Sick of Madasafish - where should I go?

I'm just wondering if anyone on here could recommend particular providers? I've been with MAAF for about 18months but they're really annoying me. I keep getting emails saying I'm going over my usage limit which is surprising because I barely ever download anything!

It seems the best deals for what I'm after (8gb speed, 5g dowload limit, reliable and cheap) would be O2, talktalk or sky. Have TT improved at all or are they still terrible? and if anyone has sky or O2 can they let me know their opinions? Any other recommendations appreciated.

I can see MAAF being a pain in the rear-end to leave. am I best finding a new provider before ringing up for a MAC?

Thanks in advance to everyone!

Forgot to mention (if it's any use) I'm 950 metres from the exchange (Preston - 01772) and the LLU companies avalable are AOL, O2/Be, Bulldog, Talktalk, Sky and Tiscali, I'm not sure what LLU is all about but am I right thinking I should go for a LLU?

The only LLU worth considering is Sky/UK Online or Be/O2. If you have Sky TV and don't mind a 12 month contract or Sky insisting you use the router they supply then the 40GB Sky Mid package for

LLU just means they use less BT kit, i.e. saves some money which means they can offer you lower priced products and sometimes speeds that are not available from BT Wholesale currently.

Talk Talk LLU would also involve you handing over the voice calls and line rental for your line to them, so not always a good idea if the phoneline is not yours.

LLU, Local Loop Unbundling, is where ISPs can put their own internet connection equipment in the exchange to connect to your phone line. Instead of the "bundling together" of your BT phone line and BT internet equipment. (Most ISPs in the country actually come through the BT equipment).

Most of the LLU suppliers can then offer the faster ADSL2+ service, which will handle up to 24Mbps depending on your line length and quality. Some limit it to 20Mbps or 16Mbps, or lower for their cheaper packages.

Tiscali LLU is very poor. Talk Talk I think only offer 8Mbps and also have a bad reputation, though I have heard good reports. I don't know about AOL but bad vibes. Bulldog I think are Tiscali, not sure.

As sjr says Sky/UKOnline - for Sky you must have Sky TV, for UKOnline its similar but you don't need the TV. O2 own Be and use their equipment. Good deals if you have an O2 mobile, but Be itself is probably better if you haven't. But email is extra and ropey on Be. You could get ISP-independent email free from googlemail, or better from an email host such as Purple Cloud in my sig.

In reply to:

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if anyone has sky or O2 can they let me know their opinions?

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Myself and virtually all of my friends switched to Sky on LLU. Everything went very smoothly (i.e. free router arrived on time etc.) and we are all more than pleased ith Sky.

IDNET is a non-llu isp and an excellent choice for the discerning user. Check them out.

www.idnet.co.uk

IDNet Studio, The Spirella Building, Letchworth, Herts SG6 4ET. UK
T: 08000 267 237 | E: [email protected]