Broadband Supplier

Has anyone any comments on the quality of adsl broadband from clara.
I used clara many years ago and was impressed with them. However pricing became uncompetitive.
Their pricing has now returned to a acceptable level. Coinciding with a reduction in line speed on existing Talktalk Business ( ex Nildram). So looking to change.

In reply to a post by flippery:

However pricing became uncompetitive.
...
Their pricing has now returned to an acceptable level.

Out of curiosity, what web pages were you looking at for the 'returned to an acceptable level' please?

Just that when the claranetsoho.co.uk site used to link to claranetgamers.co.uk there was an off-peak account with no usage limits at 16 or 17 quid a month, including 10 GB of 'daytime' traffic (Mon-Fri office hours, with no exclusions for Bank Holidays).

When I looked again recently (my exchange was due to get Fibre in September and my plan was to get a new phone line rented from PlusNet, then move my broadband to the PN phone line and at that time, switch from 'up to 20' ADSL 2+ with PN to PN Fibre, then on the current phone line, rented from Primus, get Clara.net's Gamer account running, so I'd have one fixed IP on fibre and a dynamic IP with Clara, with daytime traffic using the 250 GB allowance from PN and some night time traffic on each [with speed differences, clearly there'd be some advantages on PN, but with no monthly limit on traffic, Claranet would also be handy for evening internet-based TV viewing]) I found the 'budget' Gamer account missing and the current broadband prices are from about 22 to 26 pounds per month (plus VAT) and can hit 100 for top end Fibre speeds.

When i was considering options Claranet were and still are offering Unlimited Usage for £25 on 12 month contract. Which could be considered acceptable.
Did not move to Claranet as could not find any user experience and would not offer 1 month trial.
Instead moved to Eclipse on capped usage but with 1 month contract.

Thanks for getting back - yes, it's a shame that Clara got in late on ADSL (I was a USENET and e-mail user back around 2000 and remember frustration from many at slow progress towards offering ADSL and then high cost when it was launched.

I'm using PN and get 60 GB ('peak hours' from 0800-0000 limit, unlimited 0000-0800) for a bit over 10 quid (it's less because of the commission scheme they have, but around 12 quid for someone paying full price).

Have used Eclipse in the past (in fact they send me notice of fresh 0.00 invoices every month even now) and just found their quota a bit too low, last time I looked. However, happy to say when I did need tech support (about a routing problem on the east coast of the USA) everything was sorted within a couple of hours, so credit to the staff on that one!

Hi,

Thought you might find it reassuring to know there are various Claranet people around. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Best Regards

Martin

Martin Saunders
Product Director
Claranet UK

Thanks. Somehow your name rings a bell, but not sure if it is because of some other firm you may have worked for (Netlink, Metronet, or their parent), whether you've been with Clara since before I stopped using the mail+news account (Steve was regular in newsgroups) or whether it is old age.

Anyway, good to see there's someone keeping an eye on TBB.

A little digging around seems to hint that Martin is from the Easynet stables (pre-Sky; circa 1999).

Clara also seem to have picked up the old U-Net/Via net.works business as well.

How many original U-Net staff are left I wonder?

I find it funny that after 16 years I'm almost back with the ISP I started with. Kind of. Different name above the door, same IP address ranges

J

From the chat I had some months ago it seems that the Claranet SOHO people are based in Warrington... I can only assume that some were customer service/ support for VIA. Despite being in Warrington, presentation numbers mean you might see an 020 (London) dialling code when they phone a customer, just to confuse

Yeah I've noticed that ... sneaky, sneaky

The support staff seem friendly and willing to help (rather than script based), which is refreshing in this day and age.

Been with them for 2 months now and no complaints!

J