Home Phone Discussion

[Jimbo]

How come IDNet don't do discount for "us" Broadband customers who want to take out the phone also?

My parents called today, and were told the information was on the site.  When I've looked there is no discount, it is simpy a combined phone+broadband price.   Would of liked a bit of discount for loyalty.

For example.  My service = £24.99 /month - The phone, say the Unlimted Weekends & Evenings = £13.99 /month.  Total would be = £38.98

If you go to the combined section on the site, http://www.idnet.net/solutions/home/contract-month-broadbandphone.jsp it is still £38.98.  I would of liked it to be cheaper.  I know SKY for example do a cheaper deal if you get the phone, tv, broadband... and so forth.

I'm trying to save money basically.  And o2 at £7.50 is very very very tempting.

[Rik]

There is a discount of 99p/month on the line only, Jimbo, but that's the only one I'm aware of.

[Jimbo]

There is a discount of 99p/month on the line only, Jimbo, but that's the only one I'm aware of.

Hi mate.  Yeah I saw that bit... it's nothing special though like. 

[Rik]

The packages are still being refined, you may find something more to your liking in a few months when they've got a better idea of how the service is being used.

[Jimbo]

The packages are still being refined, you may find something more to your liking in a few months when they've got a better idea of how the service is being used.

Hopefully.   It still works out cheaper than my current phone provider + IDNet.  Would be even better with phone + broadband with IDNet with some discount. 

[Sebby]

How come IDNet don't do discount for "us" Broadband customers who want to take out the phone also?

I would guess because they have to pay BT, and would be selling at a loss otherwise.

[Simon]

Let's not forget, you're paying for a more personal service with IDNet, and they are in business to make money.  I'm sure we would all like everything to be cheaper, but cheap comes at a price, and I wouldn't want the standards of IDNet's service to slip, due to them having to make compromises to cut prices. 

[Jimbo]

Let's not forget, you're paying for a more personal service with IDNet, and they are in business to make money.  I'm sure we would all like everything to be cheaper, but cheap comes at a price, and I wouldn't want the standards of IDNet's service to slip, due to them having to make compromises to cut prices. 

No no me neither.

[davej99]

If you are at home during the day and make a good proportion of daytime calls, the absence of an Anytime package makes the IDNET offering unattractive for me.

I pay BT £16.45 per month for an Anytime package. You can call this the monthly contract rate. With the 3 free months for a 12 month contract this comes to £14.96 per month. You can say that is £10.50 rental with CLID plus £4.46 for all 01/2 numbers. I am sure I can improve on this elsewhere.

I think if IDNET were to offer a £14.99 Anytime monthly contract it would get some takers, especially with discounts for 12 month contracts.

As a general point though, I am reluctant to hand the line to a non-BT carrier or LLU provider. I favour line rental with BT, (to guarantee prefix routing and provide carrier backup), then Carrier Pre-Selection with the most competitive geographic call carrier and finally specialist carriers for mobile, international and non-geographic numbers using prefix dialing or a programmable dialer.

With voice, broadband and tv, I think pick and mix on price and quality is the best and safest way to go.

[Rik]

Also, the customer service element which we value with IDNet has a much smaller impact on phone services. I can't remember the last time I needed to report a voice fault, for example.

[Inactive]

If you are at home during the day and make a good proportion of daytime calls, the absence of an Anytime package makes the IDNET offering unattractive for me.

Same here.

[davej99]

Also, the customer service element which we value with IDNet has a much smaller impact on phone services. I can't remember the last time I needed to report a voice fault, for example.

The issue for me is not last mile faults but carrier network failure. I would trust IDNET to carry voice (at the right price - sorry), whereas there are many others I would not. I have had problems with a major CPS carrier and the family with a major LLU provider, both giving long outages. The difference is when my carrier failed I could route voice by prefix dialing back over BT and get mission critical internet access via dial-up in the same way.

Does anyone know how the IDNET voice offering works? Is it a CPS service over a private voice network or is it just handling BT rental collection and re-selling of BT's voice service?

[Rik]

It's a straight re-sale of a BT Wholesale product, Dave. The service is identical to that purchased from BT.

[davej99]

Thanks for that Rik. It sounds good. An Anytime offering might be attractive at the right price, ie lower than BT but perhaps not bargain basement and forget the quality.

[Rik]

For me to move, the tariffs definitely need to come down a bit. I'd like to give the business to IDNet, but the price just doesn't quite work out.

[Inactive]

A like for like match would probably sway me.

[Rik]

Agreed, In.

[mogden]

Well I've given it a punt and the transition this morning was smooth as silk. 

I went for the £10 a month option so at least I can SEE where my money is going! And since a lot of the calls we make are now to mobiles I reckon IDNet's prices will save me a little too!

Quick question (too trivial to bother the staff with): does anyone know how fast/often the call log updates in the customer login area?

[Rik]

Unfortunately, no, Matt.

[andyp]

I am very interested in getting phone and broadband combined as it will save me some money. Could I clarify a couple of things please regarding Idnet home phone.

1 I presume you come out of BT altogether
2 If you wanted to go back to BT would you be able without much trouble as I have heard BT can get funny with you and you end up with no phone at all.

[Rik]

Yes and I don't know, Andy. The underlying service is still provided by BT, you're just dealing with IDNet nor BT Retail. Effectively, it's only a billing change, so there shouldn't be any problems going back if you wanted to.

[Ann]

I'm thinking about going with IDNet for phone when my BT contract is up which I think is next month.. need to check that but of course it doesn't say on the 'my account' area of BT website which is a clever idea!  However what I need to know is does it cost anything to transfer over to IDNet from BT.  I can't see anything that says it does but I don't want to jump into this not knowing.

Also, the link given in the sticky thread by Tim entitled New Phone Services no longer goes anywhere.

[Simon]

I believe there is no charge to migrate your phone service to IDNet, Ann, except for the following:

Transfers from some LLU based phone providers may result in a £41.00 inc. vat conversion charge. In the unlikely event that your line is subject to this conversion charge we will contact you prior to transfer.

I'll go and check the link out, if I can find it. 

[Simon]

Tim's announcement thread updated - thanks, Ann. 

[Ann]

Thanks Simon.  I don't think there's a fee either.  My BT contract ends on 2 March and my IDNet annual bill is due 1 March so that's not bad timing.  I think I will change to Broadband and phone rental then and pay the annual fee which gives a discount and makes it comparable to BT.. just got to remember to do it now!