Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Glad you got such a good result and it is nice to see you posting Mr bo :)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Yeah, that's exactly what I want (once I can afford to get Sky+).

BTW do people here pay for services separately? I say this because my BB is a seperate bill from my TV+Phone. I had BB for a year before I got TV and phone. Just wondering if this might affect any deals. I asked if they could merge the accounts but they always say they can't.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Just had my next bill (the last one was brill) and it was £27.05 and i was expecting it to be 23 ish so i thought i'd ring up and make sure they're doing it right...

Anyway, turns out that it was right, and i said well how come i've got call charges on there when i've got TU24, he said it's a premium call.

I said but i've got call barring i thought i couldn't ring them, and he said no that only blocks high rate ones... So then he said he'd refund me £5 since i didn't know that...lol

Then i thought i'd point out that my broadband wasn't living up to much and i've never had above 1 meg speed since i should be on 2 meg, and he said he's sent a refreshed signal and it should be okay so i'll reboot soon and check that!
He also said that from 1st June i'll be on 4 meg, and he made it sound exclusive to me lol, and he gave me an 0800 number direct to retentions so that they can sort anything out for me if i have any more problems.

10/10 for the guy named Lee (i think:erm:), so the bill was right, but they gave me £5 anyway:D :tu:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

can u give any more info, such as who u called up, and how much it costs seperately... thx!

ps how is it crappy if they have 2 more countries than talktalk [assuming 28 of them are the same?]

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Just so everyone knows, you don't really need to say cancel to get a good offer.

I called Retentions direct on the number given in this thread, i told them about another ISP offering faster broadband for a cheaper price, he says OK and offered 10Mbps for £17.49 per month for the next 12 months, i didn't say cancel or say i wanted to leave NTL in any way ...

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

wat ISP?

and N00N00, please reply!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I had a phonecall from ntl asking me why I am cancelling and presumeably they were going to try and cut a deal with me, so it seems if you dont ask for retentions and just cancel they will find you :)

however I explained to them my cancellation is cancelled so that was the end of it.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

My last visit to retentions told me a 10Mb service would have guaranteed 2Mb until June, thereafter guaranteed 4Mb...

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

sorry if anyone has mentioned this already but has anyone actually read the small print to the talktalk offer.

Besides its all rubbish think of it like this you go to HMV and they have buy 1 get 1 free on dvd's, but what they do is make the dvd prices higher. You don't get nothing for free and certainly the very very small print

It can take up to 3 months before bb is active, during this time you cannot have a bb supplier obviously due to the whole adsl markers. if you don't qualify for the free bb, i.e. the unbundling is not available in your area which in many areas it isn't then you have to pay 10.00

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

That is true, we canceled phone with them, they called up 3 times to try and get us back, we didn't have it, we went back to BT.

We wasn't happy with NTL phone at all, Broadband is fine though.

As for the person asking which ISP, i said Eclipse (www.Eclipse.net.uk)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

cheers!

now where is N00N00 with this free calls info... unless he is lying:mad:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Well, bloody typical. They said they were going to give me 1/2 price BB and 1/2 price Base pack for 6 months. So I get my bill and guess what ?

Yep, They have put me down for 3 months 1/2 price BB and 6 months 1/2 price DTV. :dozey:

So what do I do now ? Cancel again ? What time is best to call ? Last time I was stuck on hold for a long time.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I hate to say I told you (not you personally!) so, but I did say this would happen. :td:

What do you want to do?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I'm not commenting at all on the discounting here but here's a little advice a certain cable company might want to pay attention to...

To put it even more simply... spend cash on improving services, let the people go to TalkTalk, get mortified at how poor the service is compared to cable, then come back most apologetically to shiny new 12 month contracts paying full price.

While TalkTalk will attract people who want as much as possible for as little as possible chances are that most who go to them aren't expecting possibly huge waits to receive their broadband service, caps, traffic shaping and premium rate customer service. They think you get something for nothing here, which is wrong. ntl did have a chance to diversify themselves from TalkTalk and present cable as being a competitive future technology giving a great quality of service. Instead they're just wanting to become a TalkTalk alike and go from being a Tesco to a Lidl when they could have become a Waitrose.

