ISP advice please

Limey Linda · 25 January 2007, 20:22

Hi
I live in the the USA but most my family is in the UK. We are in the process of setting up coms. using Skpe to Skype. My elderly uncle has Skype and BT as his ISP at approx. 2 mbps. He has been advised that they will double his monthly charges if he continues to use Skype at his curent rate. This would make it too costly for him. What are his alternatives.
Codders: surely you can help on this one.
Thanks in advance

Biggles · 25 January 2007, 21:14

Whats his monthly cost now ?

Sounds like he's on an old fixed/capped MB usage package. Only used for those that think they can save some money each month because they don't use the Internet much. Unfortunately your elderly uncle has found out what most mobile phone users find. The devil is in the detail and the company makes its money from the unwary, who use the product more than they anticipate.

Linda, I don't know the cheapest package. or best package but I'm on AOL and for instance their cheapest uncapped connection rate is :-£14,99 with no limits.

Check it out.

http://info.aol.co.uk/broadband/broa...omoCode=228937

As you say no doubt Codders will give you better advice but its a start.

Poly · 25 January 2007, 21:19

If he goes to uswitch (something like www.uswitch.co.uk) he can look at the various options from various bb suppliers.

codprawn · 25 January 2007, 21:57

Agree with Biggles - he's hitting his data limit all the time. There must be an option to change his package and go for unlimited connection - the actual speed has nothing to do with it.

A lot of people think they will never reach the limits set - all I ever do is look at the odd website they say. What they don't realise is just how much data is flying around - even when you aren't doing anything.

Andre · 25 January 2007, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Hi
I live in the the USA but most my family is in the UK. We are in the process of setting up coms. using Skpe to Skype. My elderly uncle has Skype and BT as his ISP at approx. 2 mbps. He has been advised that they will double his monthly charges if he continues to use Skype at his curent rate. This would make it too costly for him. What are his alternatives.
Codders: surely you can help on this one.
Thanks in advance

I have been using SKYPE for 3 years now and I use it every day from the office and home. As long as your uncle gets broadband then that will be the only charge he will have, of course the usual line rent ect but having SKYPE will not have any influence on that cost

Andre

Matt · 25 January 2007, 22:22

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay well away from AOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Whats his monthly cost now ?

Linda, I don't know the cheapest package. or best package but I'm on AOL and for instance their cheapest uncapped connection rate is :-£14,99 with no limits.

Andy Moore · 25 January 2007, 22:35

Zen Internet was the Which? 'Best ISP' recently.

John Kennett · 25 January 2007, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andre

As long as your uncle gets broadband then that will be the only charge he will have

The problem is that the "cheaper" deals have a download limit of 1 or 2 GB a month, then they start charging extra.

Using Skype regularly will need more than this, hence the need to move to an unlimited package.

John

Alex Brown · 25 January 2007, 23:32

Look at something like the Eclipse ADSL Max service (www.eclipse.net.uk) - I think I pay £18.99/month or something, and although there is contention on it (apparently) it is not capped.

Stay away from AO(hel)L at all costs......

-Alex

Aidan · 25 January 2007, 23:45

Sounds to me that this person is an OAP (you did say elderly uncle).

I thought (silly me ) that OAP got this service for free and if not they bloody well should. It costs very little to allow our senior people this ability to make contact with their sons and Daughters and Kin folk across the world.

I cannot help with the info as I dont know but I know OAP here in Emerald Isle get their phones for free (Or at least I think they do, or they used perhaps until the silly fuc...ers sold off Telecom.
Funy that, I thought we the people owned that, maybe I am a socialist at heart...

ANyway I hope your Uncle sorts out the Skype as it sounds petty whats happening to him...

Limey Linda · 27 January 2007, 03:07

Thanks for all the reponses. I think we have got my Uncle sorted at a good rate. Thanks to all
LL