Advice needed re: house move please

Moving from Scotland to Bristol. Currently with BT but at out of contract and want to move away from them if possible. Checked Sam Knows and new exchange will be Downend and should be able to get a cheap O2 package there. I can't run my new details through anywhere because I don't have a phone number yet just an address and postcode. I have heard that some have signed up with O2 and had problems and others have a brilliant service and wondered if it was geographical and how I could go about finding out before I commit myself to something.

Not very "worldly" in how this all works, but need to figure something out, I can't be without my broadband!

Thanks Karen

I believe that the problems people are reporting are with O2 Access product, which in non-LLU, standard broadband. The other products are LLU which most people seem to be very happy with.

As white43 says, the problems are on O2 Access not O2 LLU. (Individual faults excepted of course). Make sure when you get to the ordering process it offers you Standard, Premium and Pro.

There is a mapping engine on samknows as well. If you put in the postcode or road then click the house location on the map it gives a speed estimate based on the area.

That estimate may well be different from the one you get from the phone number, for a few days after the phone is installed, as the BT databases all ISPs and BT consult take a few days to be updated with the new address of the number rather than the previous address for it.

You are bound to be without for a few days unless you can arrange the phone installation and O2 order before moving. There is a system called Simultaneous Provide, requiring you to obtain a LORN (Linked order Number) and submit that with your broadband order so Openreach do both jobs at the same time. Unfortunately very few ISPs seem to know this and even if they do the system frequently fails even when the broadband is to be BT Wholesale based. I would ignore it. It would certainly mean you needed to order O2 broadband by phone and possibly miss out on £60 or £70 cashback - see next paragraph.

Take a few minutes to look through MKD's excellent O2/Be comparison document. Not to compare O2 with Be, as I am certain Be is not for you, but to see the pricing comparisons of the O2 packages and the current money-saving offers. All of which are safe and work!

Remember if using Quidco to clear cookies before going into it then clicking through to O2. Otherwise you may not get the cash-back as O2 may detect you have visited their site before.

O2 BB installation is usually 5-7 days from order, and the actual date is texted to you within hours of order. Before that you will be quoted up to 14 days I think, just so they cover themselves, as they have to order the connection of you to the O2 equipment from BT Openreach so the actual date is dependent on Openreach schedules.

Brilliant, thank you for taking the time to go through that for me.

Let us know how you get on .