Changing ISP

[Hoppy22]

My 2yr contract with BT Broadband is coming to an end, being a pensioner, but not on pension credit, i am finding i can no longer afford BTs high monthly cost, is it advisable to switch to Sky Broadband? Reading the Sky Broadband forum, there seems to be a lot of unhappy customers?

[Sue_Doe]

I was in a similar position myself a few months back, so some observations:

• All the ISPs are over charging long term customers.  While you might get a good deal initially, Sky will be just as bad in the long run, so be prepared to move every couple of years from now on.

• Sky will insist on putting CityFibre in if you can get Full Fibre.  They no longer use Openreach infrastructure, so they will want to come and drill holes in the wall etc.  (Of course, if you are still on the old copper line or already have CityFibre that might be OK for you).  The phone will definitely need to move to a broadband based connection, though, as the old phone system closes down in January.  (Note, that contrary to popular confusion, that does not mean a copper based broadband connection will be closing down.  It’s just the phone service that becomes part of the broadband).

• I couldn’t have CityFibre as it would involve digging up a communal drive.  (Non-starter).  I had to cancel in the end as they would not install Openreach.  Interestingly, as I had actually initiated a move, BT were suddenly offering me new customer prices, so I stayed with them.  I’ll leave you to read into that what you may.

Good luck.

[caesarome]

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@Hoppy22 wrote:

Reading the Sky Broadband forum, there seems to be a lot of unhappy customers?

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Reading the posts here is not the best place to get a balanced view on what Sky Broadband is like as it tends to attract posts from people that have issues. Put it this way Sky has about 6 million broadband customers and on here we see only a very tiny percentage each day from people that have issues. 

[Hoppy22]

Thanks for very informative reply, i live just outside Edinburgh in Scotland, no city fibre in my area, just done a check, would think i come under the openreach network,  have only ever had bt broadband.

[icesteelman]

@Hoppy22 

@caesarome speaks sense, all online forums generally only show people with issues and not the vast majority of happy customers.

I moved to Sky from TalkTalk just under 1 year ago as despite being a loyal TalkTalk customer they weren't even close to matching Sky's price for Fibre 150. I already had TalkTalk's fibre 150 using Open Reach and the transition was seamless (never spoke to TalkTalk just signed up with Sky and they dealt with it all efficiently).

The only thing I will say is thet trying to talk to a human at Sky Customer Support is a challenge, TalkTalk were much better in this respect (despite the bad rep they also get I never had any problems whilst with them for 10-20 years).

I would personally go with the cheapest deal / company you feel comfortable with as loyalty means nothing these days. When my contract is up next year I will have no problem moving supplier again if I can't get a good deal with Sky.

I too am a pensioner so it can be done !

[Me134]

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@Sue_Doe wrote:

I was in a similar position myself a few months back, so some observations:

• All the ISPs are over charging long term customers.  While you might get a good deal initially, Sky will be just as bad in the long run, so be prepared to move every couple of years from now on.

• Sky will insist on putting CityFibre in if you can get Full Fibre.  They no longer use Openreach infrastructure, so they will want to come and drill holes in the wall etc.  (Of course, if you are still on the old copper line or already have CityFibre that might be OK for you).  The phone will definitely need to move to a broadband based connection, though, as the old phone system closes down in January.  (Note, that contrary to popular confusion, that does not mean a copper based broadband connection will be closing down.  It’s just the phone service that becomes part of the broadband).

• I couldn’t have CityFibre as it would involve digging up a communal drive.  (Non-starter).  I had to cancel in the end as they would not install Openreach.  Interestingly, as I had actually initiated a move, BT were suddenly offering me new customer prices, so I stayed with them.  I’ll leave you to read into that what you may.

Good luck.

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Point 2 is incorrect, unless City Fibre have already laid the infrastructure. They are more widespread then I thought that said, but according to AI at least, Open Reach still handle 85-90% of all Sky BB subscribers.

[Sue_Doe]

@Me134 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but how the hell do you know it is incorrect?  You don't live where I live.

CF put their infrastructure in, in such a way that it can't connect into the OR ducts.  To install they would need to dig up a communial drive shared by four proprties and put more ducts in.  They would, of course, need wayleaves from all four owners for such.  Not on.  Despite this, Sky still would not install OR even though the infrastructure already existed. 

My neighbour, already with Sky, has also had CF out twice now.  They've stood around scratching their behind for 20 minutes then left.  No install.  On both occasions.

I can only report my own experience and I would not be arrogant enough to say someone else's experience is made up, so please don't tell I'm wrong.  You were not there!

[Chrisee]

@Sue_Doe currently City Fibre pass under 5m premises while Openreach are approacing 20million. Sky have made a commercial decision to use City Fibre where it is available even where a customer currently has an Openreach full,fibre connection. This does cause understandable annoyance.

However where there is no full fibre connection there is minimal difference between the way the two networks install. I had hoped City Fibre would overall be better than Openreach's poor performance  but evidence from the forum soon showed they are much of a muchness.Most Sky customers like myself get an Openreach fibre service simply because there was no City Fibre connection available. 

it is currentlyeasy to see if Sky plan to use City Fibre as the products offered have the same upload speed as download unlike Openreach where uoload is always lower than download. 

[Me134]

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@Sue_Doe wrote:

@Me134 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but how the hell do you know it is incorrect?  You don't live where I live.

CF put their infrastructure in, in such a way that it can't connect into the OR ducts.  To install they would need to dig up a communial drive shared by four proprties and put more ducts in.  They would, of course, need wayleaves from all four owners for such.  Not on.  Despite this, Sky still would not install OR even though the infrastructure already existed. 

My neighbour, already with Sky, has also had CF out twice now.  They've stood around scratching their behind for 20 minutes then left.  No install.  On both occasions.

I can only report my own experience and I would not be arrogant enough to say someone else's experience is made up, so please don't tell I'm wrong.  You were not there!

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You stated "Sky will insist on putting CityFibre in if you can get Full Fibre. They no longer use Openreach infrastructure..." 

As @Chrisee pointed out, they will insist on using City Fibre where installed, with the emphasis on there being City Fibre there in the first place. Most still use OR for ADSL, FTTC and FTTP (as I am).

It may be the only option where you live but that doesn't mean it applies to the whole country. City Fibre (for now at least) concentrate on highly populated parts of the country in order to try and get a return on a massive investment.

Would you like to show me where I said you made things up?

"I would not be arrogant enough to say someone else's experience is made up, so please don't tell I'm wrong". Sorry, but you're wrong.

[Hoppy22]

Many thanks for the information, appreciated.

[Chrisee]

@Hoppy22 for what its worth Inswitched from BT to Sky 10 years ago and overall,have had a very good service. Thst isnt thst surprising as both Sky and B`T are essentially selling the same Openreach connection. 

[Hoppy22]

Appreciated for information.

[Hoppy22]

Hi, do you have the Sky phone number, you used to arrange your switch from talk talk to Sky full fibre broadband, if you dont want to post Sky number on view, you can PM me the number, many thanks !

[caesarome]

@Hoppy22 

You don't need to phone Talk Talk as you can just sign up with Sky and they will do the rest including cancelling your account with Talk Talk.