New Packages from IDNet - Autumn 2014

[Gary]

On a side note, the RSS usage feeds have gone away.

Mine are still working

[colirv]

Mine aren't.

[Gary]

Mine aren't.

Mine is, its version v4 

[colirv]

Thank you. Now sorted.

[nowster]

Mine is, its version v4 

The current feed URL I have is:

http://www.idnet.net/secure/portal/rss_v3.jsp?username=XXXXXXX@idnet.gw6&key=XXXXXXXXXX

Changing it to v4 doesn't seem to work.

[Gary]

The current feed URL I have is:

http://www.idnet.net/secure/portal/rss_v3.jsp?username=XXXXXXX@idnet.gw6&key=XXXXXXXXXX

Changing it to v4 doesn't seem to work.

have you tried logging into your dashboard and adding the rss feed from there? Even though its says v4 there are some other URL changes as well, I have been using v4 RSS feed for months, its been out for ages.

[sparky]

Just had a read through all of this thread.

I'm on an old split use package for broadband and an equally old line rental package that includes after 6pm and weekend calls.

I see that option now seems to have gone altogether? It's either line rental only or a big jump up to include unlimited calls? or was this done a while back as well?  And £3 a month for caller id seems a tad OTT.

[Steve]

I think if your happy with what you've got I've not seen yet any deliberate attempts to force you to change.

[Simon]

Caller ID is included in the Standard line rental. It's only on the Basic option you have to pay the extra for it. 

[sparky]

Yeah, but the standard line rental is even more expensive. What £19.20 a month??

I'm thinking about it........

Line rental + Unlimited Calls + Caller id seems expensive, but changing my broadband package as well, would mean I wasn't restricted on my peak period download allowance and the reduced cost makes up for the increase in line rental.

So I suppose I would gain on more broadband allowance during the day and get unlimited calls, for £1 a month extra. Actually, that doesn't sound a bad option.

These things have a habit of all working out very similar. When I've looked at someone like PlusNet, if you add up the costs of line rental, caller id, a few international calls plus the broadband at NON offer rates (ie. after your first year) there actually isn't a great deal of difference, if you choose the packages that suit you.

[sparky]

What does this mean in the Basic Line Rental?


IDNet Broadband Compatible        Yes - surcharge applies

[davej99]

Concerning the £6 'surcharge,' is this before vat?

Thx, Dave

[sparky]

What does this mean in the Basic Line Rental?


IDNet Broadband Compatible        Yes - surcharge applies

That's what this looks like. That's an out right con!

Basic Line Rental with Unlimited Calls from idnet is £18.00 inc VAT.
Home Lite Package is £12.60.

But if you want both you pay £36.60   !!!!

Whose having a laugh. Looks like they are trying to get rid of any Basic Phone Package users.

From the original Post:-

Equally customers can opt to not take the Phone Line Rental option but then that incurs a £6 surcharge.

Looks like it does if you only take the Basic Phone Package as well.

[sparky]

No. It definitely says this on the combined packages list:-

The prices below include basic line rental and the specified call package

[nowster]

OK. Now it looks like it's better for my folks to stay on precisely the package they're on at the moment as it'll be cheaper than the new tariffs.

They're paying less currently than they would be for ADSL Lite + Basic Phone + £6 surcharge. Without the surcharge I'd have suggested they move to ADSL Pro as that would have only cost another couple of quid more per year.

[sparky]

Well, doesn't matter how I try, I can't get this page to add up.
http://www.idnet.net/data_products/broadband_phone.php

On one line it reads "The prices below include basic line rental"

Then further down it says "Standard line rental includes phone line with standard care and following features available free of charge on request: Caller Display, Call Waiting, Call Barring, Choose To Refuse and 3 Way Calling"

It looks to me like they have done something with the pricing structure, but the various web pages are giving conflicting messages especially about "basic" and "standard" line rental and this £6 surcharge. The way I added it up, there is only £1.20 difference between an Unlimited Call Plan with Standard Line Rental and the ADSL Lite package and an Unlimited Call Plan with Basic Line Rental and the ADSL Lite package because of the £6 surcharge ??  Doesn't make any sense to me.