It really is a shame but that's the way it is now. Having gone through a debt for equity swap and essentially received the networks for free they're not interested in maintaining them (note the Luton area issues and ntl saying it's not financially viable to fix them, although another DTI investigation into them for selling products not fit for purpose might change those opinions one hopes.) nor it appears is the company interested in providing any sort of class of service beyond the bare minimum necessary, and I certainly hope that people are willing to pay slightly more to another provider for a far better quality of service and show the idiots doing the strategy at ntl that we do actually want quality services for our money and care a little more about quality than just paying as little as possible. I pay £28 a month for my internet service but the quality is absolutely superb, the support excellent and I'm happy to pay a few pounds more than I need to in return for the extra.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

NTL are nowhere near being a Lidl.

Lidl have one of the smartest tax write off policies available. Despite the common misconception of Lidl they are, in fact, one of the smartest, fastest growing, most profitable business enterprises in European history.

From a business perspective I think that's something NTL can only aspire to.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

get back on topic guys!!!

so NOO NOO where are u???

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I think you'll find :dozey: - if you look at the original topic - that they were a lot closer to it than it has been for the majority of the time. This has turned from a discussion about the talk talk offer to a "retentions-deals-comparison-thread" using talk talk as threat to cancel. The last few posts actually briefly touched on the original subject again.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Sorry who are you describing there? Ntl?

Everything you wrote there could be attributed to our favorite cable company. Sorry James.


I've SO respected all that you've writen in most threads so far James but this is just tosh.
NTL have the opportunity here to offer TopMan prices for designer stock prices by owning the whole of the infrastructure (like Bulldog et al) but are too busy spending their cash/shares on acquisitions. Do they really need a mobile company?

As for future technology - they have 10Mbit (for those it works for) now - ADSL2+ have 16+

Again we agree- Ntl can't see where they are well off!

Oh and for the record I pay BD £30 a month for my BB (yes the quality is top notch otherwise I'd be on my bike) (I pay a VOIP company £7.99 a month for my voice line. :) and are perfectly happy paying over the odds for a rock solid below 8meg (poorly support as most ADSL is) service.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

whats the DTI investigation about specifically?

Incidentlly I am waiting a month for broadband to avoid BT ipstream so I can get LLU, deciding quality is better then crappyness. Although I am frustrated at current.

No doubt this will all bite ntl in the ass sooner or later, no expansion investment means their footprint is shrinking, no maintaining network in line with demand and growth means their quality is going downhill which means they getting less £ per customer.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

What I want is what they promised me. or even better a package to match Talk Talk and Sky's basic TV service (plus maybe PVR ;) |). But that's likely not going to happen. 24.99 for BB alone is talking the **** when I can get phone and BB for 20.99. If you think about it I am paying NTL 35 quid for what Talk Talk will give me for 21 quid ! (not to mention the free international calls ! )

I want to switch to Talk Talk for Telephone and BB and Switch TV for Sky+ (seeing as NTL's HD/PVR is still vapourware). However, I realise that I could be facing a long wait time for Talk Talk so cancellation of NTL now might not be an option.

Is it possible to cancel just the TV and Phone and just have the NTL BB ? That way I'd have a bit of time to get the Talk Talk BB sorted.

Plus I am not happy doing business with liars who promise me a certain deal and then don't deliver. I have been a long standing customer with CWC/NTL and I'd be happy to stay with them for the right price, but they are literally driving me away.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

yes you can have broadband on its own.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Yes.

I'm not certain they were lying, although it could well be the old CS-BS® where they tell you what you want to hear to get you off the phone (still lying IMO)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Yes you can have BB on its own. You also probably want to move back to BT ASAP as they will require a 3 or 12 month minimum contract before you can move to TalkTalk (depending on whether you currently have a BT line installed).

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Quick Update. I managed to talk to a nice guy in retentions who explained that the deal does only apply to the DTV part of the base pack. He also told me that the billing system only records the 1/2 price BB for 3 months but it actually reapplies after 3 months.

I asked him if there was anything he could do to extend the deal and he told me that as the above had not been made clear to me up front he would extend the 1/2 price offer to a year. So fair enough.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

oh right must be the same 1/2 price bb i was supposed to be getting that I got for 3 months which wasn't half price was always different discount each month and after 3 months I no longer got it.

Decided against querying as I just no longer have time to call into NTL

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Managed to get 10mbit and Talk Unlimited 24 for £20.50 per month. I was told that this was for 12 months.

I also cancelled the DTV package and am going to be called by an engineer to arrange collection of my Samsung STB for a ntl: cable modem. I was told that the 10mbit would only be activated once I get the ntl: cable modem but I was expecting them to activate it now so I get the maximum speed possible through the Samsung STB.

