BT or not to BT?

[birdie1971]

Hi all. I've currently got a 0.5 meg broadband connection with BT. Because I'm a certain distance from the exchange, 0.5 meg is all I could get when I signed up about 2 years ago. Now however, after checking their website, it seems that my line can support 1.5 meg. I thought, "Great - my broadband can now be 3 times quicker!". I phoned them up, asked to be upgraded and was told that if I was upgraded to the 1.5 meg line I would have to accept another 12 month contract. I think this is unfair, seeing as I've been with them for 2 years at my current address and was with them for 3 years at my previous address. Can anyone recommend another reliable ISP because now, just on principal, I don't want to give BT any more money. Thanks

[Hard@it]

Birdie 1971 I've never understood how BT can say that they cannot give anyone maximum speed, as let's face it, it all goes down a wire. They keep talking about doing things in areas, which I am sure is a big con - for Gawds sake a wire is a wire.I am payin my whack for this and other people are paying the same and get better speeds, (AKA service). We are certainly being hard done by.

[fo3nix]

If you have cable tv or freeview, then consider getting a package from telewest if they're in your area (are they country-wide?). tv with basic channels (more than freeview though), phone thats free on evenings and weekends, and 2mb broadband for �30 a month. We've never once had a problem with their broadband. A brilliant service.

Another ADSL company if you want to keep your BT line and stuff: tiscali. some have lots of luck with them, some not. I've never had a problem with using them.

[lisaj]

Various ISPs don't have a minimum contract. ADSLguide (www.adslguide.org.uk) can point you in the right direction here, along with giving you comparisons i nterms of performance, cost, support, reliability, etc.

Generally speaking BT may be the telco, but since the dawn of UK Broadband they (BTBroadband) have been a second rate ISP. Others are cheaper, faster, more reliable and more flexible. I say jump ship.

[SteveSxx]

Try Nildram - they only need you to sign for 1 month and they are extremely reliable and not over expensive