Expected disruption period

After years of solid service from Zen, I'm considering going with talktalk, who went live with LLU in my exchange this week. A part of me hates to do this ("if it ain't broke..."), but the "more for less" argument is hard to ignore at this point, especially being less than 500 metres from my exchange.

Since I turned up information on the 30 day trial, the only question is disruption: is there a period without service when going with LLU? How long would that be?

Any other things I should be aware of?

your probably looking at a 10 minute down time while the exchange engineer moves your cables onto talktalk's llu equipment.

I joined TalkTalk 10 days ago and downtime was hardly noticeable. One minute old router internet light went out. Reconnected with new router very soon afterwards. Incoming phone calls are disrupted rather longer - I think about 1-2 hours in our case. So far very pleased with TalkTalk with a doubling of upload speed and an increase in download speed.
Suggest joining the members forum http://www.talktalkmembers.com/forums/index.php. Very helpful if any problems occur and they adjusted my SNR within 5 minutes of a request to do so. Customer services do not have such a good reputation.

I've been with TT for a year now. Never had problems with phone or broadband. Always been a solid 8Mb. Speed has been very good, even during peak time. So as it's "free", I couldn't be happier.

Just got them to change my profile, and I'm now getting 15Mb (costs £4/mth for >8Mb speeds)

If you signup before June, you can still get international calls included FOC. After May that gets removed from new customers. So now is a good time to join, if you make international calls. 18 month contract though.

I have nothing to gain by recommending them. Not everyone has perfect results of course. Previously their reputation was poor, and I joined up not expecting great things, but the cost saving was important at the time. Have never regretted it though.

500m from the exchange should get you at least 20Mb. I'm at least 1500m away and get 15Mb

Thanks to all on this thread. I've definitely learned through the think broadband forums that the TTMembers forum is the place to go for any service. Fine with me.

I've signed up, and am waiting for my firm go-live date. I signed up for the speed boost straight out of the gate, and TT's conservative estimate is 18.1Mbps. Here's hoping...

TT really have you over a barrel with the 30 day trial, because to be eligible for it, you have to sign up to broadband, calls and line rental. (In other words, you have to agree to allow TT to totally unbundle your line for all services.)

If you leave within the 30 day period, there may not be a cancellation fee, but there will be a fee to get your line back to BT (around £140) unless you can try and get away with the return to donor.

If you haven't got the money to go back to BT for your line, you are then stuck for broadband as you can only get TT or AOL - so effectively the 30 day trial is useless unless you are fully prepared to stay with TT or pay the fee to get your line back to BT.

This is why TT state they can still supply some services if you decide to cancel broadband such as phone and line rental, because they know the likelihood of anyone moving when they learn the cost of moving the line back to BT is very slim indeed.

Then if you don't go back to BT, and you want Broadband, you can only go with TT or AOL (same difference) - you will not be able to go with any other ISP if you don't return your line to BT.

If TT did a 30 day trial on the broadband alone, without making customers unbundle their line for voice calls, then it would be worth trying the service, but as it stands at the moment, it could be a costly mistake if you have issues with their broadband.

Edited by deleted (Fri 01-May-09 04:48:23)

I don't know about how you get out of a TT contract early. But I get begging letters from BT every few months. They seem very happy to reconnect me, for free. Not that I'm interested.

Getting reconnected to BT Retail for line rental if you choose, should be cheaper currently, there are offers from Openreach that make it cheaper for BT Retail and other WLR providers.

TalkTalk may be missing on some revenue as there well be plenty who are happy with the calls packages, but want to remain with someone else for broadband, i.e. a WLR option even on exchanges where full LLU is available.

In reply to a post by Bruce:

I don't know about how you get out of a TT contract early. But I get begging letters from BT every few months. They seem very happy to reconnect me, for free. Not that I'm interested.

It costs £70 or what ever is left of your contract , which ever is smallest , to leave TalkTalk with in the first 18 months of your contract .