Are they pulling wool over my eyes?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Vegeta, what made you cancel DTV ????? Did they offer you a deal to keep DTV or just BB + TU24

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I cancelled DTV because ntl don't have some channels which I want.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

ok finally got my second bill from ntl after the discounts were put on it, and finally its now correct!

can some1 now confirm as to whether ntl have a proper deal to challenge talktalk yet? also can some1 confirm this free international calling [to challenge talktalk?] that ppl have been talking about- if its true that is!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

nope still no official package to challenge talk talk from ntl maybe it will happen when we all start leaving

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I don't think they will be worrying to much considering talktalk are currently been investigated by ofcom

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

under wat circumstances?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

even orange now offer 4 play yet ntl pay billions for virgin but have we seen a single offer for any virgin mobile phone users yet ?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

The Virgin deal has not officially gone through yet!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

please verify against other IT news media and also speak to ofcom in regards to this. Numerous complaint from the industry, customers and advertising agencies have been lodged already.

There is small print, worries over delivery and cost implications that are being reviewed

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Xanthras do you have any info about what exactly is being investigated by Ofcom. preferably with a link to the info itself :)

cheers

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

some of this information is internal and therefore I cannot provide this, for people out there more regular and who read company documents they will know what I am talking about

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

TalkTalk are ****e Shaun, fact. People are signing up, getting telephone serivce and losing their previous ADSL then waiting months to get the free broadband part. Their customer service is premium rate, they have a capped and aggressively shaped broadband service.

You didn't read what I wrote - I was discussing ntl going downmarket...

Ah I'm not paying over the odds, I'm paying a reasonable rate for a high quality service.

---------- Post added at 06:53 ---------- Previous post was at 06:51 ----------

You mean people got upset at being offered free broadband and not getting it for 3 months while losing their old service?

Good stuff and well deserved. To take the telephone line and not hand over the freebie sweetener is ridiculous.

Anyway bump for great justice and to celebrate moronic cable companies that offer silly discounts without contract extensions.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Was about to say what james henry said. £30 for a good quality 8mbit connection isnt over the odds.

BD 8meg isnt a like for like for talk talk 8mbit.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Got Sky installed today :D

ntl engineer is going to collect the STB on Saturday and give me a SACM for 10mbit BB :))))

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I also have sky :D had it for a week and very impressed.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Yeah and their latest standard STB's look great! :tu:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/06/4.jpg

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

thats the one I have.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

That STB looks VERY impressive I have to say.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I should get my bill any day now. I hope ntl haven't fudged it up :rolleyes:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Which one? Sky. Sky+ or SkyHD?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

The one pictured in my previous post is the standard Sky box.

This is the Sky HD box:

http://www.sky.com/hd/HDBox360/skyhdbox.jpg

This one speaks for itself:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/06/3.jpg

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Ah. The new standard SKY box looks good. Same styling as the HD box. So only the Sky+ box is in the old style currently I guess.

Just interested - will be getting rid of my NTL DTV soon and getting Sky+ multiroom.

Will keep BB though.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Did anyone else get offered free international calls? I was offered the same countries for free as Talk Talk, yet I'm still being billed for such calls.

Typical NTL, offer such great bargains but never actually keep their promises. I'm lucky I don't make a lot of international calls I suppose. I won't bother complaining as I'm tired of calling NTL and I'm on a great deal anyway - just don't like thier dishonesty. :fit:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

THEY DONT DO FREE INTERNATIONAL CALLS:p:

so how are they meant to offer it to u.... looking back on this thread i asked you to clarify where u got the free international calls info, to which i dont think u replied to.....:o:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I got the info when I called retentions. They told me a list of all the countries that would be free and everything. I didn't even ask for free international calls - they offered it and i accepted the offer. In a later call other members of staff also confimred the offer.

A few other people have been offered free international calls as well I believe - I guess they'll just say anything to keep hold of customers.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

you need to call them again - it will be recorded on your account who you spoke to in retentions and what they offered you. I know cos my 10meg at £10 a month direct debitted incorrectly last month and they checked the account and found the details of it and how it had not been applied correctly.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

i think that u got offered the international calling plan for free, which allows u to call certain countries for cheaper. Not free calls to those countries.:erm:

Well thats what i understand!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

so is this cable tvs answer

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...quad-play-deal

i am still trying to work out if this is a good deal ?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

"ntl Telewest have issued us with a press release today which states, it is to give free digital TV to all new home phone customers."

bit of an oops on the all :) /me rings up for my free digi tv.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

so its just for new customers then ? lol come on ntl look after your existing customers 1st

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

absolutely, I presume you have it all installed, now ;) - I know your situation is a tad unique, but it does expose the BS in the blurb, doesn't it? :)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Omg its taken me hours to go thru all the posts in this thread.
I'm in leeds and been with NTL for about 6/7 years with the DTV+phone and dial up 1st then fastest BB when it came available.