[delbois]

OK. Now it looks like it's better for my folks to stay on precisely the package they're on at the moment as it'll be cheaper than the new tariffs.

They're paying less currently than they would be for ADSL Lite + Basic Phone + £6 surcharge. Without the surcharge I'd have suggested they move to ADSL Pro as that would have only cost another couple of quid more per year.

The 'problem' is that some of the legacy phone packages are stunning value.  Like you, any broadband upgrade would also involve moving to a current phone deal - for me this would mean a virtual doubling of the monthly phone cost alone from £13.09 (Anytime Lite) to £25.20 (Std Unlimited).  It is to IDNET's credit that they continue to honour the myriad of old phone packages but a few of us feel trapped by it! 

Edit: Having re-read the T&Cs I suppose I could retain the old Anytime Lite phone deal and simply pay the £6 surcharge which would be a more cost effective way to upgrade the BB package (?)

[Simon]

It's complex, and I don't pretend to have the definite answers, but when I spoke to IDNet yesterday, it was stated that they wouldn't be automatically moving people from the older phone packages, unless they asked to be moved.  This implies, to me anyway, that being on Anytime Lite constitutes having line rental with IDNet, so the £6 surcharge should not be applied, even if you switch your broadband package. 

I haven't got time right now to look at the details, but I strongly recommend that anyone concerned or confused about the cost of upgrading should phone or email IDNet, as they know more about this than anyone here.

[Simon]

One thing that is quite clearly started on the website is that IDNet 'Standard', 'Premium' or 'Business Premium' line rental is required to avoid the £6 surcharge, and that appears to apply to all broadband packages, ADSL2+ and Fibre,  but if they're not automatically moving people to the new phone packages, I would hope this to mean that customers with existing phone line packages won't be penalised, but that's just my interpretation of it.   

Dave, no idea if the £6 surcharge includes the VAT, sorry. 

[delbois]

One thing that is quite clearly started on the website is that IDNet 'Standard', 'Premium' or 'Business Premium' line rental is required to avoid the £6 surcharge, and that appears to apply to all broadband packages, ADSL2+ and Fibre,  but if they're not automatically moving people to the new phone packages, I would hope this to mean that customers with existing phone line packages won't be penalised, but that's just my interpretation of it.   

Dave, no idea if the £6 surcharge includes the VAT, sorry.

Many thanks Simon - your efforts are much appreciated.  I'll email Idnet with some questions and see what they say.

[Simon]

I've just phoned them again, and my interpretation was NOT correct.  Basically, anyone on the old phone packages, and on, say, Pro broadband WILL be paying the surcharge, but it would be against the now discounted broadband price, so they would essentially be paying what they paid before. 

[Steve]

So in other words you pay the same as before but get double the download allowance. If you change your phone package or it is changed from basic  to standard you still pay the same as before but you cannot have it £6 cheaper than anyone else.

[stevenrw]

The penny has just dropped. I am one of the fortunate ones that have a legacy phone deal  and I am on Fibre Lite.
I used to pay £247.50+vat annually and was expecting to pay £181.50+vat for the equivalent new fibre package.
But I'm still paying £247.50+vat for the year. This includes a free month so its 12 months for the price of 11. (Because I'm not on one of the new phone deals)
So the difference between the two is £66 which is 11months @ £6, which I'm assuming is this surcharge thingy.
So it looks like that will be £6+vat I'm afraid.

[sparky]

So in other words you pay the same as before but get double the download allowance

Not if your on the package I am. I cannot gain anything. I currently have 15gb peak and 65gb off peak. If I go to the new package, I can get 50gb total or step up to 200gb total. Cost wise I gain nothing. In fact I loose out, as I either have to pay another £6 surcharge or pay extra for my phone rental and call package.

So these new packages are worth nothing to me. Just worked it out and after the first year, I could get Unlimited ADSL and Unlimited phone calls with Caller ID  for £32 a month with P.Net.  Might now have to consider jumping ship.

[Simon]

So, basically, it's as post #1!