plusnet run a priority system however where proven this past week they can change traffic to different classifications on a whim and they had to squeeze ios traffic right down to preserve other traffic, even when they did that I see complaints on their forums of various performance issues from those nights and have had pm's on here from unhappy plusnet people as well.

Money isnt the only thing that matters for some of us.

The thing holding me back of zen at the moment is the 12 month contract, zen seem to think this isnt a long term contract, to me it is. It seems the FTTC market has made people all too accepting of anti competitive contract lengths, If I had a way to join zen and then leave quickly if there was something I didnt like I would have already signed up. I am also wary of their t&c's regarding faults where they make it clear they will just enforce openreach charges without much of a dispute against openreach. What I am considering at the moment is signing up a 2nd FTTC line to zen.

Edited by Chrysalis (Sat 21-Sep-13 17:41:58)

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

plusnet run a priority system however where proven this past week they can change traffic to different classifications on a whim and they had to squeeze ios traffic right down to preserve other traffic, even when they did that I see complaints on their forums of various performance issues from those nights and have had pm's on here from unhappy plusnet people as well.

I dislike this prioritisation - everyone is essentially paying a similar level, why should an iOS 7 update be slowed down for customer A, because customer B wants to watch iPlayer? I'd prefer all customers to be slowed down by the same amount. (I believe this is how other ISPs operate).

Money isnt the only thing that matters for some of us.

Yep.

The thing holding me back of zen at the moment is the 12 month contract, zen seem to think this isnt a long term contract, to me it is. It seems the FTTC market has made people all too accepting of anti competitive contract lengths, If I had a way to join zen and then leave quickly if there was something I didnt like I would have already signed up. I am also wary of their t&c's regarding faults where they make it clear they will just enforce openreach charges without much of a dispute against openreach. What I am considering at the moment is signing up a 2nd FTTC line to zen.

I think Openreach enforce a minimum 12 month contract on all FTTC connections - I'm happy its not 18 month like BT.

Very tempted by Zen when my 18months is up - even without IPv6.

I haven't experienced vdsl on my line either from Zen or Plusnet so the only thing that I can use as a comparison is price. What stuck me was the increased price of line rental if one took the FTTC service, I currently pay £11.22 (+ 90p for caller display) for line rental on a 30 day minimum term with Zen. If and when FTTC self install becomes available on my line (perhaps summer 2014) then I would be unwilling to accept an increase in the line rental charge, plus the fact that it would be packaged along with the broadband on a 12 month minimum term.

Actually I don't think it's unreasonable for an ISP to put FTTC on a 12 month minimum term but I do think that Zen could have offered BB only without the need for Zen line rental at an increased price and no longer on a 30 day minimum term in their recently announced deals.

Edited by 4M2 (Sat 21-Sep-13 18:12:55)

In reply to a post by jchamier:

I think Openreach enforce a minimum 12 month contract on all FTTC connections - I'm happy its not 18 month like BT.

12 months is the minimum rental period imposed by BT Openreach on the initial contact for an FTTC connection, and, I believe, on migration of an existing FTTC connection to a new ISP.

In reply to a post by 4M2:

Actually I don't think it's unreasonable for an ISP to put FTTC on a 12 month minimum term but I do think that Zen could have offered BB only without the need for Zen line rental at an increased price and no longer on a 30 day minimum term in their recently announced deals.

I was able to take Unlimited Fibre 2 as a standalone broadband product at £29.50 per month (£35.40 including VAT) with a 12 month minimum period by talking to Zen sales, though I'm am existing Zen FTTC customer. What is not yet clear is whether Zen will offer the same deal to those who aren't existing Zen FTTC customers.

yeah it might be worth waiting a short time as I think theopenreach 12 month thing is on limited time.

In reply to a post by Chrysalis:

yeah it might be worth waiting a short time as I think theopenreach 12 month thing is on limited time.

Hopefully - I'm still stuck in contract with BT Infinity until next year anyhow.

For new connections not expecting the 12 months to drop, only the 12 month new term on migrations

I will migrate instead of new line if thats the case.

Edited by Chrysalis (Sun 22-Sep-13 13:16:15)

Does that mean in the future a migration from one FTTC provider to another FTTC provider will not require a 12 month minimum term with the new provider but a new FTTC provision will continue to have a 12 month minimum term?