Tried to upgrade to Full Fibre - too expensive!

[CrimsonLiar]

So, it looks like my time with Vodafone will be coming to an end.  I couldn't upgrade automatically and so had to go through an advisor.  I can't believe how expensive the best offer Vodafone had for me was.  Result, well as BT is £16/month cheaper for a faster service I've gone with BT.  I guess once I've lost my "together" discount it's really on £13 more per month but that £156 per year!

So early next month my Vodafone account will close!

[Cynric]

@CrimsonLiar  At least you can get FTTP where you are. 😃  Hope the transfer goes smoothly and we don't see weeks/months of updates.

[Jayach]

Seriously is that even possible?

Can you divoulge actual prices?

[CrimsonLiar]

I've since looked at the Vodafone pricelist for Broadband, and it may be that poor staff training strikes again as I can't find anything in the current price list that relates to what I was quoted!

So for Full Fibre 500 I was quoted £58/month but it could be discounted to £46/month.  I've gone with BT Fibre 900 (700 Mbps guaranteed) the price being a personalised offer substantially lower than I could see on any comparison sites.

[Jayach]

When looking for a new contract, you can only go with what you are offered.

For Vodafone 500Mbps the current price is: 

 if on Openreach.

When I last renewed they gave me £2.00 discount on the new starter price, but with a bit of negotiation they threw in anytime calls. I was happy with that, but was aware the built in price rises would  make it less attractive over time. There is no FTTP here so I was limited to FTTC.

To be honest what convinced me to stay was seeing the problems that can occur in switching, (I'm on at least one more ISP forum) so better the devil you know.

[CrimsonLiar]

Yup, did my homework in advance, and went into the conversation willing to stay with Vodafone if the cost remained in the same ballpark as the other offers I'd found (there is a level of hassle associated with switching).  While I didn't expect BT to be the cheapest, neither did I expect the one offer - no negotiation or flexibility - from Vodafone to be the highest.  After 50 minutes of waiting to talk to an advisor, it really was "take it or leave it".

Still cant come anywhere close to beating the mobile plan I have with Vodafone though!

[Jayach]

As I have always considered BT way over priced, I was surprised at you finding BT has the cheapest deal, so I though I'd check what I would be offered. (bearing in mind, I only have FTTC available)

So, for the equivalent service to what I am on now they want £39.99, and it's a 2 year contract with built in price rises, same as Vodafone. 

Even with the recent price rise I'm paying £22.88, that's one hell of a difference.

Did BT's other brands EE and PlusNet not give better offers?

[CrimsonLiar]

I received the offer by snail-mail a couple of weeks back and it was considerably better than what's available if you hunt online.  What stopped me up to now is that it'll be very beneficial (prevents violent tantrums) if I'm home when the installation is made (conduit has been in place since the house was built, which may mean no drilling).  What has then prompted me to take it up when I have time off work booked, is that for all but the vulnerable (could validly make that claim), FTTP is going to be enforced here by the end of the year, so it has to be done sometime!  The history of internet provision on this housing estate has been long, complex, and even involved the developer taking legal action at one point.  We're actually one of the lucky ones, with many of our neighbours relying on getting their internet over the mobile phone network.

[CrimsonLiar]

Looks like, if I did mess up, it'll be that I'm one of the last people on BT to receive the old Smart Hub 2.  My SH2 is in the mail with the new SH3 potentially launching first week in May.  That said I'll be using my GT-AX6000 anyways!

[CrimsonLiar]

BT 900 Mbps set up, average download 934Mbps, average upload 103Mbps, latency to nearest speedtest server 10ms.  Took about 30 minutes.  IPv6 up and running.