As jchamier says, it is a common misconception that going with BT (Retail) cuts out the middleman. It doesn't.

Their broadband service is provided using BT Wholesale "Wholesale Broadband Connect", as is all broadband except Sky and TalkTalk LLU and fibre, and of course VM Cable.

BT Wholesale in turn provide their service using Openreach lines from the exchange to you, though at this point there is a significant difference between ADSLx and FTTC.

OfCom regulations require "equivalence" of treatment by BT Wholesale of all ISPs. So BT Retail has to go through the same hoops as any other ISP. Similarly Openreach has to provide equivalence in their treatment of LLU ISPs and Sky/TalkTalk FTTC.

So it's a myth.To the extent that I believe BT Retail customers can sometimes get less helpful responses as the rules make some staff in the BT line bend over backwards to avoid any possible accusation of preference.

Re FTTC, see my explanation. If you give us your postcode we can probably tell you the cabinet number. I think three cabinets within 350 metres unlikely, but maybe so. Check the Street cabinets page on my site .

Always use your phone number in FTTC checkers. Postcode is almost useless, address better but not perfect.

Be* or Sky.

Thanks again for the advice. I will probably go with BT, and if we need to take advantage of FTTC in the future, it should be there.

it would be interesting to know where the cabinet is - its been bothering me for some time! Postcode is SE23 1PS. Interesting photos of cabinets on your website. Two of the cabinets I know are pretty modern - probably Fibre optic but the third looks pretty old.