I used to periodically call the local (0113) sales number who were always great and do deals or upgrades but this has been dead for a year or 2.

Firstly some relevant info for all.

1) Got my friend set up on talk talk from a BT tel line (not under any contract to bt) was able to swap within about 10 days and the BB took 12 weeks or so and is about 2meg DL speed and is fine all working ok.

2) my dad decided to go talk talk from ntl line (says no one from retentions called them but they were on holiday so could have missed the call.
Basically you can swap yr tel no. back to BT and pay line rental to them for 3 months in advance. But start on Talktalk straight away for the £9.99 all calls option then as soon as the 3 month bt contract is up pay the rental to TT then get your free international calls and apply to get yr BB. Not sure as to whether you have to wait to get the BB or not.

3) For my mum (different house) i arranged to get BT to get the TT (from NTL line) then the cancellation team kept calling. 1st time just offered half price line rental for 6 months and would waive the non DD charge, said i wasnt interested and to call me back in a week or so.

When i mentioned TT they said they would match TT offer. So in the end got £21 for TEl line+24/7 TU + 1mb unlimited BB + discounted Int call package (normally £1.50 though it now includes mobiles abroad! and was told its ALL international locations not just 30).

I thought this was fair enough as the net will be just for email and occasional browsing when I'm there.

Now i have to sort mine out, just got my Bt date as 1st August through, and will call NTL retentions 2moro i think after reading the 30 or so pages of this thread or they may call me 1st who knows!

The CS are in Newcastle i believe but when i spoke to them about my mothers account the chap said they definitely could not offer free international calls??though some people on this thread said they have. Unusually they were more keen to advise on alternative providers of cheap international call than themselves which although strange i thought was honest and honourable.

Generally i've found them (NTL) to be good in terms of CS and the times when i did have loss of service for my BB they refunded the whole months bill without a quibble. just a tip for those worried about the 0870/0845 CS numbers just google "say no to 0870" and no longer worry!

lets hope i get a good deal 2moro or whenever.! I suspect the price war will continue now Sky have their deal in place and orange too...soon o2 and voda and T mob no doubt!!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Well got everything sorted with retentions.
Albeit a long time on hold whole thing took an hour and a half but worth it. I've been paying top whack for years, so thanks to talk talk the market is now more competitive.

Well done to NTL for being responsive enough to price match and not give customers a hard time over it. It will pay them back in the end as customer loyalty is built on such. Hopefully if everything is in order when the bill arrives I will be happy and all thats left for me now is to cancel the BT engineer for next week.

I imagine their income will fall drastically because of the TT offer but at least they'll have some income from me as opposed ton none if had proceeded with the switch.

We'll wait and see how long this lasts etc got the nearest to talk talk as poss, ok not FREE international calls but the £1.50 price plan thrown in which is ok for me as i can call mobiles abroad as cheap as a landline and get to keep my 10meg BB. Would have had to wait for about 10weeks for the TT BB to come on line so we'll see what shakes.

Ok just to say also i've always found NTL Cs to be both polite and always eager to help sort probs out even if sometimes it messes up and takes a while. Wheras from my memory of my 12 years with BT i wouldn't have said the same. O2 are the worst though, they mess your bill and wont even admit its wrong. most of the bods have no idea how their own billing system works.

I'm not going into detail but I'm amazed they still have any customers. Great offers on the telly but god forbid what happens when all your minutes just vanish into thin air and your billed for what are supposed to be free calls. Imagine a company that refuses to fix it denies its wrong and leaves you the only option to write to them with a pen and paper :Yikes:
Believe me I'm like a dog biting your leg but i could get nowhere with these guys. What can you do when the person lacks any fundamental understandin of how their own rollover minutes work.

Sorry for the off topic rant...feel better now.

:)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I rang up as both my offers of 9.99 1mb broadband and 12 months free sky sports had ran out.

I told the lady on the other end at retentions that I was told to ring back in order to get the offers renewed (which I was). She said no problem, took about 10 minutes (literally) and then said those offers have now been reapplied for 12 months.

I get a bill and have been charged full price for both services. Not happy at all as I would have cancelled Sky Sports otherwise. I rang back up today to state the situation to CS (as retentions isn't open until Monday), she gave me 9.99 1mb broadband for 6 months, which she said was all she could do.

