LLUs

[Ann]

Not sure if it's okay to talk about other ISPs here but if not just delete my post..

These are my LLU options.. any comments about any of them people?

AOL LLU
O2 / Be LLU
Bulldog LLU
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
Pipex LLU
Tiscali LLU
Orange LLU (Formerly Wanadoo)

[bobleslie]

Talk Talk. Rubbish. End of. 

[Rik]

I would go with Be, Ann, Sky would be my second choice and I'd probably avoid the rest like the plague. (Or swine flu )

[dujas]

O2 or Be LLU would be the best choice in terms of quality of internet connection and customer service, with Sky LLU second; the rest I would avoid unless I was a light user.

O2 can be very cheap if you also have an O2 mobile phone contract, they put you on a 12 month contract. BEthere use the same network but operate as a separate company, they're slightly more expensive than 02 but they also allow the user to tweak their connection via a web portal.

Sky are 12 month contracts, ideally you would be using a Sky TV or a Sky Talk package to get the broadband cost discounted.

[Ann]

I thought Be too.  I'm looking at their website now.  Their thingy says I can only get speed of 3.5.. I'd judge that to be very poor.  But then if it was consistent it would be okay.  But of course you have to jump to test it. 

[Rik]

Message error.

You did have me wondering there.

[BrianM]

I can only say my experience with Orange and their LLU systam was terrible, ave. download speeds of 400 kbps. Weeks of phone calls, no satisfaction so came here and speeds of avg.3000 kbps immediately. A brother and my niece in Wales had same problems also with Orange.

[Rik]

I was once with Orange, Brian, but not LLU. Their CS was abysmal.

[dujas]

Orange were ranked last for customer service and reliability in Thinkbroadband's 2008 Broadband Customer Ratings

[Gary]

O2 or Be for LLU but be aware there DNS servers are a bit funky sometimes with slow lookups but i would only chose those two

[dujas]

An email account costs extra with Be and the management may also be turning into hippies

[Gary]

An email account costs extra with Be and the management may also be turning into hippies

Whats wrong with Hippies, believe me Be is better than O2 LLU, the customer service is good but a years contract is not fun with O2

[Simon]

The yearly contract is something which I would think twice about with any other ISP.  LLU does have advantages, but if some aspects of the service stink, you're stuck with it. 

[Ann]

I don't fit Be's profile of high earning 18-35 male but I am an aging hippy so maybe I'd fit in.

I don't need email so that's not a problem.  And a year is really nothing.  Presumably after the year is up you're not tied in for another year.  That would be different.  I'll have to check.

[Gary]

I don't fit Be's profile of high earning 18-35 male but I am an aging hippy so maybe I'd fit in.

I don't need email so that's not a problem.  And a year is really nothing.  Presumably after the year is up you're not tied in for another year.  That would be different.  I'll have to check.

Once the year is up with O2 you are free, Be used to to keep you in a three month contract then you are free

[zappaDPJ]

If I had to pick any of those I'd be forced to choose Be/O2 probably followed by Sky. Having said that I've had three months with Be and their support is pitiful, a typical overseas's call centre that has you sitting on the phone for hours without getting anywhere. While I was with them contention and high latency during peak hours was a major problem and something they wouldn't acknowledge for weeks. When they finally did, they indicated that a fix would not be implemented for months and I left.

I do know a few people that are happy with Be which is why I would recommend them over the others which in my view, apart from perhaps Sky, should not be trading.

[Sebby]

Be/O2 is a good choice, followed by Sky. Be is probably the one to go for, as you get more control than you do with O2 - you can set your own target margin for a start. Other than zappa I haven't really heard many complaints about Be.

[zappaDPJ]

The Internet hates me 

[Sebby]

[Rik]

The Internet hates me 

That's very unambitious of you, Zap, it's the whole world really.

[Sebby]

[Ann]

Thing that puts me off Be just a bit is that there are spelling mistakes on their website.  Makes them look amateurish.  Also they don't allow us to even read the forum never mind write to it which makes me wonder what they've got to hide.

[Sebby]

I know what you mean, Ann, but I know people on Be and they are happy. It's only a 3 month contract, and it can't be any worse than your current connection. Worth a punt, I'd say.

[zappaDPJ]

That's very unambitious of you, Zap, it's the whole world really.

I know someone loves me, they must do as they are always send me lots of letters... demanding money 

Thing that puts me off Be just a bit is that there are spelling mistakes on their website.  Makes them look amateurish.  Also they don't allow us to even read the forum never mind write to it which makes me wonder what they've got to hide.

I'd guess that their forum is tied to customer authentication because the minute you leave them for another ISP your access is removed. I can tell you they don't like any negative feedback there and I know of one user that was banned for leaving it. I also agree that their website and general brand imaging is rather poor, it always has been. I put it down to the designer taking too much LSD during the 60s 

I would still say though, out of the choices you have, they should be your first port of call, especially if they still do a three month contract.

[Rik]

I know someone loves me, they must do as they are always send me lots of letters... demanding money 

You must know the same people I do.