TV - Broadband - Phone - Arghhhhhhh

[Alan]

So many choices... Im lost.

Moving to Leicester in a week or two and I can pick from NTL (now virgin media) SKY and BT for my services. Anyone have experience with these new bundles the companies are throwing around?

• I need broadband (no cap - or high cap) but don't care on the speed or whether its cable or ADSL.
  
• Would love free evening and weekend phone calls to landlines
  
• Could really do with the pause/record TV onto PVR things that SKY and Virgin do but there not included in any packages.

But reading the sites im not sure I can get what i'm after so may have to go with separate companies - grrr

Im guessing id go with SKY and for £25/month I get the HD box which would work well with my new TV and give the SKY+ pause/record stuff built in, and can pick from two channel sets too. Then maybe go with BT who i think for £25 a month i can get broadband and free evening/weekend - still £50 a month is alot...... isnt it ?

 

[Dommers]

A lot of people have been saying that virgin media is bad.

 

[Kryten]

I'd be tempted to also suggest Sky - had a few folks here go for that all in one 40 quid package and are all very happy with it so far - however I'm personally a little grieved with Sky's malpractice regarding their TV stations.

NTL/Virgin do seem to have improved matters a little recently, they're offering an identically priced and featured scheme but more suitable if you're likely to be a high user of broadband (i.e. downloading lots) - Sky's packages are very restrictive (their FUP/TOS basically tells you off for doing anything other than visiting Sky's own site more than twice a day) - and NTL is apparently entirely limit free.

So for you, I'd suggest NTL/Virgin/Teleworst/Blueyonder/Whateverthefeckthey'recalledthistime.

Might want a few more opinions though first - more the merrier.

 

[Tallen]

NTL are useless, utterly useless. They once tried to prosecute me for non-payment for a connection I didn't want, never had, never even knew about and the connection didn't even physically exist.

Customer service? Tried for 3 months to talk to the right person on the phone only to be put on hold for infinity, cut off, directed to the wrong department and a few times sent to a line which just rang...and rang...and rang, wrote numerous letters, sent numerous emails and eventually drove to their offices which STILL didn't resolve the issue.

Bunch of muppets, avoid like the plague!

 

[Bullitt]

NTL are useless, utterly useless. They once tried to prosecute me for non-payment for a connection I didn't want, never had, never even knew about and the connection didn't even physically exist.

Customer service? Tried for 3 months to talk to the right person on the phone only to be put on hold for infinity, cut off, directed to the wrong department and a few times sent to a line which just rang...and rang...and rang, wrote numerous letters, sent numerous emails and eventually drove to their offices which STILL didn't resolve the issue.

Bunch of muppets, avoid like the plague!

My service from VIRGIN MEDIA has been nothing but spot on and working fine since i got it.

Although i symapthise with your view on customer services. Working alongside them was one of the most painful things i've done, they're mostly inbred morons but there are a few that know thier stuff.

 

[Trem]

NTL are great if you don't have to use their customer service.

It never goes off and you get the speed you are meant to get.

Although if its the same CS as Virgin then thats a bonus, always been impressed when dealing with Virgin Net.

 

[haarewin]

since i'm moving soon, i was also looking into this. we've been with telewest for as long as i remember.
the package broadband that they offer is only 2mb, and i'm on 4mb with telewest at the moment for the same price. hrm :S

 

[Skyler]

Virgin if your internet matters most.

Sky if you're obsessed with spending stupid money for lots of useless TV with more adverts than ITV.

 

[Anar]

Been with NTL for the passed 2 years and just had V+ (virgin media's version of sky+) and cant recommend them highly enough. I have phone, Broadband (2mb) and TV and have had no problems at all :worthy:

 

[Will]

Although i symapthise with your view on customer services. Working alongside them was one of the most painful things i've done, they're mostly inbred morons but there are a few that know thier stuff.

Hi, you're through to Will, how can I help?

(Actually, I don't deal with ex-NTL yet, but its only a matter of time)

 

[Gat_Decor]

I've just cancelled SKY having been with them since the year dot, for the '3 for' package from Virgin Media, as i'm with them for phone and t'internet (I may take up their mobile phone service later as it's cheaper than the package i have atm).

I've kept the 10Meg internet and have taken sky sports and movies for seemingly a cheaper overall price than previously from Sky and NTL.

I'll let you know after the 24th March when Virgin come and fit my cable TV box.

 

[Alan]

Been with NTL for the passed 2 years and just had V+ (virgin media's version of sky+) and cant recommend them highly enough. I have phone, Broadband (2mb) and TV and have had no problems at all :worthy:

So how much does that cost, I thought v+ was £15 a month ? Is it as good as sky+ where you can browse the TV guide and hit record to set the timer, and pause/rewind live tv.

 

[Gat_Decor]

I didn't take V+ but from what the 'sales guy' was saying at Virgin, it does all that Sky+ does and more i.e. watch one and record 2?

Anar will probably tell you a bit more.

oh and prices range from 4 for £40 or 3 for £30 etc.. then you can add whichever package you like e.g. sky sports/movies as i've done.

so i have phone, 10 meg internet and movies and sports for 69 quid

as opposed to £43.50 for Sky and £35.99 for NTL not including phone.

