topic Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone in My Account/Billing

Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Sleepboot — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:43:35 GMT

We can only have FTTC and our current contract ends April.

I have read that Plusnet will offer, if you phone them, to renew the contract with the telephone line still in place. The standard Plusnet contract is 2 years but the old telephone system is expected to be dead before then.

So what deal are Plusnet offering renewals who don't want to give up the old phone system just yet?

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

bmc — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:49:13 GMT

@Sleepboot

It gives you more time to think about what to do when the PSTN is switched off. Also those with Care Alarms and the like may not yet be in a position to go to VOIP.

If you do renew, you should start thinking about VOIP if you want to keep a landline and your number. PN will let you change to an Internet only account on a SOGEA line when ever you want or are ready.

Brian

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

jab1 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:52:21 GMT

@Sleepboot You just give them a call and renew your existing contract - FTTC+phone, but be aware the PSTN component will disappear, on current plans - in December 2025, so while still in contract, make plans to replace your current phone-over-copper service before then.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

bmc — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 16:54:45 GMT

@Sleepboot

Just re-read your post. You'll only find out about any deals by phoning PN - try the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632

Brian

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

flanzm — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:08:11 GMT

Approximately one month before your contract expires you will be emailed a renewal price for FTTC + phone. Expect a price of around £26 on a 18 month or 24 month contract.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:28:23 GMT

@Sleepboot a month ago in this post you said -

@Sleepboot wrote:

I really don't understand the details of VOIP and, at the moment, cannot find one at a sensible price with an unlimited call package and approximately the same scope of service.

Now that you've started this new 'renewing FTTC' topic, I'm sure that if you want some help understanding VoIP and finding a suitable call package, etc, that forum members here who already themselves have moved to VoIP can answer any questions you might have, as you've only got maybe 18 months before you will be forced to give up your landline or move to VoIP.

Personally I moved to VoIP last year and found many benefits of doing so - VoIP call charges are typically MUCH lower, call quality is so much clearer than the old system, I get all my calls automatically recorded and emailed to me, your converted broadband (SoGEA) should be a little cheaper than your FTTC, you can have VoIP calls work on BOTH your home phone and with a mobile app at the same time (so you can make/answer 'landline' calls when you're away from home), and for me my broadband speed improved by about 10%.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Sleepboot — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:21:24 GMT

I have been reading up on VOIP and I tink that I now understand what is going on. I keep being told that VOIP is cheaper but it isn't. My wife spends a lot of time on the phone and we curently have an anytime package which costs £10 per month including calls to mobiles.

A&A are often recommended as cheaper but good & they charge £1.44 a month + 1.5p/min for landline calls & 4p/min for mobiles. As my wife calls a lot of mobile numbers that is only 214 minutes per month to cost the same as our anytime package. She could easily use 4 times that amount.

By the time VOIP is set up, the number transferred and we have purchase the gizmo that lets us connect our existing phones we have also spent the best part of £100.

The may be arguments in favour of VOIP but cheapness isn't one of them.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:34:02 GMT

Some examples of call plans/charges from other established suppliers -

https://www.voipfone.co.uk/plans/comparison

https://www.voipify.net/call-charges/

https://www.zen.co.uk/phone/digital-voice

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Sleepboot — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:02:00 GMT

Thank you for those which look much better.

I have been considering Zen as the simple answer to many problems.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

jab1 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:04:25 GMT

Zen £6.00/mo for 1000 minutes 'free'.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:28:36 GMT

With Zen you get a much better router than Plusnet's, and has everything you need to use your existing phone equipment.

See this YouTube video - Using your existing phone with the Zen router

Zen broadband also comes with a static IP address, and IPv6 (that Plusnet has failed to deliver)

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Sleepboot — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:28:54 GMT

Thank you all for your extremely quick help.

As suggested I am expecting to bite the bullet and get the whole changeover sorted by the end of April/ contract.

Zen is front runner.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

jab1 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:31:16 GMT

From my experience with them - nearly three years - I would say you are making a good choice.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

bmc — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:14:03 GMT

@Sleepboot

Just be aware that you lose PN e-mail the day you move (if you move). Not a problem if you don't use it.

Brian

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

Sleepboot — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:21:22 GMT

Never used ISP email for that reason. One problem not to have to deal with.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

198kHz — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 23:17:51 GMT

@Sleepboot wrote:

I have been considering Zen as the simple answer to many problems.

Indeed, that's why I decided at the end of my contract last June to future-proof things now, and migrate to Zen with FTTC and Digital Voice. No faffing around with third party VOIP, and everything in place before Dec 2025.

The broadband itself might be regarded as a tad expensive at £30, but that's almost balanced with no line rental, and Digital Voice at £6 with 1000 inclusive minutes, including mobiles, so no additional call plan required.

And no mid-contract price hikes!

As mentioned up the thread, the FRITZ!Box is better than the usual ISP-supplied router, and even includes an integral DECT base, though I don't really need that, as with the FON app I can answer incoming calls on my mobile anywhere within the router's WiFi range.

I seem to remember that it wasn't obvious on the website that FTTC + Digital Voice was an option - it doesn't have to be full fibre.

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

mechanic123 — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:17:20 GMT

Good roundup article:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2015/05/a-guide-to-switching-uk-broadband-and-phone-provider-after-june-2015.html

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

MisterW — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:42:38 GMT

@mechanic123 that arcticle is well out of date now! The NoT transfer process has been replaced with the One-touch-Switch process. https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2021/09/ofcom-finalise-one-touch-switching-for-uk-broadband-and-phone.html

It SHOULD have been implemented in April last year but is delayed and expected to be implemented soon...

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

RealAleMadrid — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:59:34 GMT

@mechanic123 An article from 2015! Somewhat out of date I would say. OK the Gaining provider led system is basically the same but migrations from FTTC to FTTP (on the Openreach network) are now possible and the (fairly) recently introduced 30 day right to port is vital for anyone wanting to transfer their PSTN number to VOIP.

It's all going to change anyway, the One Touch Switching system will allow migration between a much wider range of Broadband and telecoms suppliers on different networks. According to TOTSCo, the company implementing it say on their website that "the go-live date will be announced shortly"

Don't hold your breath, the whole project has had many problems and delays since it started a couple of years ago.

Edit: @MisterW has beaten me to it, but I did type a longer response.😁

Re: Renewing FTTC contract WITH Telephone

mechanic123 — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 13:29:05 GMT

@MisterW Ooops! thanks for picking that up, entirely my fault for assuming an article on the face of ISPreview would be up to date!