I accepted the offer, as I could just ring once again when it runs out; I then asked her if I could cancel Sky Sports and she did so. I'll be ringing retentions soon to complain about this blatant lie over the phone that discounts have been applied and not. I'd rather them say they can't or simply don't want to apply the discounts for me, other than let me have an unexpected extra £13.50 on my bill.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Forget customer services just get back on to retentions and let them sort it, i'm sure they will.

I had the same prob the bill comes and its a nightmare to understand. The total price is right split between BB on 1 bill Direct debit and the phone bill. But they do it by adding all sorts of weird discounts.

Ah well i look forward to another lengthy call come monday to fix my mothers bill which really is a work of fiction.

So whats the crack with international call plan..used to be included vin TU24 then told its £1.50 then look on the website it says its still included the again says its £2 the click and its a £1.50.. no wonder i'm confused and was told it was it applied to mobiles at the same cost as landlines abroad...great i think 30min call to italy then ireland...

:Yikes: £9 on the bill WTF!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

personally I have found retentions very good. I telephoned to cancel and was offered Tel, B/B 1meg (going up to 2mb for free in september) and Digi TV for £21.99 per month. I didnt get the 24/7TU but did get the 5p call plan.

However, I might just ring retentions in the morning and see if I can get 24/7TU as well but, to be honest, not at home during day so wont really use it and dont begrudge the 5p evening calls.

the only gripe I have is that someone upped me to 4mb b/b without asking or telling me but retentions queried this with me and have credited my account to avoid any charges for the 4mb period. I dont know if they ticked the correct boxes but I am still running at 4mb and not being billed for it so I might keep mum on that one.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

i dont mind it when people want to get a better deal, but what really bugs me is when you look at the notes on an account and you can see they have called in practically every month to "cancel their services".

what makes me laugh. "ok sir, youll have to give 30 days notice but ill take that from today... would you be available on the 5th for an engineer to collect your set top box?"

ummm... errr arnt you going to try and keep my custom?

"unfortunatly sir there arnt any more offers i can add to your account at this time"

ok hold on a second..... line goes dead

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I've been browsing throught this thread. I discovered this site today. I have been seriously thinking about getting shot of NTL. Despite the complete lack of service at TalkTalk, I have got it for my Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law. SIL's connection was fraught, involved long conversations with their rubbish CS, eventually they decided that the disk sent out with the Speedtouch 300 modem had a wrong driver version, so we connected up with dial-up, went to Speedtouch site, downloaded a later version (which itself was dated 2003 -- go figure) installed, and hey presto it sprang to life.

MIL was sent the Sagem 800 and that worked first time. I set her computer up to dual-boot Windows and Linux (PCLinuxOS) and they both work. You can add scripts to Linux so I wrote one to detect dropped connections and reconnect. Nice.

The e-mail was useless. Wouldn't accept password via Thunderbird, occasionally did from webmail, often didn't. So I got a friend to send me a Googlemail invitation, and then I invited both of them. It's great, no more Thunderbird / Outlook Express etc for us any more!

So yes, TalkTalk is awful, but for me I can work around it.

NTL's cable broadband is more reliable, but does go down from time to time. And it's SO expensive. Just as I expected prices to tumble following TalkTalk's announcement, NTL rates just go inexoriably upwards. I've had enough paying for Sports and Movies, I only watched the Arsenal games anyway, and I'll just have to see the highlights on MOTD. My wife hardly watches the films, so that's gotta go. All we really need is another Freeview box to feed our Video/DVD Recorder.

But now we're talking about £17.99 for Broadband, £11.00 for phone, plus calls. Against TalkTalk's £20.99 for Broadband, phone plus free calls, it just doesn't stack up.

Some people in this thread talked about NTL's low profit margins, how can they supply phone and internet service if we all get lower prices? I suspect that much of their expenditure is on infrastructure. Once the cables are in place, I cannot see the provision of what is mainly an automated, non labour-intensive service, expensive to run. Put it this way, they'd be better off charging me £21 a month to match TalkTalk than me withdrawing my custom. The wires are there anyway, it's £21 they'll either get or not.

Anyway, this thread has given me food for thought, so I reckon I'll be after them for a deal in the next few days. Otherwise, I'm off as soon as it can be organised.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Anyone got the number for retentions? and are they open Saturday or Sunday???

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Retentions number is 0800 052 9403 but I think it is Monday to Friday only.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I have Family pack DTV with phone on 321 and 2mb BB for £48.49 a month I just think this is way to steep, Is there anyone out there with the same products who have called retentions threatening to cancel who have got a better deal??

