ISP's Rights - Hardware & Software

I've got an interesting question which I was wondering if anyone here might know the answer to: [b]Background[/b] For the last 3 years, back when BT asked me if I wanted to upgrade my connection as they were getting rid of the old deal, they've decided not to charge me for it - you may say, "great, free Internet", however, as of recently, I'm led to say: "well 250kb/s if fine for some but I'd be happier with more... a lot happier" Anyway, 6 months of slow downloads later, I decide that enough is enough, and instantly hit a snag -What if BT want their money? 3 years back payments would cost me a hell of a lot, and I'm fairly sure that I'm protected from paying for something I didn't [i]technically[/i] ask for. So after faffing about with the people at consumerdirect.gov.uk, I've decided to ask the experts of everything here. No, really, no sarcasm. Am I going to have to pay a fuckload when I go back to BT and say: "Can I have faster Internet please?" By the by, not changing ISP as I'm attached to my email adress

BT is one of the worst ISPs in the UK.. Switch to Be, Sky, o2 then get a webmail account like gmail. All your problems are fixed.

[QUOTE=rieda1589;18075962]BT is one of the worst ISPs in the UK.. Switch to Be, Sky, o2 then get a webmail account like gmail. All your problems are fixed.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/rating/tick.png[/img] OP you can always send all your contacts notices. And change emails for all your accounts.. a pain in the ass, but its worth it bro!

No, they can't charge like that.

I deal with hundreds of clients, losing a business email address isn't really an option - I'd love to ditch BT, I'm aware they suck, but everyone I deal with knows the address, and I'm not happy to lose it, but yeah, otherwise switching ISP would be fine.

They won't suddenly ask for a bill, call up and ask for a MAC code. Skip billing altogether. I wouldn't suggest sky, I have lots of friends who get really inconsistent connection and dire pings. BE broadband or 50Mb virgin are the best. (50Mb is the ONLY good virgin package. The rest are restricted, shaped and bad.)

[QUOTE=BAZ;18077763]They won't suddenly ask for a bill, call up and ask for a MAC code. Skip billing altogether. I wouldn't suggest sky, I have lots of friends who get really inconsistent connection and dire pings. BE broadband or 50Mb virgin are the best. (50Mb is the ONLY good virgin package. The rest are restricted, shaped and bad.)[/QUOTE] I have the virgin media 20Mb package with no restrictions and its absolutely fine

[QUOTE=Arsonist;18077791]I have the virgin media 20Mb package with no restrictions and its absolutely fine[/QUOTE] this

While this thread is about ISP's rights, I may ask a question: We currently have DSL 6000 here, but on the product page of our ISP it says actually that ALL products have a speed up to 16000. We pay the same as the product on their page called "fun flat", just that we ordered that back in 2006, where it still was 6000, which ads with 16.000kbit/s download speed. But we only get 6000. So I called the customer service, and they told me it's due to "old cables". After some research I found an availibility check on my ISP's homepage, where it says that DSL 16.000 is available here. Now what, are they just limiting us because we still have the old deal from 2006?

[QUOTE=BAZ;18077763]I wouldn't suggest sky, I have lots of friends who get really inconsistent connection and dire pings.[/QUOTE] This. We used to be on sky. And it was dire.

[QUOTE=mole3700;18078523]This. We used to be on sky. And it was dire.[/QUOTE] I'm on sky and it's fine. It's fast and my ping is usually lower than 50ms to servers in the UK.

Thankful as I am to everyone offering the best ISPs and deals that exist, It's really out of the question - I'm simply worried by the fact that if and when BT sends someone round to make changes for a faster connection, they'll say: "Hey, funny, you're not listed as a paying customer, but you seem to be getting internet - how odd" And then proceed to write out a bill for the last three years.

BT suck especially badly in Chesham. I have a friend who has/had BT, he lives on ridgeway road and the internet drops out for a few hours every day.

[QUOTE=rieda1589;18079361]I'm on sky and it's fine. It's fast and my ping is usually lower than 50ms to servers in the UK.[/QUOTE] 50ms? That's not good. Even on BT I was getting 20ms, now i'm getting 12-15.

[QUOTE=Torekk;18078484] After some research I found an availibility check on my ISP's homepage, where it says that DSL 16.000 is available here. Now what, are they just limiting us because we still have the old deal from 2006?[/QUOTE] "16.000 to everybody but John and Tim at the red house since your cables suck and we can't change them without effort"

Wait... Are you getting it for free or the current rate? If the latter, you should be fine.

Post for leach139 (currently banned:) [quote=luaduck]Yo peeps, I'm in a bit of a niche (there's been loads of UKISP threads, but this is the latest and I'm banned currently, so can't make a new one). I'm currently on Tiscali (guess, their service is dire) and I'm looking to change next month. However, the choice at our exchange is rather limited: AOL LLU TalkTalk (CPW) LLU Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU Tiscali LLU Orange LLU (Formerly Wanadoo) So what's the best deal out of these select few? (Don't say o2 or be, because then you're going to get so many books you'll have them flowing out of your hair). I should say that TalkTalk have contacted us with an offer to pick us up to ADSL2+ with a 14 day cooling period. Also my hair is curly. [/quote]

I'm currently getting it free due to some error on the part of BT, but it's too slow and I'm prepared to pay. I'm just asking about whether BT have the right to demand payment for three years of service I got free.

I live in Hull. We only get Karoo here, because I think any other ISP's we go with have to be filtered/go through Karoo. I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on how to get better broadband from someone else, if there is one.

They most likely won't charge you for service you've already been using. At least over here on the other side of the pond they wouldn't. I'd check with your local laws. Maybe think about keeping their free internet so that you can keep the line and then just get a second internet company and have two lines coming into your house. Does it matter what provider you use to access the email account?

[QUOTE=evilking1;18084162]"16.000 to everybody but John and Tim at the red house since your cables suck and we can't change them without effort"[/QUOTE] Well, I live in the capital of Germany, not somewhere in the Bronx. If you know what I mean, people here have 100mbit/s connections.