VMN to TT, is it a rip off

Just had an email from TT about taking over my Virgin Media National account. They want £18.50 for the broadband and anytime calls, TalkTalk Plus broadband and phone package. Now, when I go online, the broadband costs £3.50 and the anytime calls cost £7.50 for a total of £11.00. Where is the othe £7.50 going ?.

They are strangely offering the Plus TV and Broadband account for £9.25 a month for 12 months then £18.50 after this. But in the offer above I do not get anything other than the calls and broadband.

All very confusing. I suppose I will have to ring them up }:^{ and see what they say.

I think it all boils down to whether I want to start another 18 months contract with TT or go for a 12 month one elsewhere.

DougieL

In reply to a post by dougieonline:

Now, when I go online, the broadband costs £3.50 and the anytime calls cost £7.50 for a total of £11.00. Where is the othe £7.50 going ?.

You need to add in £16.70 line rental. So unlimited broadband + anytime calls + line rental = £27.70 per month.

Actually, I see you excluded line rental in both prices.

The £18.50 price includes TalkTalk TV with a Youview+ box. The £11 price does not include TV.

Edited by Oliver341 (Sun 29-Mar-15 14:00:19)

The contract is the key, i.e. best offers only come to those who are willing to be in contract. The take over of the national account should not have meant an extended contract.

Oliver, the total they are asking me to pay is £35.20p. And thats without the TV, just broadbaand and anytime calls.

Or I can choose the Plus TV, broadband and anytime calls for the same sum after the half price offer ends. So I would save £9.25p for 12 months.

Its all a bit confusing to me. Why not just offer the base service and then push me towards the more expensive ones. At the moment Im looking at the first offer as a put of.

DougieL

Yeah, it would appear that going for a TalkTalk product on the website will work out better for you than taking their transition offer. If you don't want TV, you can simply order SimplyBroadband with anytime calls added on.

Edited by Oliver341 (Sun 29-Mar-15 22:11:24)

Has your exchange a TalkTalk LLU box? If not I would not transfer at all.
TT are hoping customers will transfer like lemmings without looking at options, it seems.

Yes, local exchange is TT LLU enabled. I am getting slightly faster speeds since I was put onto the TT network.

The other thing that annoys me is the line charge. At least BT give free weekend calls with the line rental but TT dont. It has to be payed for extra.

Now looking at Fuel broadband and phone. Even they give free weekend calls and they seem to use TT as their network ?.

DougieL

If you willing to join a new provider with a new contract then why not just contact plusnet and get the previously mentioned Simply Broadband and an Unlimited calls add on..

Also I wouldn't recommend Fuel Broadband or Primus in its past life, But then TalkTalk isn't great either so probably going to end up shooting yourself in the foot either way.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Also I wouldn't recommend Fuel Broadband or Primus in its past life, But then TalkTalk isn't great either so probably going to end up shooting yourself in the foot either way.

TalkTalk has been fine for me, and presumably the majority of the 4.2 million other customers.

Edited by Oliver341 (Mon 30-Mar-15 12:43:27)

Plusnet is a no go here. Nearly as expensive as BT but without the BT Sport. A pity Ofcom will not allow BT to compete on a level playing field.

I have several friends who say they have no problems with TT. No need for absolute speed or low ping times just need a good solid connection.

Ill have to try and get some spare time and ring them to try and clarify what is on offer and what is not.

DougieL

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

TalkTalk has been fine for me, and presumably the majority of the 4.2 million other customers.

Glad to hear

In reply to a post by dougieonline:

I have several friends who say they have no problems with TT. No need for absolute speed or low ping times just need a good solid connection.

Everyone has their own individual requirements, obviously yours are not as high as others.

My apologies for not taking that into account

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

In reply to a post by dougieonline:

I have several friends who say they have no problems with TT. No need for absolute speed or low ping times just need a good solid connection.

Everyone has their own individual requirements, obviously yours are not as high as others.

My apologies for not taking that into account

Seems there are more Plusnet disgruntled users than TT here at the moment. Could be linked to the number of new users without the capacity being in place.

Edited by flippery (Mon 30-Mar-15 13:47:55)

As you seem happy with TT broadband. As you say, see what they can offer you.
Essentials does offer Free weekends/ evenings plus youview box. Which can be sold after a year

In reply to a post by flippery:

Seems there are more Plusnet disgruntled users than TT here at the moment. Could be linked to the number of new users without the capacity being in place.

I can't disagree with you their!

Their gateways are somewhat annoying me currently!

Well, that did not bode well for the future.

Tried to contact TT with the number they gave me in the welcome email. It then asked me for my TalkTalk phone number. Doh, I dont have one. Im still with Virgin Media untill the end of the month. So it did not recognise the number !.

Then it asked me to press 1 or 2. Tried both and got through to VIRGIN MEDIA not TalkTalk.

Now Im realy confused and thinking of asking Virgin Media to put a cease service on my line.

DougieL

Can't you just place an order with TalkTalk via their website?

P.S. do not place a cease.

Edited by Oliver341 (Mon 30-Mar-15 14:42:39)

Managed to get through to a human on the third try. Discussed the price and package offered. As thought there was a discrepancy on the price. As I was going onto a new contract anyway an order was put in for Simply Broadband, Anytime Calls and line rental at £27.70p. I got the half price broadband for 12 months and may get something off the Anytime calls.

I was supposed to get a letter from Virgin and TalkTalk explaing what was happening and what was on offer. Never had either !.

What should have been easy if they had offered the packages as per the web site became a bit of a maze. Hopefully, all sorted out now.

DougieL

Not yet 24 hours since I agreed to start a new account with TT. I have already had two emails asking me to set a password for MyAccount. First one just has a link to the login page which I have no passwsord for.