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

0800 052 9403- i think they are open only monday-friday!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I recently secured half-price family pack and reduced price phone/broadband based on price matching talk-talk. I now pay around £32. It is worth a phone call - I have never threatened to cancel, only asked if they have any better deals as, for example, Talk Talk offer 8MB and 24/7 calls and line rental for around £20. family pack half price offer is on their website for existing customers, so asked if they could apply that as well and they did. Their team have always been polite and very helpful.

Mrb

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

So much for getting put through to retentions! When I moaned about the prices, I got put through to disconnections!!

This was Monday, 11/9. So they agreed to disconnect my phone and TV on 11/10 (30 days). O am keeping Broadband until I have "served my time" with BT and can get the TalkTalk package.

Anyway I got home from work last night, and my mobile rang. My wife had tried to phone me to see if we needed anything in the shop, and our phone had got cut off! That's 3 days, not 30! The TV is still going, though. I phoned them this morning and they had made an error, they would take the "phone" part out of the next bill. Some people cannot escape NTHell, it seems they couldn't wait quick enough.

Also because they had cut me off unceremonially, they've lost my phone number so I cannot transfer it to BT!

BT can't get me connected until 3/10/06, fortunately I am away from home for most of the next two weeks, and I will only have a few days at home without a phone, or only a mobile. So my three months will be up from 3/1/07. I wonder if there will be any decent ADSL offers apart from TalkTalk's by then?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

That's unusual, they couldn't do enough for me. All I said was that i'm thinking of leaving to signup with talktalk because I wasn't happy with the service at that time. Now I have a good deal.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

i suppose thats a risk you have to take, if your seriuos about going to talk talk or any other provider it doesnt really matter but if your just fishing for discounts you have to be willing to carry out the threat and actually leave.

most people in retentions will give IMHO unreasonable discounts to keep customers, but there are one or two that i know that will look through the notes to see what discounts have been offered before and how often you call in to get more discounts. from that info they sometimes wont even try to save the customer as to be honest a customer is only valuable if they are making the business money.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Well I've paid full whack without complaint for years. It just seems that ntl has gone from being a good deal to a bad deal in the last few years.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

You don't have to leave - just tell the CSR that you'll discuss the matter with the other people in the house and call them back to give them the nod to cancel if you go through with it. :)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Just got my latest bill through and surprise surprise it has gone back to the normal price. When i spoke to retentions they could not see the offer i had 3 months ago, because in the meantime i had been offered 3 months 10 MB broadband for half price, this had wiped the other offers off the account.
My other offer was talk unlimited, and 4 mb broadband.

The person i spoke to was very nice but che could not do anything to affect my curent bill, so i have now downgraded to 2 mb broadband at half price for 3 months , and got 3 months free talk unlimited. When i asked how much this would cost me i was advised it would be approx 10.50 for phone line rental, and £8.00 for broadband, so instead of paying 3 for £30.00 i am now getting 3 for 18.50 (With free phone calls), I was willing to pay more for a faster broadband speed but i do not think she was interested, she advised me to speak to customer services, Oh Yeah, as if i want to do that again!!!! They were the reason i lost my last discount !

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Has anyone had any hassle getting their talktalk account up and running?
My brother and his lady were told and prepared for the two month wait... However, it's now been 4 weeks since they were supposed to be up and running, and they're having a complete nightmare. There's a talktalk/BT issue with connecting, there's never any managers or supervisors on the floor, or they're in a meeting etc etc etc. All this time spent on the phone at 10p per minute takes the mickey. Anyone know of any other routes to take to get this resolved?

TIA.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

My friend is with talktalk and she is having problems with talk CS and reporting Faults. What's baffleing me at the moment is that she keeps getting cut off the net within minutes of connecting, just get a win32 error. Apart from that, the pc runs very smoothly with games and other apps. I have her pc here with me now and it's been connected through my ntl broadband for over an hour without any problems. I am ready to format it and start again until I seen your post OB. Do you know if the problems they are having are the same as my friend is having? ie the win32 error? thnx.

