topic Re: Considering switching from BT in My Order

Considering switching from BT

m4tthall73 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 11:52:25 GMT

Hi,

My BT contract will be coming to an end in a couple of months and I had an email from BT to remind me and consider renewing. This triggered me into looking at alternatives, as I don't feel the price BT offered me to continue with my 500 FTTP connection was competitive. Sky and Virgin felt like good deals but I know Virgin has poor latency and both have really poor customer services. I tried reaching out to EE, as BT part of them and the "deals" they offered we not that great.

This has led me here and looking at the price for PlusNet they seem competitively priced. The scores for customer service seem quite good too. PlusNet also appear to have good latency and I saw mention of a bridge mode, which might help with improving the double NAT issue I am currently dealing with, with my ASUS XT8 router mesh system.

So, I have a couple of questions if anyone is able to provide opinion. Has anyone made this switch and if so, are you happy you did so? Does anyone know if I can switch earlier without fees given I believe PlusNet are part of the wider BT/EE group? Would they consider me a "new" customer and new customer deals applied to me? Finally, can anyone confirm the double NAT thing can be resolved.

Thanks in advance

Re: Considering switching from BT

PhilipHeyes — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:11:25 GMT

Double NAT is caused by using two Routers both with NAT and DHCP enabled, reads like a self created issue.

With the ISPs Router in Router mode, setting the Asus MESH into Wi-Fi Access Point mode ( no NAT & no DHCP ) would avoid the Double NAT.

Re: Considering switching from BT

m4tthall73 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:16:25 GMT

My understanding is PlusNet Hub has a "bridge mode" that "When enabled, the hub light turns pink, and it acts as a simple modem". BT do not have this option, so I would have to disable the router mode on my ASUS router to stop double NAT. However, if I do that then I lose some functionality on the ASUS router that I would rather keep. So I have just been dealing with the double NAT.

Or am I mistaken?

Thanks

Re: Considering switching from BT

bmc — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:17:29 GMT

@m4tthall73

Phone PN and ask what deals are available for a new customer.

As you're near the end of your contract I would simply wait until the last month and then initiate the move. If you use BT Digital Voice then you lose this.

Brian

Re: Considering switching from BT

MisterW — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:20:49 GMT

Or am I mistaken?

yes

Bridge mode is only attributable to FTTC For FTTP you just connect your Asus xt8 direct to the ONT. Configure it's WAN for PPPoE with your Plusnet username & password

Re: Considering switching from BT

m4tthall73 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:21:03 GMT

@MisterW wrote:

Bridge mode is only attributable to FTTC For FTTP you just connect your Asus xt8 direct to the ONT. Configure it's WAN for PPPoE with your Plusnet username & password

Ah Ok, thanks for clearing that up

Re: Considering switching from BT

m4tthall73 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:22:45 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@m4tthall73

Phone PN and ask what deals are available for a new customer.

As you're near the end of your contract I would simply wait until the last month and then initiate the move. If you use BT Digital Voice then you lose this.

Brian

Yeah, I guess there is no rush. I have not had a problem with BT really, it's just (like everything else) how much things seem to be continually going up. Don't use BT Digital Voice so that won't be an issue. Thanks.

Re: Considering switching from BT

ColinDC — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:50:40 GMT

@m4tthall73

I switched from BT FTTC to Plusnet last November when my contract ended, mainly because the cost of re-contracting with BT seemed absurdly high. I timed the switch so that it took place pretty much as soon as the BT contract ended, although the early termination charge would have been small if I'd switched (say) a month before it ended. (Yes, BT would charge you for early termination.) What you don't want to do is spend any significant period of time with BT when you're out of contract because that would be expensive.

I can't say I'm noticing any difference apart from the fact that broadband is now costing me a lot less money each month. I'm happy I made the move.

Colin

Re: Considering switching from BT

m4tthall73 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 17:20:59 GMT

@ColinDC wrote:

@m4tthall73

I switched from BT FTTC to Plusnet last November when my contract ended, mainly because the cost of re-contracting with BT seemed absurdly high. I timed the switch so that it took place pretty much as soon as the BT contract ended, although the early termination charge would have been small if I'd switched (say) a month before it ended. (Yes, BT would charge you for early termination.) What you don't want to do is spend any significant period of time with BT when you're out of contract because that would be expensive.

I can't say I'm noticing any difference apart from the fact that broadband is now costing me a lot less money each month. I'm happy I made the move.

Colin

Thanks Colin, appreciated.

Re: Considering switching from BT

Townman — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:05:48 GMT

Out of interest, is there a specific reason of why you have not already connected the Asus MESH direct to the BT ONT?

FWIW Plusnet routers are based on one version or another of BT routers.

Re: Considering switching from BT

m4tthall73 — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:20:48 GMT

@Townman wrote:

Out of interest, is there a specific reason of why you have not already connected the Asus MESH direct to the BT ONT?

FWIW Plusnet routers are based on one version or another of BT routers.

Because I am stupid/lazy and never considered that originally 🙂

Re: Considering switching from BT

Townman — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 15:30:37 GMT

... or in that case, just probably did not know such could be done, so neither of the above!