Downgrading from FTTC/Fibre to ADSL

I switched from Sky ADSL (8-9Mbps) to BT Superfast Fibre at the end of May after being tempted by an offer I saw. I am only getting 23Mbps according to the Smart Hub, instead of the Guaranteed Minimum of 45Mbps. An engineer visited last week and found that most of the connection from the box to the property is aluminium. BT have agreed I can leave my contract, but that just seems to be start of my problems rather than the end. I believe it should be possible to switch back from Fibre / FTTC to ADSL, but the only posts I�ve found via Google are from a few years ago. I would appreciate any help, suggestions or advice on where to go from here.

If I put my postcode into any comparison site and choose ADSL, BT, Sky, Plusnet and NowTV are among the options available. However when I go to the provider�s website and enter my details, only fibre options show as available due to the existing line now being fibre.

Even before I switched to fibre, I tried to get a Plusnet offer that often pops up. Despite being available to �99% of the population�, it was not available for my postcode, despite living in a large town and not a rural area. Neither Plusnet nor the comparison site could explain why.

I would like to take advantage of cashback from TCB or Quidco, but can�t do that if I have to phone the provider. The discounted rate I had with Sky wasn�t brilliant, but it may have been better than anything I seem to be able to get now.

Sky, Talk Talk and Vodafone LLU are available at my exchange.

I am envisaging problems trying to persuade a new provider to switch me back from fibre to ADSL. I don�t want to be stuck in an expensive ADSL contract with BT if they switch me back.

I would appreciate any help as I feel as if I am going round in circles.

If BT switch you down to ADSL2+ the price should drop to what that service is, then once out of contracting migrating to another ADSL2+ provider is simple enough


The online order systems might favour you staying on VDSL2, but if you phone up ISPs should be able to take the order.

NOTE: Consider leaving BT FTTC and someone like TalkTalk or Sky - there FTTC service is pretty much the same price or cheaper than BT Superfast, and a migration from BT to TalkTalk

Vodafone don't sell ADSL2+ now at all.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

If BT switch you down to ADSL2+ the price should drop to what that service is, then once out of contracting migrating to another ADSL2+ provider is simple enough


The online order systems might favour you staying on VDSL2, but if you phone up ISPs should be able to take the order.

NOTE: Consider leaving BT FTTC and someone like TalkTalk or Sky - there FTTC service is pretty much the same price or cheaper than BT Superfast, and a migration from BT to TalkTalk

Vodafone don't sell ADSL2+ now at all.

Thanks for the reply.

I really don't want to remain in contract for the next 17 months paying BT's current rate of £30/month just for ADSL. As I am able to end the existing contract under the new Ofcom regs I think that is the better option.

I did wonder if I could switch back to ADSL by calling other ISPs, but then I would miss out on online only offers. It's bad enough having to accept slow speeds, but a double blow having to also pay full price for it and not to be able to take advantage of cashback and offers available to others.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see any advantage in migrating to FTTC with another ISP. The small increase in speed doesn't justify the additional cost.

ADSL from say TalkTalk costs £20, FTTC from them costs £24, myself I would be happy to pay £4 extra for 2 to 3 times the speed.

You need to find the ADSL package e.g. TalkTalks, https://www.talktalk.co.uk/shop/broadband

Enter your phone number when you place the order not the post code.

I have done a fibre to ADSL order and did not experience only fibre being displayed. It will often show fibre as the first option as it's the fastest, but there is almost always the option to pick the ADSL package if you select it initially at checkout.

Post office do adsl for £15.90, and you can get a £50 amazon voucher via broadband genie (or something similar sounding - it�s on Moneysavingexpert). This is similar to paying £11.74 if you can use Amazon to get something you were going to buy anyway (I buy vodka when found needing to use amazon credit up as it�s same price as the supermarkets).

Not recommending them as heard some horror story�s in the past - but I was going to take a punt for a second line.

In reply to a post by burble:

ADSL from say TalkTalk costs £20, FTTC from them costs £24, myself I would be happy to pay £4 extra for 2 to 3 times the speed.

Thanks.

I have been put off Talk Talk by reports of poor customer service in surveys.

I agree that it would be worth a small extra cost for greater speeds and that is what persuaded me to switch in the first place. However I haven't noticed any benefit with the increased speed so I may as well be on ADSL, especially when there are cashback and other offers that make the net cost of ADSL £11 or less.

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

You need to find the ADSL package e.g. TalkTalks, https://www.talktalk.co.uk/shop/broadband

Enter your phone number when you place the order not the post code.

I have done a fibre to ADSL order and did not experience only fibre being displayed. It will often show fibre as the first option as it's the fastest, but there is almost always the option to pick the ADSL package if you select it initially at checkout.

I followed your link and had to enter both the postcode and phone number before it would show the packages available. I selected ADSL / Broadband route only, yet the results page said

TalkTalk For Everyone
Important Information:
You�re better off on Faster Fibre. We can see that our standard broadband won�t be up to scratch at your home. You�ll be better off on Faster Fibre, which will let us give you a much faster and much more reliable connection.

and it only offered Faster Fibre or Faster Fibre Speed Boost, no Fast Broadband / ADSL option. And that is despite me entering the following criteria

Recommendation based on:

1-2 Devices
Browsing & Social Media
Edit selections

I cannot understand why TT think that needs fibre.

Unfortunately it is not my experience that ADSL is further down the results. Eg even when choosing ADSL Only at the beginning with Plusnet, it only shows fibre options after I enter my postcode and phone number with the ADSL option greyed out and Not Available.

In reply to a post by gary333:

Post office do adsl for £15.90, and you can get a £50 amazon voucher via broadband genie (or something similar sounding - it�s on Moneysavingexpert). This is similar to paying £11.74 if you can use Amazon to get something you were going to buy anyway (I buy vodka when found needing to use amazon credit up as it�s same price as the supermarkets).

Not recommending them as heard some horror story�s in the past - but I was going to take a punt for a second line.

Thanks.

I have just managed to complete the Availability Checker after yet another dropped connection. For the first time, the results were actually for ADSL. However like you, I haven't read good things about PO BB.

I tried Talk Talk again for the third time with the PO working, but unfortunately the results were the same as before.

What speed are you estimated here?
https://my.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/adsl.htm?s_...

I suspect the speed estimated is very low hence it�s greying out.