After being with a rather slow (512K) and relatively expensive (£15.99) but very reliable broadband provider I decided that I would finally get round to changing to a better deal. I spent some weeks making the final decision as there are so many offers going round and quite frankly I am a ... Read review
Advantages: It's FREE and works well Disadvantages: Took a little while to establish a reliable service
After being with a rather slow (512K) and relatively expensive (£15.99) but very reliable broadband provider I decided that I would finally get round to changing to a better deal. I spent some weeks making the final decision as there are so many offers going round and quite frankly I am a busy person. I soon realised that the only really good deal that gives you long-term value was TalkTalk. They also require you to switch to them as your telecoms ... ...but with free international calls to a good range of countries also very kindly included, should you wish to phone anyone abroad.
I think free of charge counts as extreme value for money, but only as long as the service is reliable, as you are better off paying for something decent than getting rubbish free of charge. The trouble is, there seemed to be a plethora of very negative reviews about TalkTalk, but a lot of them seemed to ... more
After being with a rather slow (512K) and relatively expensive (£15.99) but very reliable broadband provider I decided that I would finally get round to changing to a better deal. I spent some weeks making the final decision as there are so many offers going round and quite frankly I am a busy person. I soon realised that the only really good deal that gives you long-term value was TalkTalk. They also require you to switch to them as your telecoms provider at a slightly lower cost than BT's equivalent product, but with free international calls to a good range of countries also very kindly included, should you wish to phone anyone abroad.
I think free of charge counts as extreme value for money, but only as long as the service is reliable, as you are better off paying for something decent than getting rubbish free of charge. The trouble is, there seemed to be a plethora of very negative reviews about TalkTalk, but a lot of them seemed to involve minor technical problems that might not really be their fault.
With a certain amount of trepidation I signed up for their free broadband and hoped for the best. For the basic set-up fee of about £30 (which I went for) you get a wired modem, but for a bit more you can have a wireless system instead.
The activation did not require a MAC code (perhaps because they use unbundled lines, effectively freeing them from BT altogether) and I received a personalised letter and information pack with details of the activation date which was about 2 weeks later. The connection pack then arrived several days before activation with the modem already preset with the correct username and password.
Initially we had the service up and running without any trouble, but soon found problems with the connection being slow and dropping out all the time, and then we found the telephone was not taking incoming calls. However, the technical support line is completely free and we soon got through to a competent person in a UK call centre, who tested the line, made various suggestions and altered the settings on our profile. After several calls, all af which were dealt with very courteously and professionally, all was sorted out and our internet has settled down over the course of a few weeks and is working fine, giving between 3 and 4 Mpbs download most of the time. And apparently the telephone issue was a problem caused by BT, so they say.
The supplied wired modem only has one LAN and one USB connection, so as I am running more than one computer off the connection, and also a networked printer, I ditched their modem and used my "old" 4-port modem/router. This might be a consideration for anyone choosing between the wireless or wired options, especially as it is best to use a network card (usually up to 100Mbps) rather than the USB (up to 10Mbps) when transferring data between computers.
Overall, I am so far very pleased to have made the switch, but do be aware that it might require a bit of patience and a technical call or two initially.
Advantages: Cheap Disadvantages: Bad service, poor customer service
TalkTalk - cheap, poor quality of service, many mistakes made by managers, awful customer service.
TalkTalk is one of the first companies I have had the misfortune of dealing with. I first went with them about 4 years ago as they were cheaper than the competition, and I soon realised why as I had nothing but problems for about 3 months. I was on the phone to their Customer Service on a near daily basis trying to get the problems fixed, but despite ... ...solve the problems, and continued to charge me for the 'service'.
Once my complaint was finally passed to managers the fault was soon rectified, and I got refunded for the time that I was without a phone and internet. Soon after I moved, and contacted the same manager about 5 weeks in advance to let them know I was moving and was assured that everything would be set up for the day I moved. Until this date, I assumed that everything was going to ...
dbarcl10 14.08.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of TalkTalk.co.uk
Advantages: nothing to mention Disadvantages: long waiting with no results
I find this a good opportunity to warn people about talk talk and should be very honest about the my the worst experience in my life.
I was first with tesco dial up and as every one know it was very slow connection and for the bt it is very expensive so i looked around for a better dial.
Talk talk was one who promised a very good deal in phones and broad band, i found the free 0800 number and i thought yes something free it is a good beginning.
... ...there were very friendly and worm people kept chatting to me a bout every thing and very polite in the first phone call the Lady organized every thing for me and also offered a one month trial free of charge and guess what complementary FREE MODEM as a thank you! well that what i thought i did not know it is as a trap!
This is was on the 12th of April and she promised that the service will be installed on the 24th which was quite excellent as most ...
karimkha 25.06.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of TalkTalk.co.uk
Advantages: Cheaper, Free Broadband Internet Disadvantages: Have to hold for customer service, Line/Internet keeps going off
You've heard it ''we got to get together sooner or later...'' - don't be fooled by it although don't be put off it's a good offer and you do at the end of the day make a saving. The popularity, the offer itself and the company that is behind the service will be enough for you to want to find out more about it.
What is the offer?
By paying £19.99 every month you will cover line rental and alongside this get free broadband internet. You are under ... ...for call charges are not included.
What are the advantages:
- Free broadband internet - you save money by not having an ISP who you pay £9.99 just for broadband internet
- Line rental is the same price as BT but you don't get the free broadband internet with them
- You can trust Carphone Warehouse, they are very well established
- You save money. You pay less bills - you write one cheque for your telephone and internet. The same service from ...
sajjadali 16.06.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of TalkTalk.co.uk
Well, what can I say about TalkTalk.co.uk, I was unfortunate enough to use this as my ISP for 12 months due to the contract so I can say quite a bit, unfortunately not much of it being good.
SERVICES.
TalkTalk.net to site for users of the internet service is rarther poor and gives little information and features in my oppinion, other than basically activating your webspace and setting up your email.
Talk Talk are incapable of even providing simple ... ...affect many users but goes to show how limited their range of services is when you consider that most ISP's can provide such at least.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT QUALITY.
For a start TalkTalk will only provide technical support for the first 14 days of service free of charge, after that point they expect you to pay for the call at 50p per minute, not only this but I have sometimes found myself on hold for up to 5 mins just to talk to someone, paying £2.50 ...
MttJocy 16.02.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of TalkTalk.co.uk
Advantages: Free calls to europe, usa, etc Disadvantages: no free broadband, slow broadband, poor customer services
I signed up to talktalk a couple of months ago for talk3 international, as I was told I would get free broadband at a minimum speed of 2 and a half meg, free calls to Europe and free local and national calls 24/7. The phoneline is brilliant, can't fault it. My parents moved to Cyprus so I can call them regularly for free, as long as i hang up before 70 minutes, as with local and national calls. I have friends on talktalk and I can chat to them for ... ...What more can you ask for?
I waited in anticipation for my free broadband to be connected. I received my "go live date" and then a week later I received my modem and installation pack. I connected to the net and it was very slow. It also kept disconnecting and I had to redial the internet. I have never had this before on broadband only on dial up many years ago. Two out of the 5 nights I had the misfortune of being with talktalk I had no connection ...
turkishwife 09.08.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of TalkTalk.co.uk
