I haven't switched yet. I am currently with BT and have been for over 2 years. That generally means it is time for me to look around and BT phone+broadband is quite expensive these days. Not moving because BT are "bad" but because I think I can get better or cheaper (and probably both).

Plus.Net is interesting because I can get a static IP again and it is quite a bit cheaper than BT. The other benefit I see at present with moving to Plus.net would be their presence on this forum. If all is going wrong then generally one of their reps on here can get it sorted - that isn't the case with BT or Sky.

Also considering Zen - they are about the same price as BT but more of a "technical" ISP and provide static IP.

ISP before BT was Vivaciti - mainly because on ADSL it was a one month contract and I knew I would be getting FTTC at some point and so wanted flexibility. They were fine.

Years ago was with Plus.net and moved away because they became more "consumer" and I wanted something more technical (indeed it was Zen I moved to then).

Have also been with Sky (before LLU) - they were ok but they are very much mass market and have no real technical pedigree at all - prefer an ISP that I don't have to argue with over scripts (another reason for moving from BT). Don't like the LLU nature of Sky - still a little too difficult to switch - that will hopefully change later this year.

Ah I see, I'm not in an area that offers alot of options to begin with (LLU is not available here) and the exchange is far away. When I first got broadband 1 Megabit was the max I could get then over the years it went up to 2. If I could get the max adsl2 speed of around 20 megabits I wouldn't bother upgrading as I feel its more than enough for now.

I might be worried over nothing, but I don't want to go without Internet for 2 months again that was painful. The only way I could contact the ISP was through the use of a phone.

If you aren't on an LLU'd exchange then you may pay more for Plus.net than the normal advertised price (although technically people pay less on exchanges with LLU). So, if you were considering Plus.net you need to check their fees in your area as it may be higher than the standard listed price.

Thanks Ian72, I know I'm in market 2, I cant find anything regarding LLU pricing though I'll give them a ring.

Market 2 gets the headline advertised price at Plusnet. Only Market 1 is charged higher.

Thanks for the info RobertoS

In reply to a post by novastrike:

Thanks Ian72, I know I'm in market 2, I cant find anything regarding LLU pricing though I'll give them a ring.

The reason I mentioned LLU is that normally that is the trigger to go market 2/3. But as you confirm it is market 2 then as Roberto says, you will get the lower prices.

Plusnet is BT answer to TT and Sky.
Whllst we on Market 1 pick up the tab.

As has been said before PlusNet are the only (or one of very few) ISP that pass on the lower cost that BT wholesale charge within Market2/3 areas. That lower cost is driven by Ofcom rules that force BT to charge a certain level where there is no competition in order to encourage unbundling - where there has already been unbundling BT are allowed to set the prices themselves and they are lower.

So, blame Ofcom. Blame the unbundlers for not being interested in areas they consider uneconomical. But, why blame PlusNet when they are one of the few ISPs that pass on the reduced costs. They are not penalising Market 1, they are passing on the reduced costs of 2/3.

You will find the Plusnet Market 1 prices compare well with all other BT Wholesale based ISPs. Market 2 and 3 get a discount because of the lower cost to Plusnet, while the others pocket the extra profit.