Put this link in your favourites folder and you can have instant access into what is happening on broadband in the UK.
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/I used it a few months ago to have a look at the better suppliers, and ended up at Be Broadband, which at the time was the best. I now enjoy a four times speed improvement over my old supplier of Plusnet, and cheaper as well. The helplines are great, answered quickly and staffed by people who know what they are talking about, rather than reading from a crib sheet in some foreign dialect. Also they reply to query tickets very quickly, and by email, so you can reply back and reach the same person who is dealing with your problem. Plus, and a major bonus, they do listen to you, rather than sending you thru the check this, check that route every time. I have only had minor problems with my line, sometimes slowing down a little (by about 1 or 2 mb), but put a ticket in, and within a couple of days, I am up to full stable line speed again, then they contact me back to tell me what they are doing to cure the problem. One thing that is different with some of these suppliers is that you pay for what you want. I took the email option of an extra £2 a month, and that gives me 5 full email addresses, each with its own storage area. I also have a fixed IP address as standard.
So really, your ideal supplier can be found, you just have to do a little research beforehand, and don't be sucked in by the all in one 'lemming' offers from the big boys.
You cannot really go by other peoples recommendations, unless they live next door to you, there are just too many variables involved.
I don't want lemming Sky or other 'give it all' operators in my home, because I don't need them. So I pick and choose what I want, and get the best of what is available, not what someone is willing to give me for 'free'. Nothing is free in this world, you will be paying for it somehow, or the service is so bad, it isn't worth having in the first place.
You pay your money, and make your choice.
But don't scream and rant when the 'big cheap boys' can't give you a good service because they have too many people all complaining at the same time. The bigger they get, the worse it will become, and that is a proven fact.
When I phone my supplier, they ask for my name and postcode, not a customer number. Plus I don't have to have reams of paper in front of me to answer all their questions. Only a little thing, but it does makes me feel respected and wanted.
John
