ZEN internet usage cap change

I noticed last week that Zen have changed their usage amounts. You can now get unlimited broadband [adsl] for cheaper than the price of Active tariff that had a 200GB cap.
Anyone on the older tariff can phone up and change over with the same monthly rolling contract.
Zen broadband

Worth a look if you are using the service

I wonder if those prices hold for those on Market 1 exchanges who have just been royally stuffed with eye watering price rises in the offing?

having just checked a site we have with a market 1 exchange the answer is no.

Surely the issue is those exchanges where the only wholesale service is 20CN (those on the old Zen 8000 packages), not the Ofcom categorisation of the exchange.

There's no such thing as Market 1 any more, to my understanding - we've now switched to Ofcom's new Market A and Market B designations.

That's what I meant

I just checked my number and it looks like we are going to continue getting stuffed or move to a different ISp who will probably do the same

In reply to a post by mugwumpx:

I just checked my number and it looks like we are going to continue getting stuffed or move to a different ISp who will probably do the same

Just checked my No on the Biggar (WSBIG) exchange and SamKnows said it is still Market 1
However, phoned Zen up and their checks say YES I can have the unlimited product

So order placed - A Win Win.

Having read through this topic I too rang Zen. I am on a market 1 exchange and yes I could still change over, unlimited download usage and approx £4 a month cheaper. No brainer as they say, all ordered. Thanks to the OP for putting this up!

Another mover here, was paying around £12 for the 'cheap' line rental and £25 Broadband. Now paying £5 less, should keep me a little happier whilst I wait for fibre.

Edited by kebabselector (Wed 20-May-15 14:03:15)

In reply to a post by Jax2:

Having read through this topic I too rang Zen. I am on a market 1 exchange and yes I could still change over, unlimited download usage and approx £4 a month cheaper. No brainer as they say, all ordered. Thanks to the OP for putting this up!

It might not be Zen's intention to allow 20CN customers onto the unlimited package, as it would be somewhat nonsensical(*) to put up the Zen 8000 prices then offer, at least to existing customers, a cheaper unlimited product over 20CN. That said, if Zen accept your Unlimited Broadband order over the phone and implement it, good luck to you!

This has shades of the introduction of the unlimited FTTC packages, where early in the product life a phone call to Zen sales would often allow a move to the unlimited packages even if you were in minimum contract period on a capped FTTC product. Later on, Zen started holding people to the minimum contract term on the capped product before they were allowed to switch, which appears to have been their original intention.

Anyone on a 20CN only exchange who wants to cut their costs would be well advised to call Zen sales and attempt to switch to Unlimited Broadband as soon as possible. If Zen don't intend offering Unlimited Broadband over 20CN, they will likely realise in due course and make this product switch impossible.


(*) - 'somewhat nonsensical' as it might be one of those hideous inertia-based marketing strategies, where those who ask for a cheaper price get it, whereas the majority who do nothing land up paying extra.

Thanks to an email from ConnectingCheshire today, they can do what they like with their ADSL prices and huge rises on their 8000 product now, I can now get fibre WooHoo!

Called Zen but they have cottoned onto this guys. Market 1 exchange and they say that they cant provide the unlimited service.

Ah well at least im only a month away from getting FTTC

I still believe that this has absolutely nothing to do with the (now obsolete) Market 1 designation. The distinction is between exchanges that only have BT Wholesale 20CN (ADSL Max), and exchanges where Zen can offer service using BT Wholesale 21CN or a Zen MSAN. It costs Zen more to provide service over 20CN than over 21CN or via a Zen MSAN.

You can be on a Market 1 (old designation) or Market A (current designation) exchange that has 21CN - in that case, you can have the newer Zen ADSL products including the new Unlimited Broadband. If appropriate, you can have ADSL2+.

If you are on a 20CN only exchange, Zen only offer the more expensive capped Zen 8000 packages, which have recently undergone a price rise. This only supports ADSL, not ADSL2 or ADSL2+.


It sounds like a few 20CN customers managed to get onto the new Unlimited Broadband, but it is not surprising that Zen sales have stopped allowing this.

I am sure you are right. I am now on the new unlimited contract and am also designated the old Market 1 on Samknows but my exchange is 21st century so presumably that is why there was no problem moving to the new contract.