Second one spells my name wrong which realy anoys me. It wants me to input card or bank details to be recognised. On the TT web pages it specifically states they will never ask for these details. So this must be a phishing email or are TT telling porkies.

I think I may be ringing on Wednesday for an explanation and depending on that may cancel.

DougieL

Hmm, and that above clarify's why I wouldn't recommend TalkTalk to anyone....

Even signing up can be troublesome

Signing up directly on the TT website has no such issues. In this case it's a takeover and is bound to be more messy. IMO the OP should have just signed up directly on the TT website and not rung anyone up.

The OP shouldn't have to sign up the website to get the order right...

TalkTalk should be giving the same quality over the phone... the transfer shouldn't be so messy and also I've heard a few horror stories regarding the Online signup process too

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

The OP shouldn't have to sign up the website to get the order right...

I agree ideally all takeovers would go smoothly, but they often have issues, as there were in the Sky takeover of O2 Broadband. Would you not recommend Sky for the same reason?

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

TalkTalk should be giving the same quality over the phone... the transfer shouldn't be so messy and also I've heard a few horror stories regarding the Online signup process too

There don't seem to be many such "horror stories" reported via this forum at least.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

There don't seem to be many such "horror stories" reported via this forum at least.

Their don't really seem to be many "known" TalkTalk residential users on here really and also TalkTalk broadband don't really mess up much, specially the ADSL as they set most customer at 9db SNR which minimises most issues straight away.

Most users of this forum are more advanced internet users to and require extra services like static IP's so use alternative providers who supply them.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Most users of this forum are more advanced internet users to and require extra services like static IP's so use alternative providers who supply them.

Or maybe the TalkTalk customers on this forum have less need to write endless posts about congestion, latency and gateway hopping.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Or maybe the TalkTalk customers on this forum have less need to write endless posts about congestion, latency and gateway hopping.

While I agree with your comments....

I did say that more advance users have higher requirements....These are passed on to the their providers infrastructure..

TalkTalk "may" have those issues too but they aren't picked up so easy as connections can't monitored so easy due to IP's changing very frequently

and like I said previously TalkTalk sets lines to a Super Stable state in most cases to prevent issues.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

I did say that more advance users have higher requirements....These are passed on to the their providers infrastructure..

Or as I say, their requirements are being met. I'd quite like to see a pie chart of visitors by ISP for this forum actually, might be interesting.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

TalkTalk "may" have those issues too but they aren't picked up so easy as connections can't monitored so easy due to IP's changing very frequently

Well, I use a ping monitor which can handle hostnames (unlike, unfortunately, the TBB one). If I saw issues with it, I'd certainly be on this forum moaning about it, but I honestly never have.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

and like I said previously TalkTalk sets lines to a Super Stable state in most cases to prevent issues.

And is easily switched to 6 dB by the "advance users" as you call them, as I did about a day after I joined without issue.

I'm glad you've got a good connection and find the service from TalkTalk satisfactory,

Just most new customers don't get the option to change their target SNR...

I don't see why your getting so defensive.. I simply pointed out that the customer service isn't great for new customers never mind existing customer at TalkTalk...

In a position I'm in and have been for the last 5+ years, which is helping the public with their broadband issues, queries and so on, I've dealt with many providers and their customer service departments in particular..

So I'm not just coming on here spouting rubbish about a company because I don't like them.. I do it from experience...

I would never comment on Virgin Nationals customer service and connection because I've never dealt with them.. However I would on Virgin Media because I've dealt with them though I tend not to anymore after my past issue of being a customer plagued by issues..

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

There don't seem to be many such "horror stories" reported via this forum at least.

Their don't really seem to be many "known" TalkTalk residential users on here really and also TalkTalk broadband don't really mess up much, specially the ADSL as they set most customer at 9db SNR which minimises most issues straight away.

Most users of this forum are more advanced internet users to and require extra services like static IP's so use alternative providers who supply them.

Talktalk residential do offer static ip addresses....you've just got to ask the OCEs very nicely on the TT forums. Likewise, a quick request on the TT forums to lower the default downstream SNR from 12db (not 9db) to 6db and bobs yer uncle. If you like faffing around with your modem/router you can even ask the OCEs to switch off DLM on your ADSL2+ line.

Edited by deleted (Tue 31-Mar-15 10:45:08)

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

Just most new customers don't get the option to change their target SNR...

Every customer has the option to do it if they want to.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

I don't see why your getting so defensive.. I simply pointed out that the customer service isn't great for new customers never mind existing customer at TalkTalk...

You had a point of view and I had a counter point of view, normal forum discussion. And as you said, this TalkTalk forum is a bit quiet, it's good to add some content to it.

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

In a position I'm in and have been for the last 5+ years, which is helping the public with their broadband issues, queries and so on, I've dealt with many providers and their customer service departments in particular..

I have never actually called TalkTalk support via the telephone, but the TalkTalk forum support is good, which I have used on various occasion to my satisfaction (including the aformentioned 6 dB alteration).

Edited by Oliver341 (Tue 31-Mar-15 10:50:42)

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

Talktalk residential do offer static ip addresses....you've just got to ask the OCEs very nicely on the TT forums.

A dynamic DNS hostname fits my need for now, but that's good to know.

OK.. Well I will apologise for my lack of information regarding the features available from TalkTalk, It is not really a provider I have ever had much advanced dealing with beyond getting faults fixed and other account issues.

However my point was their support and customer service and even sales seem pretty poor over the phone, I made this point and it seems no one can disagree..

Unfortunately as with most forum discussions it got a bit of topic and elevate further than required.

Well you said "Even signing up can be troublesome" and I pointed out that signing up via the website for me was unproblematic (I would never dream of signing up with an ISP via the phone), and it probably would have been unproblematic for the OP too.

If we're all agreed on that then good.