 

[Lazarus]

need to watch

Virgin and Sky are locked in discussion regarding a number of Sky Channels which Sky have hiked the price on.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_method=full&objectid=18669074&siteid=66633-name_page.html

if you go with the package from Virgin, you may lose access to these channels if they cannot come to an agreement

 

[Alan]

Still looks like SKY is cheaper at £25 (for two channel picks and sky+)

Then get my phone and broadband together from another supplier

 

[Gat_Decor]

All depends what you're looking for or what you've had before i guess.

 

[Alan]

All depends what you're looking for or what you've had before i guess.

Ok to get to the point

Must Have
- SkyOne and Toonami (Warnerbrothers/DC Comics channel roxxors)
- SKY+ or V+ so I can pause/rewind live TV and record easily
- Broadband, no/high download limits at least 1MB connection

Would Like
- Free evening and weekend calls
- HD set top box would be nice but whatever

 

[inactionman]

I'm probably about to cancel my cable. I don't really use it that much, and if they lose sky one there's no point really. They offer nothing in my area apart from digital cable (with a dog slow software upgraded box), and phone, as it's an old C&W area. Guess I'll survive with freeview and bittorrent!

 

[Bullitt]

need to watch

Virgin and Sky are locked in discussion regarding a number of Sky Channels which Sky have hiked the price on.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_method=full&objectid=18669074&siteid=66633-name_page.html

if you go with the package from Virgin, you may lose access to these channels if they cannot come to an agreement

It's pretty much set that Virgin Media will lose the basic Sky channels.
http://www.virginmedia.com/fairplay

Unfortunately it's a negative for both sides, Sky lose revenue from advertising and Virgin lose the channels...it's a simple case in point of Sky being very childish trying to monopolise the market.

 

[Lazarus]

had a read of that Bullit and had to laugh at this bit :

"So Sky have picked up their ball and gone home"



LOL

 

[Bodhi]

Ok to get to the point

Must Have
- SkyOne and Toonami (Warnerbrothers/DC Comics channel roxxors)
- SKY+ or V+ so I can pause/rewind live TV and record easily
- Broadband, no/high download limits at least 1MB connection

Would Like
- Free evening and weekend calls
- HD set top box would be nice but whatever

If you're going for a Sky/ADSL combo Vodafone @ Home might be worth looking into, 8Mb Unlimited ADSL, free anytime local and national calls and reduced rates to mobiles, all in for 24.99 if you've got a Vodafone contract.


(Please note I don't get commission for Vodafone @ Home, so this is a serious suggestion).

 

[DaGaffer]

My flat back home can´t have Sky or cable. *cries*

I´ve got the choice of Homechoice, which is shit, or a normal DSL connection and Freeview; woo...hooo... Anyone know if this BT Vision thing is any good, or more importantly will it be any good in five months´time when I get back?

 

[DaGaffer]

My flat back home can´t have Sky or cable. *cries*

I´ve got the choice of Homechoice, which is shit, or a normal DSL connection and Freeview; woo...hooo... Anyone know if this BT Vision thing is any good, or more importantly will it be any good in five months´time when I get back?

 

[Skyler]

Go go Branson, he wtfpwns.

 

[Ch3tan]

It's pretty much set that Virgin Media will lose the basic Sky channels.
http://www.virginmedia.com/fairplay

Unfortunately it's a negative for both sides, Sky lose revenue from advertising and Virgin lose the channels...it's a simple case in point of Sky being very childish trying to monopolise the market.

Which is why I may make the switch to Sky, annoying really, never had a problem with Telewest, but I suppose Virgin:Ntl is definetly not telewest. The V+ box is pointless for the price as they only have one HD channel at the moment.

 

[Guest]

i've gone for the all singing all dancing £85 a month package with virgin media, i dont trust sky broadband as far as i can throw it, never had a problem with my 10 meg ntl connection. Got the best Tv package (V+ with an extrea box for upstairs all sky sportos and movies) and the phone with free evening and weekend calls and a discouint for mobiler calls (currently 75% of my Bt bill is for mobiles) so im saving a lot.

i dont mind about the one HDTV channel at the moment theres bound to be a few more popping up in the spring.

 

[Will]

...and the phone with free evening and weekend calls and a discouint for mobiler calls (currently 75% of my Bt bill is for mobiles) so im saving a lot.

Its free daytime calls too with the VIP package.

 

[Skyler]

What do any of you on here want Sky One for?

You can get TV Episodes far ahead of what airs on Sky One at HD resolutions off teh interweb via your speedy Virgin Cable connection.

Even if you couldn't.. what Sky are doing is lame and giving them your money makes it more likely to happen in the future.

 

[Will]

Management turned down my suggestion of a free Simpsons DVD to replace Sky One.

 

[yaruar]

The V+ box is pointless for the price as they only have one HD channel at the moment.

It's a 3 tuner PVR with a bigger hdd than sky+ (which is two tuner) with built in HD for 75 quid (or free if you sweet talk them - in fact completely free for me as i got them to lower the price i was paying for a second box and my sub package..>) whereas i think the sky+ hd is 200 quid install

Personally i'll give a report when the v+ box is installed in exactly a weeks time