Plusnet - the final stupidities

[#1]

@LSAS 

This is an OpenReach driven exercise - they are shutting down PSTN come what may. Add in that the BTGroup decided that PN would not be offering VOIP and you find yourself in your current situation.

You have 3 options.

Move penalty free to EE on the same terms and conditions (including remaining time) as your current PN contract but lose your Static IP.

Stay with PN for internet and then port your number out to a VOIP provider. This keeps your Static IP but comes at the cost of a new contract plus a few days downtime on the phone.

Move to an ISP who does both (like Zen Internet). This costs you your Static IP and would require a new contract.

Brian

[#2]

Although if @LSAS moves to Zen - for FTTC or FTTP , they will get a (new) fixed IP as standard. 

[#3]

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@LSAS wrote:

"Or take everything and move to an ISP that values their customers, and isn't in a self inflicted death spiral !."

I've come to the view that this is what anyone in their right mind would do.

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@LSAS 

Several posters in this topic saw this debacle coming back in September 2023, when Openreach changed the copper landline product ordering rules, along with the phone, ADSL, and exchange retirement deadlines,  and have already abandoned the sinking Plusnet but still post here as ex-customers.

As you are considering moving away from Plusnet, have you investigated whether any AltNet FTTP providers are available at your address ?, by doing so you can move entirely off Openreach infrastructure, and be free of any Openreach, BT, EE, or Plusnet clown show operations.

Note that -

• AltNet FTTP typically has much higher upload speeds than equivalent Openreach FTTP packages.
• AltNet FTTP is usually cheaper than comparable Openreach FTTP via ISPs.
• Many AltNet ISPs will pay off your existing ISP's exit fees (as a joining sweetener) if you ask.
• Some AltNet do offer static IP addresses. They are not usually advertised but can be available on request.

Note that VoIP and "Digital Voice" are NOT the same thing !

"Digital Voice" is a digital phone system that is locked to the broadband providers router, and call charges can be expensive.

"VoIP" can be used with equipment of your choice (including mobile apps), and call charges tend to be inexpensive.

If you do move away, don't get trapped again by locked in services (like Plusnet email, etc) and keep your phone service as an independent product from your broadband provision, so in future you can move one or other without being locked in by an ISP bundle.  Therefore I don't recommend using "Digital Voice.

[#4]

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@ExForce9 wrote:

Note that VoIP and "Digital Voice" are NOT the same thing !

"Digital Voice" is a digital phone system that is locked to the broadband providers router, and call charges can be expensive.

"VoIP" can be used with equipment of your choice (including mobile apps), and call charges tend to be inexpensive.

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True, but as you probably know, 'Digital Voice' and (multiple) third party VoIP can easily be used seamlessly over the same phone and same Internet connection - e.g. Digital Voice for incoming calls only and outgoing calls via whichever VoIP account is cheapest for a particular call.

EDIT;  And it's possible to use the Digital Voice number as CLI on the VoIP accounts.

[#5]

Good points.

I'm actually planning to port the number to voipfone. I've opened a trial account with them and it "just works". And their Support is everything that Plusnet "support" is not - phone, chat, email. And (multiple times) an email response within the hour.

I'm also planning to port the broadband to them at the same time - hopefully less chance for Plusnet to scr*w things up if both happen together. Probably not a long term deal, but their cost - no contract - isn't much more than a 12m lock-in with Plusnet or 24m with Zen.

I started from "how do I make this work with Plusnet - they were very good in the past" to "how do I escape this scum company as soon as I can, without them scr*wing me over?"

General comment: there are good providers and bad providers. Plusnet were, once upon a time, "good", but are now the near epitome of "bad". Mythic Beasts, to whom I moved my email with the Greenbe fiasco, are great. Voipfone, to date, are great. I've read good things about Zen but not tried; maybe long term. Anything BT = Plusnet = EE  (and BTW anything that GoDaddy touches) - the bargepole quote comes to mind.

Hope this is of help to someone considering Plusnet - Top Tip: Don't !

[#6]

@LSAS 

I think you've make excellent choices,  Voipfone are great for the reasons you've stated.

I agree with everything you said there !

The ex-Plusnet club gains another member (who will NEVER return, or recommend Plusnet to friends !)

I see that you didn't mention static IP with Voipfone, so I checked here https://www.voipfone.co.uk/services/broadband 

and it says -

We can supply a static IP address for your broadband for only £2.00 per month ex VAT.
Just tick the box during signup. 

After you've left Plusnet, please come back here and let us know how it's going, where it's greener on the other side ...

Good luck, and I hope it goes well for you.

[#7]

Even more stupidity (but maybe not surprising from such a corporately stupid company)...

Received a letter in the post today (15 Oct). Dated 6 Oct. That was nine days ago. Bla bla bla so sorry you're leaving us... If you want to change your mind then call us (free number!!!) before 4 pm on 11 Oct...

Err - 11 Oct was Four Days Ago. You couldn't even get the letter to the customer before the deadline?

How can any company be so corporately stupid and still not be bankrupt? Hopefully it soon will be.

Anyway, in other news: I've successfully ported broadband and landline number to Voipfone. I can later port either or both without termination fee should I wish to. But currently it works and I'm happy. We'll see if I get my refund from the PN [-Censored-] without a direct debit claim back. I'll update as and when ...

Moderator's note by Mike (Mav): Insult(s) removed as per Forum rules.