"It's time to go broadband only" - email from PlusNet

[#1]

Note the FTTP on demand 330/50

Whilst this is usually a business service as paying to speed up ground works is quite costly.

It does mean that Openreach FTTP is getting close to your property.

In the last week we have become "FTTP on demand 330/50 " and we had email from Openreach saying FTTP soon.

I can see OR have active FTTP on telegraphs poles that are less than 200 meters from us.

https://www.openreach.com/fibre-checker

[#2]

“We have no plans to build Full Fibre to this property yet”

Let’s hope but I think indie is more likely

[#3]

I think, with 6 months to go on a contract I would do nothing at the moment.

Assuming the "Alternative Network" really is building (best guess a government funded rural roll out), then assess the situation in about 4 months.

While Plusnet's out of contract terms are not generally attractive for another month or so it's a possibility (or give notice at the end of your minimum contract term and go Starlink).

[#4]

---

@PhilipHeyes wrote:

Note the FTTP on demand 330/50
Whilst this is usually a business service as paying to speed up ground works is quite costly.

It does mean that Openreach FTTP is getting close to your property.

Not necessarily. I tried to get FTTP on demand (for business use) some years ago (must be 10 years now) because it was shown as available. They wouldn't provide it as the head end exchange is 22 miles away as the cable flies (10 for crows) and they said the cost would "obviously" be over £100K  which was their cut off for preparing a quote.
The only OR broadband available then and now is ADSL, and they still have no plans for FTTP - so unfortunately FTTP on demand showing on the checker doesn't mean FTTP is on the way.

[#5]

OK so I had an update from PlusNet today.

Your Plusnet broadband and home phone service will stop working after the national Digital Switchover. To keep you connected and to allow you to keep a home phone, we’re moving your broadband and home phone over to EE. As we are both part of the same family, we know you’ll be looked after.

Why we're moving you to EE
EE are the fastest growing broadband network, and they can give you a combined broadband and Digital Home Phone service allowing you to continue to make and receive calls over your broadband connection. You'll get smoother calls and reliable broadband all for the same value you have today.

Don't use a home phone? Stay with Plusnet.
If like many you don't use your home phone, you can stay with Plusnet by switching to a broadband only package.

If we haven't heard from you about remaining with Plusnet in the next 30 days, we'll begin moving your broadband and home phone to EE.

---

This sounds like something they are doing imminently, not at some arbitrary time.

I will have ~6mo left on the contract at the time they switch me over it looks like. I don't want to get a new 3 hub and contract with them, which I haven't agreed to (how is this allowed) and I don't want to be squeezed into a new 12/18mo contract with PlusNet.

I don't understand how they are able to break the contract we have and why they need to. Why can't I just get switched to no-landline and keep my contract and pay the same, it's their problem how they deliver the service not mine.

[#6]

As I read your extract

"Don't use a home phone? Stay with Plusnet.
If like many you don't use your home phone, you can stay with Plusnet by switching to a broadband only package."

you have the option of continuing without a landline service.

I would phone up and say you won't re-contract but "how much will Plusnet reduce what you are paying for the absence of the phone service for the remainder of the term".

If you get swapped to EE this will just be for the remainder of your minimum term (not another 12 or 24 months).

[#7]

Use ofcom site not openreach, the openreach daqtabase is......wrong on many properties, including my own

[#8]

---

@MisterPlusBoy wrote:

Your Plusnet broadband and home phone service will stop working after the national Digital Switchover. To keep you connected and to allow you to keep a home phone, we’re moving your broadband and home phone over to EE. As we are both part of the same family, we know you’ll be looked after.
....
Don't use a home phone? Stay with Plusnet.
If like many you don't use your home phone, you can stay with Plusnet by switching to a broadband only package.
If we haven't heard from you about remaining with Plusnet in the next 30 days, we'll begin moving your broadband and home phone to EE.

---

---

I'm afraid that an email like this would really get my back up! As you have a Starlink alternative I would suggest contacting Plusnet and demanding that if they can no longer provide the contracted service then they release you penalty free from the contract. If necessary raise a formal complaint https://www.plus.net/help/legal/complaints-code-of-practice.

In practice I can't see how they can bounce you over to EE or transfer you to SoGEA without your agreement.

[#9]

@Baldrick1 Zen moved me to SoGEA nearly 3 years ago. At the time, I was on FTTC, but they sent me ann email advising of the intention, which I had no choice about - they obviously realised that they would have to do something for their customers.

My advantage was, I suppose, that the 7530 already had a VOIP connection available, and all I needed to do was move the phone connection from the  master socket to the router via the previously supplied adapter - painless.

As I already used my mobile for all outgoing calls anyway it made no difference to me.

[#10]

@jab1 

In your case I assume that Zen simply continued the current contracted provision of a phone and broadband service but just used different technology to deliver said service. I have no problem with that.

However, assuming my assumption is correct, here the plan is to transfer the customer to a totally different company, which will require a new EE contract, Direct Debit, router etc. I see no mention of whether agreed current contract end dates will be honoured, I suspect that both options will require a new full contract period.

My gripe is that customers should also be offered the option of a penalty free, contract release, by all lmeans.dressed up in PR speak to suggest that this would not be as easy.

[#11]

---

@Baldrick1 wrote:

@jab1 

In your case I assume that Zen simply continued the current contracted provision of a phone and broadband service but just used different technology to deliver said service. I have no problem with that.

My gripe is that customers should also be offered the option of a penalty free, contract release, by all lmeans.dressed up in PR speak to suggest that this would not be as easy.

---

Yes, that is exactly what happened, and I had no problem with it either. In fact, I had plans to ask them what they were going to do to address the PSTN closure, as at that time, we were not scheduled for FTTP until early next year (2027).

I agree with your gripe - IMO, a forced switch is extremely unethical - but knowing how BT Group work, I am totally unsurprised. 

[#12]

@Baldrick1  The email states what is staying the same & what is changing. One of the bullet points under what is staying the same is:-

Your contract length

There will be no change to your current contract length.

[#13]

@RadioFox 

Thanks for that. Is the cost changing?

[#14]

@Baldrick1 

Should stay the same according to screenshot.

[#15]

The last paragraph in the screenshot may be questionable. 😀