TalkTalk vs Plusnet

Following on from this topic "FTTC 80/20 options" I would like some help deciding between TalkTalk (residential) and Plusnet FTTC 80/20. I'm keeping options open regarding budget and premium ISPs, but only one of these two can be on the shortlist.

In common (cons):

• Subpar customer service either due to lack of technical knowhow and following scripts or long waiting times
• No support for IPv6
• House move requires either ending the contract (termination fees) or agreeing on a new contract
• 18 month contract

Plusnet:

• Currently suffering with some network issues
• IPv6 trials have been held but no certainty on implementation
• Static IP possible

TalkTalk (residential):

• Network appears solid
• Includes SIM with 500mb data, unlimited texts and 200minutes
• Static IP not possible

Will Plusnet solve their network issues? Am I going to have problems trying to migrate to TalkTalk or away from them in the future? Any advice is appreciated!

If you would like to comment on, or recommend another ISP please could you do so in the other topic.

sky have recently lowered their 80/20 price and have native ipv6 working.
however they do not offer static ipv4 anymore like they used to.

sky have a very stable network in my opinion.

More cons for Plusnet

1. Cannot change Direct Debit date to suit, it will always be set to the day your first service starts (phone or broadband)
2. Anything goes wrong or changes in the order process, it is highly unlikely they will tell you. It will just fail and you will find out the hard way.
3. Yearly advance phone rental payments are not refundable for any unused part.
4. Plusnet webmail is either slow or total stop and has been for a long time. They class it as "free" and not mentioned in the T&C's, so show a massive disinterest in keeping it running.
5. Billing system is "ancient" and if you get problems, they have issues fixing them. Also very slow to refund (10 working days) for their mistakes, very quick to disconnect your internet if the Direct Debit fails (next day).
6. Never change banks as their billing system will, more than often not, not handle the changing source of the DD, so see item 5 as a disconnection will happen.

In reply to a post by wutr:

No support for IPv6.

Plusnet have notified their IPv6 triallists that the service will break in the near future due to the decision to retire their older gateways upon which the current IPv6 setup depends. In due course, I presume that they will come up with an IPv6 configuration for their newer gateways and will progress towards a live service, but you cannot expect IPv6 on Plusnet for the foreseeable future.

In reply to a post by georgelnx:

More cons for Plusnet
[...]

Thanks, that's really helpful info that Plusnet will (obviously) not tell you.

In reply to a post by David_W:

Plusnet have notified their IPv6 triallists that the service will break in the near future due to the decision to retire their older gateways upon which the current IPv6 setup depends. [...]but you cannot expect IPv6 on Plusnet for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for that, I didn't know that was the current state.

Why are Plusnet soooo bad?

I mean its not like they haven't got the clout to get things sorted.

You get what you pay for?

A cynic might suggest that BT Consumer (Retail) need there to be an ISP guaranteed to be worse that they are [chuckle].

I notice in another thread, that Plusnet no longer give help for the re-badged HomeHubs they supply. It does seem that BT are tightening their hold.

So who provides the help for these devices?

I think he's referring to this thread.

I expect they still tell people how to switch it on and off, and what to plug in where.

IIRC the new network doesn't need real username/password logins either.

In reply to a post by wutr:

Will Plusnet solve their network issues? Am I going to have problems trying to migrate to TalkTalk or away from them in the future? Any advice is appreciated!

Yes. Last time this happened it took about nine months for the last few complaints to stop. They never actually claimed it was fixed but said they had found a problem and were hopeful it was resolved.

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

sky have recently lowered their 80/20 price and have native ipv6 working.
however they do not offer static ipv4 anymore like they used to.

Grrr. A source of constant irritation to me. I've been a Sky TV customer for well over a decade but they've never been able to provide me with what I want.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

A cynic might suggest that BT Consumer (Retail) need there to be an ISP guaranteed to be worse that they are [chuckle].

If so they have done a stellar job! The connection was fine, never tried the CS.