Need broadband? Ready to switch? Get fair, unbiased advice in a language you understand so you make the right choice.
Switching To Mobile Broadband - Ask Our Expert
If you’re having technical, service or supply problems, or just have a question you want answering, why not write to OurExpert@BroadbandChoices.co.uk
Michael Phillips is product director at BroadbandChoices.co.uk and can help with anything from contractual problems, to giving technical advice or telling you how to speed up those slow movie downloads.
Our expert says...
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for your question. Let’s initially get to grips with the issues surrounding your broadband use, then we’ll analyse where you stand in terms of the contract situation.
You could potentially save yourself a lot of money by manoeuvring around the BT line rental and considering other options.
Mobile Broadband
Choosing a mobile broadband package allows you to surf on the move without having to pay line rental. Most major mobile operators and ISPs have or are upgrading their network infrastructures to provide mobile broadband.
3 Mobile (www.three.co.uk) currently offer cheap mobile broadband at £10 a month, although the minimum contract is 24 months if you don’t pay for the wireless USB modem upfront. If your budget can stretch to a £99.99 payment for the modem before you start, then a minimum contract of 12 months applies. Pay as you go options also require a payment for the modem before you get started.
The downsides of mobile broadband connections are their limited capabilities and high data charges. If, as you described, you’re a light internet user, then mobile broadband could be a viable option for you. It will struggle to handle larger applications like BBC’s I-Player or Channel 4’s 4-OD service though. The extra data needed to run these apps can also be quite expensive.
Be warned that once you have cancelled your BT landline, re-activation can (in some cases) amount to £124.99. Also remember that mobile broadband access restricts you to the use of one PC per modem.
Bundles
If you’re not quite ready to make the leap of faith into the world of mobile broadband just yet, then consider bundling your broadband package with a phone line.
TalkTalk (www.talktalk.co.uk) offer a competitive phone/broadband bundle and cover 70% of the UK. Use the BroadbandChoices broadband checker to ascertain the level of coverage in your locality.
As a TalkTalk customer you still have to pay line rental (set at the same rate as BT, £10.50), but the broadband connection is free, and the Talk2 phone package costs £5.89, amounting to a total payment of £16.39 a month.
As you can see, this is a saving on your existing deal even without BT line rental on top. Bundling your phone and broadband together can be more economical.
Other Options
If TalkTalk don’t cover your area, Plusnet (www.Plus.net) offers a similar bundle to TalkTalk, but they have 99% UK coverage. Costs start at £9.99 a month for the phone deal, and £9.99 a month for the broadband connection. This still represents a saving on your current Orange/BT combination.
A further way to bypass the line rental would be to opt for cable. For £15.50 a month, Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) can supply a phone and broadband bundle, cutting out the need for a landline.
Contract
With regards to your current Orange contract, there’s very little that you can do to get out of it unless the product that you’ve received is not considered ‘fit for purpose’. These guidelines have been set by sales of goods act 1979 (SGA) and a full overview can be found here at ComputerActive.co.uk.
If Orange has failed to deliver their promised service, or have taken a long time to fix ongoing problems, then you may have a case worth taking to the small claims court. Costs for a claim under £300 will amount to £30, with a further £80 should you wish to appeal. Should this appeal fail, then you could approach OTELO or CICAS for advice.
If Orange has provided a satisfactory service, then we suggest that you see the contract out until July, and then consider your options again at that time. With new ISPs entering the mobile internet marketplace, and new products being introduced, mobile internet connections may have come down in price by the summer.
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