Yeah John Lewis sounds reasonable and also would satisfy my middle class aspirations

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Zen hmm. Thanks will look them up. Think they were the bees knees a few years back.

They have stayed in the "relatively pricey, but recommended by many happy customers" category for all that time from what I've seen.

Another option in the "excellent but not cheap" slot is A&A (http://aaisp.net.uk/broadband-prices.html) which is worth considering if you do not use the Internet much during the working day. The minimum 2-unit account (£20/month) allows for 25Gb off-peak and 2-ana-bit peak (or 16Gb off-peak and 3-ana-bit peak, or 50 off-peak + 1-ana-bit peak, or any such mix), and if you have a quiet month you can carry what you don't use over to the next month (and the next, and so on until you do use it or you have too much "stored" (you can't carry more than 2 units extra to the next month if you are buying 2 units/month)). You can also carry backward (if you go over this month, go careful next month to redress the difference and there will be no extra charges). If your exchange is on 21CN peak time use is cheaper so you'll get more per unit, and in ether case (20CN or 21CN) there is the cheap slot between 0200 and 0600 so if you can schedule any large downloads in that time you'll have more bandwidth to use at other times.

They offer some technical extra over Zen (extra IPv4 addresses free if you have use for them (I have a /29 range for instance), and their entire network is IPv6 ready so you can use that natively instead of needing a 3rd party tunnel/brideg), though it doesn't sound like you need them.

Of course if you use much bandwidth in the normal working day (9-18/M-F) it works out much more expensive, and some people find the unit based charges confusing rather than flexible, but I suggest you give them a look if you are already considering less cheap-and-cheerful options like Zen.

Thanks to everyone for your help. Looking forward to a change.

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

I can only speak from my own experience, but I used to be with Pipex which ended up with Talk Talk - I moved to Zen last November and am extremely happy with them.
I work at home too and a reliable connection is essential - not had any problems so far with that.
I did have a couple of problems with my own router and socket/wiring that I hadn't previously been aware of, but Zen Technical dept & customer Services helped sort that out very efficiently. (All UK based)

I'm on the Lite package which costs £18.37 for up to 20GB (topping up with extra is reasonably priced if needed). They do send an email if close to using your monthly allowance.

We still have our BT line, and we also use Zen's phone call service - works out cheaper than BT for us.

that's the best deal you will ever get

I have been having a mooch around and there seems to be a pretty universal price threshold of around £18pm inc vat for what I want. John Lewis insist on having the phone as well which puts me off. On this basis Zen look competitive so I take it back. Thanks for your advice on this, I will check out the other suggestions too.

Guardian Money had a letter from a similarly disgruntled customer. They seem to think it is a policy move as TT say 85% of customers unaffected. Surprised if 85% of TT customers are llu but what do I know. Guardian advice was to move. I requested MAC yesterday and there was no attempt at persuasion.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/5243-talktalk-gai...

Their LLU covers 91% of UK households, so why the surprise?

Tiscali was well known for promotional deals and retentions, so seeing some people getting big price rises is no suprise, when TalkTalk decide to stop honouring an agreement that is not binding anymore.

if I recall Tiscali did not price variation for being off or on their LLU network. The price changes from BT Wholesale in market 1 and economics of LLU mean TalkTalk wants to surcharge those offnet customers.

Thanks. Hope the practice doesnt catch on then! Still many suppliers apparently willing to supply at £18 pcm or thereabouts. £25 seems a firm shove. Still, I am happy to be pushed.

OK, have now completed what for me counts as exhaustive research. Zen or Vivaciti, I'll let the wife decide as then it won't be my fault. Thanks again for the help: appreciated.