BT Internet

I have always been a fan of BT internet. I was one of their first customers to sign up when they released the free evenings and weekends access and have remained loyal ever since, including an upgrade to their Anytime package (£14.99/month) and a second BT line when we recently moved house.

I had seldom encountered problems, but as a user of two ISP's rather than one, if I ever failed to connect on my first go with one, then I merely switched over to the other, so could only guess at how good the real service was.

I also have another reason for staying with BT internet, my web-site, which attracts a reasonable amount of visitors and registers on most major search engines, something which has taken my nearly three years to establish, the thought of starting again does not appeal.

So why I am writing here?

A CHANGE OF CONNECTION NUMBER
A few days after moving house, I received correspondence from BT Internet advising me that as a regular user of their service, they were taking me off the standard connection number, and transferring me to a new 'freephone' dial up number which would enable them to provide their customers with an enhanced, and more personalised service.

Upon receipt of this, I duly downloaded the new dial-up and thought no more about it. Despite having followed BT's instructions, I have been bombarded not only with e-mail, but letters advising me that my internet connection would cease to operate in 'X' no of days if I didn't follow their instructions, oh go away BT.

These e-mails and letters also suggested that I may like to sign up for Broad-Band Internet access as this may be more suitable for me, don't they mean more money for them?

I seldom use the net during the day, due to not actually being at home, and the computer is usually signed on for around 1/2 hours each evening and a couple of hours during the day on Sundays and is used by the whole family including my daughter, step-son and my other half, in fact since I moved my internet use has decreased (probably something to do with no TV in my new study - YET) - but.....well maybe, but also.......

Since the old number ceased, it takes an average 12-15 times to connect, once connected, more often than not, it breaks not after 2 hours but around 30 minutes, sometimes less.

Am I frustated?
Too right I am, but would love some suggestions for an alternative as I really do not want to move my not very exciting but at last established web-site, but unless this problem resolves itself soon, I could be responsible for smashing the computer.

So BT if you are reading this, I do not want Broadband Internet access, I cannot afford it, and don't really feel I use the system sufficiently to warrant it.

THE SUMS
For anyone whose interested and subscribes to such services, in order for BT to start making losses on BT Anytime, you have to be on-line for 25 off-peak hours a month - add the 'pay-as-you-go' number to your Friends and Family list as your Best Friend, and you get 20% discount off all your off-peak calls, so change that to 31.5 hours (equivalent to the £14.99 monthly subscription fee)

In contrast, BT Broadband costs installation of £74.99 and then a monthly charge of £39.99 inc VAT charged directly to your credit card, which as I understand it gives you free speedy (UP TO 500kbps/min - those magic words "UP TO" again) open access all the time - to reach a not for profit situation on this for BT, you would have to connect on the 'pay-as-you-go' package for approx 67 off-peak hours a month, roughly 83.5 hours if you added the number as your Best Friend again (this does not consider the initial installation fee - which I understand is currently half-price).

Please BT, tell me, does Anytime mean just that, or when it suits you, because at the moment I am totally disillusioned with a service called Anytime that I interpreted to mean just that.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Suppose I better put something in about this, I have only had to call the service once, (cost 50p/min), it took me 3 weeks to get through (luckily it wasn't that urgent) I used to either get an engaged signal or no answer, and once I did get through, the spiel the guy who answered the phone lasted for around 1 min before I had even started to tell them about my problem.
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Sorry everyone, I don't usually have a whinge and am just stunned that the service has stayed connected sufficiently long enough for me to write this, knowing my luck it will disappear as soon as I press the submit button never to be seen again.

UPDATE:
Thanks to those that have suggested Broadband with NTL, unfortunately I was previously with NTL as my second ISP and have been for nearly 6 years when they were previously Cable-tel - but I have now bought a new property, Cable providers are not permitted to instal into new houses for 2 years after the estate is finished, which means I have got at least another 4 years to wait, then they have to get permission.

SUE