UK founder and a great employer in Rochdale.
 






Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
23,944
GOSBTS
I've looked at that before. Richard Tang was very early to the party, in 1995. Glad he's never sold out to an ISP with awful customer service.

I've worked with Zen in a professional capacity for a few years and if you get some time with Richard he is super interesting. Essentially started the ISP from his dads shed or Garage I think it was.
 


Jul 7, 2003
8,649
Anyone used City Fibre? They are currently digging up the roads of Worthing. If they are any good, could be useful in my next haggle with the TV companies.
 


phoenix

Well-known member
May 18, 2009
2,605
Been with Sky for years and if you're patient with them they'll come round to your way of thinking.

We've got Sky Q with sport/cinema/Netflix but not kids channels, sky super fast fibre (it is) and sky talk(phone) for around £90 pm. Have to say Sky have always been reasonable to deal with and have resolved any issues quickly and effectively.

My experiences of dealing with BT, particularly after my Father died (he had broadband & phone with them) convince me that I'd rather have my bollocks boiled in oil than deal with them ever again.

Just added multi-room for £6 a month, equivalent to a can of beer a week, i will have to get through :rolleyes:
 


phoenix

Well-known member
May 18, 2009
2,605
Been with Sky for years and if you're patient with them they'll come round to your way of thinking.

We've got Sky Q with sport/cinema/Netflix but not kids channels, sky super fast fibre (it is) and sky talk(phone) for around £90 pm. Have to say Sky have always been reasonable to deal with and have resolved any issues quickly and effectively.

My experiences of dealing with BT, particularly after my Father died (he had broadband & phone with them) convince me that I'd rather have my bollocks boiled in oil than deal with them ever again.

Bt said we can give you call monitoring (blocking) for free when i spoke to them. I thought to good to refuse.What they didn't tell me was they were renewing my contract to do this so called free service, :wanker:

When it came to the next renewal I asked Bt what deals they could do, they said "we can renew your contract for only another £10 a month" after pointing out that sky would provide same service for just over half the price i got "well that's our price" wankers again .
 




doogie004

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2008
6,452
wisborough green
I've the full Sky package of movies, sport and every channel going that no body watches, plus a second box, also with all channels. Both have HD and box sets. Cost is £80 they wanted over £105.
Land line & internet with Talk Talk (£21 fast fibre). No BT sports.

Just got off phone and my sounds similar to yours I have every Channel sky do sports movies kids cinema etc (not Bt) including box sets
Phone line and internet with BT
My price £63 a month


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 


Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
23,944
GOSBTS
Anyone used City Fibre? They are currently digging up the roads of Worthing. If they are any good, could be useful in my next haggle with the TV companies.

CityFibre won't sell directly to consumer, but there are 2 companies that will have access for the first 12 months, then it will open up. One is Vodafone, the other is a Sussex based ISP.

I believe you can expect to see 1Gb fibre to the home for around £25-£35 a month, also does away with the requirement for a home phone line (£10-£12 per month with the usual suspects)
 


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