BTW she's spent a fortune on calls to TT and she's been cut off while waiting to speak to someone a good few times, so when she phones back and gets through to CS she tells them that if she gets cut off would they please call her back? They said yes, sure... she gets cut off and guess what? yeah, she's still waiting for that call back! :(

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

AFAIK, it's not a connection problem, more of a registration problem - they haven't even been able to get on the internet yet, let alone get cut off or disconnected... :erm:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Thanks for the quick reply OB :tu:
Maybe it's best to tell them to be prepared for an even bumpier ride once they do get connected :rolleyes:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Cancel the talktalk, they a joke of a service, your brother is under the illusion he is getting broadband for free when he has probably signed up for a call plan to qualify for it and secondly he may well end up on their bt ipstream service which has a fee anyway or could be waiting till mid 2007. Best just to spend some money and get a proper isp their are a few budget ones for under £15 a month if money is tight.

If he has sky, they might be an option for free broadband.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Is there an alternative number/email address for Coventry retentions that customers in Westminster must use? They seem to be permantely engaged when I get transferred from the main retentions number. I want to get a discount on my 4mb broadband line and switch my mobile to Virgin. £20 a month fair?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

If you want to talk to NTL Coventry, as your account is in Westminister, then dial the 0800 052 9403 number and enter 02476123456 as your phone number. I got my 4mb cable modem for £11.50 for 3 months. If you want the Virgin 300 minutes/300 texts for £10 a month then call 0800 4089343 with your NTL account number. You can get this deal even if you have one NTL service.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

YEs, this has changed. We have just been offered 2MB Broadband + TV for £20. And don't have to take ntl:home phone package

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I have spoken to Retentions who have given me half price Family pack for 6 months and 9.99 BB 2MB for 6 months so just over 30.00pm for all 3 services as oppose to the 48.00pm that it went up to, better off than I was before really, Well done NTL, you can do something right! ;) If you are not fixed to a contract I recommend that you call NTL on 0800 052 9403 and moan about what you are paying, they can drop the price. Tell them that you are in financial difficulty unless you are serious about leaving!

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

why not just be honest? if you are in financial difficulty then fair enough, tell the retentions department.
if you just want some discounts then why not be honest with them, let them know you've had a look around and think you can probably get cheaper but you dont really want the hassle of changing providers is there anything they can do?

i think you would find you would get a much better deal if you are honest and upfront as people can usually tell when someone isnt telling the truth and are less likely to be willing to help

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

i have to agree with you lost, on that point, however it does seem to show that your claim that "Retentions know full well why people are leaving" isnt a given...

---------- Post added at 06:54 ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 ----------

hehe, thats a kicker....

ofcourse you dont send out a confirmation letter stating that
"ok sir, youll have to give 30 days notice but ill take that from today... " and then date it do you Lost?.

infact, NTL flatout refuse to ever confirm in writing any phone agreement, even when asked to do this
by the customer, perhaps thats why they like the phone so much, its really funny when you tell them
you have been recording the conversation and would they like a copy of the transcript.

if NTL:tw did in fact send out these phone agreed terms (the good as well as the bad) in the monthly billing cycle , then i think everyone would be better off including NTL:tw as it would help retain custom and profits.

another rather dubious problem being (C&W)NTL (dont know about TW) never confirm in writing (billing cycle)any Broadband payments receaved.

if you over pay the TV/phone it will show on the bill as payments receaved and dates, but the broadband payments and dates never appear....

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

starting to wish i'd read this thread a long time ago... oh well, I have a good deal at the moment (similar to shnookumshnum, though we have sky sports too for about £30) -can't complain! We've got vodafone mobiles at the moment though, would love to change back to virgin. are there any bonuses for being pre-pay virgin + ntl?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

you might want to read this thread
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=52918

---------- Post added at 07:38 ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 ----------

for that price most people are getting 4mbit, and thats before any discounts...

---------- Post added at 08:04 ---------- Previous post was at 07:38 ----------

indeed Lost, it is a risk on the part of the (long standing in the case of davecs)customer.

these people your aware of, are commonly refered to as jobswerth's, that being the case, im sure their also aware that
they are only following orders when they bill for the 30 days as per the T&C's, and thats fine, however they had better be cristal clear that they are responsible for removeing davecs's access to the payed for, pending 30 days service and hence their part of the same T&C contract, so davecs could if he so wished, fill in an N1 form down the county courts against these people for brakeing the contract , better hope NTL:tw dont inadvertingly forget to remove the charge on the final bill, or place a Default marker on the ex-users credit file (in error or otherwise).

the data protection act is apparently also very good for getting access to all these notes you refer to , although so far, im not aware of anyone sending an 'official notice' to the data controller at NTL for any and all data refering to their stored personal data at NTL:tw, just an interesting fact you understand 8)

perhaps it woulnt be long before NTL:tw gets its own special section over on
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/
if these fixable problems dont get sorted out soon, given NTL's size and covering 50%+ of the whole uk there will be plenty of interested people id think, perhaps BT and the rest might also get their sections as CAG grows by the day and its easy to ask for new section to be added there, take a look readers ,its really eye opening.....

