We’re doing the quandary thing at the moment, pondering the massively significant question as to whether or not we should swap our phone and broadband from British Telecom to Virgin Media. Not the TV, you understand. We’re perfectly happy with our FreeSat TV service, not least because it’s FREE!
No, it’s the broadband operating speed question. BT struggles to give us 2mbs and sometimes ‘caps’ that to 0.5mbs. BT has no plan to upgrade the service in the foreseeable future, and neither speed is sufficient to power high definition video. More and more, my use of the Internet is as an access to interactive multi-media. Running under the pavement outside the house is the Virgin optical cable offering up to 50mbps and, if you take the premium level of service, no capping of the speed or limits on downloads.
Virgin also offer a phone-line as an optional extra to the package and cost is comparable.
Does this sound like a no-brainer to you? Well, of course, it is. Except for the embarrassing fact that BT, as my last employer, pays my pension and, dear, sweet, old-fashioned chap that I am, I feel considerable loyalty to the company, and much reluctance to desert them as my telecommunications provider of choice.
So, during this past 48 hours of capped service–I watched one too many time-shifted TV programmes on my computer the other day–we’ve been weighing pros and cons and any passing squirrel, hoping to come to a decision. Graham, bless him, completely understands my loyalty issues and says he’ll go along with my decision.
I’ve done my best to get advice from BT but all my old contacts are grazing their own pension plans and cannot help. I tried asking BT the institution but the instant I mentioned ‘broadband’ I got referred to a lovely lady in India who simply didn’t understand my problem. Which was fine because I could barely understand her English through a very heavy Mumbai accent.
What to do?
I am firmly of the belief that a commercial enterprise that fails to provide proper levels of service and to upgrade them as technology advances deserves to fail. BT is a big, profitable company and won’t miss my pensioner’s mite. Or notice me at all, I suspect.
So, really, it’s a question with only one answer and a problem with only one solution.
I hate it when the modern world ups and slaps me in the face, forcing me to pay attention, and challenges my long-held belief systems. Mostly I smile bravely and turn the other cheek, just as I’m supposed to do. This one, though, requires not only the other cheek but a good slice of my nose, too.
Oh, to hell with it. It’s not like I can’t change my mind at some future date and revert to BT. I shall go and tell Graham that I’ve decided we should drop BT and go with Virgin. I don’t think he’ll argue.
John, as is so often the case, the company from which you retired and the one which exists at the present day are two very different organizations. I’d think the greater concern would be whether a non-competitive company will continue to pay the pension it promised.
Well, Wendy said exactly what I was going to say….
Yep, Wendy put it right.
Add my voice to the consensus, please. Not one, but two excellent points, Wendy. And, John, you *know* Wendy is always right. (smile)
Good idea. Your gonna love it.
I have little fear on the security of the pension, friends. It’s administered by the company, with pretty solid guarantees and, guaranteed beyond that by the UK govt. If all that lot go broke we’ll have more than just my pension to worry about!
I have been, and am in, the same situation. My former employer was ATT.
They offered me a great deal (as a pensioner) for phone service, (which I took) but I finally decided to go with a competitor for BB. Loyalty is fine, but actually they expect you to find the best solution for yourself. When it becomes important for them to keep your business, they will compete. The only way for that to happen is to switch now. If there are any feelings to be hurt, they left the companies a long time ago and are probably working for Virgin, or wherever.
I have had Virgin Media broadband (the 10 Mbps option) ever since it was ntl cable, and I have always been very pleased with it. I’m told, not that I know much about these things, that Virgin’s connection speed comes very much closer to its quoted value that that of most other ISPs.
As for BT, ask yourself how much loyalty they would show you, apart from the contractual obligation to pay your pension.
I vote for Virgin.
John, no question but to change! I had a mobile ‘with free BB thrown in’ deal with Orange, which capped my BB at 2 Mbps. Found I could dump my useless mobile phone web access (far too slow) and exchange that £5′s worth to accelerate my home BB from 2.0 to 7.4 Mbps. My access is via a copper ‘twisted pair’ so quite decent.
BT are light years away from the old Post Office telephone company. You are entitled to have the best deal you can get. BT is British, but then, so is Virgin — not like our French energy suppliers! You’ll so enjoy your new fast access; after such a slow link, you’ll find streaming media are actually workable without stuttering and hanging all the time!
My daughter has just changed over from AT&T telephone landline, to her television cable service provider’s phone plan….saving lots of money to boot.
I can understand your loyalty to BT but I think the company policies of old, are out the window these days.
It’s all about the bottom line.
I’d give Virgin a whirl !
You’re making the right choice John, for all the reasons Wendy said, and also, “sweet oldfashioned” loyalty of the sort you were showing them is exactly the reason they don’t have to try to be competitive. Vote with your feet and maybe you’ll find they’ll find a reason to upgrade your line after all.
I was going to say all ISP’s are much the same and the speed you actually get bears little resemblance to what they offer; I have allegedly 4Mb from Tiscali but most days – especially most early evenings – it struggles to get above 1Mb.
BUT if you’ve got cable handy, as you say it becomes a no-brainer.
I suppose there are some advantages to living in slightly more urban arease!
I am of the opinion that when you do your job well, you are entitled to your wages and perks. The relationship ends (except to answer the phone when you get the odd call for help from your replacement) when you receive your final paycheque. The only “loyalty” I feel to a former employer is forever respecting the confidentiality of any aspect of that employer’s business. Hmmm I guess I must be a loyalty whore.