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Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

not true, if a customer asks me to confirm something in writing then normally i will, however it is impractical to have a policy whereby if a customer requests something in writing they will get it.

for example yesterday there were 90 people in the queue at one point granted, this shouldnt be the case and they should have probably had more staff in , but the day before there was no one in the queue for mos of the day so they cant be spot on every day.

if i had to write a letter for half the calls i took yesterday, how long would i be off the phones not taking calls? now times that by every memebr of staff and your either going to have massive queues and huge wait times or need to double, the staff increassing costs which will be passed onto customers.

Also the majority of customer service staff havent been trained in letter writing, it probably sounds stupid, but how impressed would you be if you had a badly worded letter with spelling mistakes in it?

Personally i dont think its an ideal situation to be in, but i also cant see it changing anythime soon either

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I am, and they completely fouled it up!

Hi Frank :wavey:

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

YOU need to send a cheque to the NCB
ntl nuisabnce calls bureau
crawley court
winchester
hampshire
so21 2qa

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

im about to cancel with ntl freedom am i do the right thing . by going with talk talk cos there no more line rentle with them so thay say is the line rentle with this new ntl dele anyone no thanks

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

I really wish that retentions would stop offering stuff like this to match TalkTalk and you lot would stop moaning about the price your paying for your services (unless you've had genuine problems). Customer services have recieved no end of calls from former customers requesting reconnection as they're sick and tired of TalkTalk messing them around and not providing any service. Don't forget that TalkTalk isn't available to everyone for a start.... if you see a genuinely better service, then I would suggest go for it.

At the end of the day, you pays your money, you takes your choice.... I bet half of you would end up getting stuck on a capped broadband service having previously been lucky with an unlimited service with NTL. Personally, if I was ever to switch supplier, I'd need someone who can guarentee me at least a 6.5Mb connection (what I'm told I can have as I live about 800 yards from my exchange) with unlimited downloading and no hidden bandwith capping either. Anyone care for any recommendations if you are able to find such a company?

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

exactly what i think, ntl are not a charity, they are there to make money, the retentions department have good offers available to customers that have genuinly had problems but they are too concerned with keeping every customer no matter what the cost.

i think they should have more faith in the products they are selling and let customers go to other providers from my own experience even with all the faults of ntl they generally provide a good and cheap service

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

opelfruitcase you bang on, but too many people out there these days who want everything for nothing.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

but why should anyone get something for nothing?

disregarding the fact that its not really fair that some people are paying full price (and probably a bit more to pay for the people on the offers) and others are paying less than half that.

in another thread there is a discussion about ntl issuing a new upgraded STB and the possible costs for this, another thread where people have expressed views that the network should be upgraded and expanded, all these cost a lot of money.

everyone knows of ntl's previous and present financial problems yet they still expect to get something for nothing, i wouldnt expect a customer to be loyal to a company out of sympathy and it is mainly the managements fault for allowing it to happen

if there is another company that can provide the same service for less money then good luck to them and i would probably move to them too, but it really does annoy me to see some people paying a lot less for more services than others just because they know how retentions departments work in a company.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Has anyone else noticed that TT are no longer advertsing their deal as 'free broadband forever'...

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

You can write to them asking for all information, including bills under the data protection act, its funny how quickly companies respond in my experience ;)

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Like I said I agree its a case of ntl and other companies greed for new customers kicking in by offering stupidly low prices.

Re: NTL offering package to challenge talk talk
 

Definitely in agreement with you there. I certainly don't agree with any silly sales offer to attract new customers either, or if you've had past issues then I agree of course to being compensated, but thats not really what's up for discussion here. Basically, with all these people who have had NTL's so called 'TalkTalk offer' your getting a broadband service that's likely to be faster (not dependant on distance from exchange), is unlimited and doesn't suffer from ridiculously high contention ratios - and, by all accounts from what I've heard there are a fair few hidden charges in the telephone package as well.

They also mention 'We think broadband should be free for everyone' on their website. If thats the case then why, on checking availability using the number for the BT line in the house:

Which I interpreted as 'stuff you, we aren't interested in you because not enough people live in your area/your too far out in the sticks'. So much for it applying to everyone - if I want their 'free' service I've got to pay a tenner instead for the privilige just because of the area I live in.